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InDesign Essentials

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Adobe InDesign is a great page layout software used to create ads, flyers, posters, brochures, etc. Through hands-on exercises and instructor demonstrations, we will teach how to use this software, as well as tips and tricks that will make your work easier and more professional. This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as those wanting to relearn more sophisticated use.

In this hands-on course, students will learn the essential skills for producing InDesign content for printing files and digital PDFs. This comprehensive course is specifically designed for those with little or no formal training or experience using a page layout program, and for those people want a refresher.

In this course you will learn InDesign tips, tricks and secrets, along with more efficient procedures for building a document. Topics will include setting up multi-page and single page documents, typesetting, color and graphic skills along with understanding how to use many of the everyday features correctly and efficiently.

This class is fully interactive and will include simple exercises to reinforce your learning goals.

Learning outcomes

This is a sample list of topics that will be covered during the workshop – these items will vary as a result of questions and audience participation.

Interface overview

  • Moving around the InDesign Interface
  • The Workspace: Tool bars, Control bar, multiple panels, creating a custom Workspace
  • Basic program Preferences: changing the default unit of measurement
  • Viewing documents using shortcuts and quick key commands
  • Review of Pages Panel and Master Page features

Formatting Text

  • Using both Character and Paragraph controls
  • Formatting text within frame areas
  • Inserting large amounts of text
  • Creating a “Continued on and from” setting
  • Creating and editing Paragraph & Character Styles
  • Moving text styles between documents
  • Inserting special characters
  • Creating bullet icons
  • Split and Span text over columns; creating Balanced columns

Working with Text/Object Frames

  • Text frame options: Column settings, Inset spacing, Vertical alignment
  • Corner option settings and Live corner options
  • Using the Stroke panel and the Line tools
  • Applying color to text and frames using the Control and Swatches panel
  • Creating new Process and Pantone® color swatches, color tints and gradients
  • Adding headers & footers and auto page numbering
  • Incorporating logos/graphics into a master
  • Formatting frames and custom colours
  • Creating and editing Paragraph & Character Styles

Working with Graphics and Color

  • Overview of different graphic file formats
  • Clarify resolutions and color settings for print or digital files
  • Inserting graphic file formats
  • Working with graphics using Auto Fit features
  • Special effects on graphics
  • Using the Text Wrap panel and options
  • Understanding the Graphic Links panel

Take Away:

Participants will be given a handout with reference to the content covered including step-by-step procedures.

Who Should Attend:

This is a precursor to the “How to Make Accessible InDesign Documents” course. Anyone working in the role of marketing content creators, graphic designers, editors, communication writers and coordinators or has the need to provide creative files for printing or publishing online.

 

Workshop Requirements:

  • Laptop (Mac or PC) and a Computer Mouse
  • Adobe InDesign CC

Included in this Workshop

  • High quality instruction by an InDesign Accessibility Specialist
  • Small class size (maximum 10 participants)
  • A Step-by-Step Reference Guide
  • Complimentary coffee and tea
  • A chance to network with other professionals
  • Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

AODA Train-the-Trainer Certification: RESCHEDULED Due to Weather

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This workshop will provide you with an overview of the AODA Standards and how this information can be delivered in an interactive and fun training session to your staff and volunteers. The AODA Train-the-Trainer workshop qualifies as mandated training and will equip you to meet your organization’s AODA training requirements. Areas covered will include:

  • Customer Service Standard
  • General Requirements
  • Employment Standard
  • Information & Communication Standard
  • Transportation Standard
  • Design of Public Spaces Standard
  • Ontario Human Rights Code

I liked how you provided examples of activities to keep it fun to teach and learn. Often these courses are boring. Your course gave me lots of ideas! And I liked the group which included a diversity of industry people.

Instructor is an excellent and knowledgeable speaker!

Great training! What I expected to be a dry and long info session ended up being a good time. Thanks!

Fantastic! Great length. Exactly what I needed to stay on track.

Why use a Train the Trainer Model:

  • Trainers are an accessible resource for staff and volunteers with an organization.
  • Organizations can do training when it works for them, using a variety of approaches best suited to their situation.
  • It is a model that is cost and time effective for organizations.
  • It is a model that helps to support discussion and further development within an organization.

Excellent and well organized content and delivery. Respectful and inclusive presenter who created an inclusive and safe environment. Everyone participated and was engaged.

Participants in this training will receive:

  • Information on each of the Standards and OHRC
  • A customizable copy of Accessibility Services Canada’s 90-minute training PowerPoint presentation
  • Training workshop handouts and interactive activities
  • A live demonstration of a training workshop
  • Ideas on how adapt the training for your organization’s needs

Participants will receive access to Accessibility Services Canada training materials for use in internal training only (staff and volunteers of their own organization).

Training is valid for two years and updates on the AODA will be sent to participants as they arise.

Good review of the AODA and requirements. Training suggestions were great. Enjoyed the practice opportunity.

I liked how collaborative the training was. I learned a lot from other people’s experiences and knowledge. I also liked that the training comes with a certificate.

Really good at getting me to think of applying this to my own work. I would recommend the training to anyone!

Prerequisite: Participants must have knowledge of the AODA prior to attending this workshop as we do not cover the details of the AODA. This training focuses on how to design and deliver an engaging training session for your organization’s staff and volunteers. For detailed information on the AODA, look for our “Accessibility Compliance 101” webinar series being held in April. 

  INCLUDED IN THE WORKSHOP:

  • High quality instruction by an AODA Specialist
  • Small class size 
  • AODA Training Kit
  • Complimentary coffee and tea
  • A chance to network with other professionals
  • Certificate of Completion
  • Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

Fantastic facilitator! The afternoon went by very quickly (too quickly). Fantastic insights and resources. Very varied group with varied backgrounds. Feeling confident about training and liked the variety of training tools provided.

Accommodations

Accommodations available upon request. 

 

This workshop truly focussed on preparing us to train staff. I appreciate all the resources we have been given.

The materials provided was excellent – everything we require for training in our own work place.

Excellent trainer! Lots of expertise!

Great dialogue and examples.

Very welcoming space. Felt safe and encouraging.

Clear, good balance of lecture and activities.

How to Make PDFs Accessible (Part 2)

by

The task of creating an accessible document goes farther than just correctly formatting the text in your original file. When importing documents, whatever the source application, some elements “get lost in translation” and additional remediation has to be done in Adobe Acrobat.

This workshop is Part 2 of our “Accessible Word” and “Accessible InDesign” training sessions and will teach you how to create an accessible PDF, including diverse content such as complicated tables, lists and acronyms. Questions it addresses include:

  • How do I make a PDF accessible when I don’t have the source document?
  • How can I figure out whether it is faster to remediate an old PDF or create a new, accessible source document?
  • How do I make tables with merged cells more accessible?
  • What do I do with complicated drawings and charts?
  • When should I use the auto tag feature in Acrobat?
  • How do I fix incorrect reading order?
  • We use a lot of abbreviations – how do I make them accessible?

Great training – lots of new information! Well structured session.

So much to learn and use immediately. The workshop exceeded my expectations!

Who should attend this workshop

  • Anyone who attended the “How to Make Accessible Word Documents” workshop or our “How to Make Accessible InDesign Documents” webinar/workshop provided by Accessibility Services Canada.
  • If you are currently creating accessible content and need a refresher or an upgrade, including Communication or Accessibility Coordinators, Website Content Managers, Marketing staff and Administrative Assistants.

What you will walk away with…

  1. How to format an inaccessible PDF.
  2. Where relevant tools and menu items are in Acrobat.
  3. How to identify several issues that should be addressed in source formats rather than by editing the PDF document directly.
  4. The correct structure for lists and tables.
  5. Knowledge about new accessibility features in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.
  6. Understanding of some of the limitations of making accessible content.
  7. A better understanding of creating and mending accessible content using Acrobat Professional.

Learning Outcomes

By completing this workshop, participants will have and understanding of:

  • Working with accessible content tags
  • Manually tag or re-tagging content in a PDF
  • Modifying and edit tag properties
  • Removing tags from specified non-meaningful content
  • How to tag acronyms and bulleted lists
  • Tagging a table of contents
  • Creating tags for tables
  • How to deal with merged or split table cells.
  • Making scanned PDF content accessible.
  • Setting the document default page views
  • Setting reading order and reflow orfer
  • Adding bookmarks in a PDF document
  • Adding required document properties.
  • Using Accessibility Checkers and examining the results.

Take away

  • Participants will be given a handout with reference to the content covered including step-by-step procedures.
  • A full understanding of some of the limitations of making accessible content.
  • A better understanding of creating and mending accessible content using Acrobat Professional.

Detailed and great with examples and practices. (Reena)

Great examples and I appreciate the print out for future reference. (Deafblind Ontario Services)

Workshop Requirements

  • Laptop (Mac or PC) and Mouse
  • Acrobat Professional, version 11 or DC (Primary focus will be on using Acrobat Professional DC).

Technical Notes

  • Please ensure that your Acrobat Professional (not Reader) has been installed correctly.
  • We suggest you do any installations a day or two before the workshop to ensure your programs are working properly.
  • A USB key will be used to transfer class files to laptops – ensure this can be done on your laptop before class.
  • A computer mouse is recommended since it will assist in the use of keyboard shortcuts.

Good quality presentation. Presenter is excellent! Learn, knowledgeable and great at keeping us engaged. Learned more than I anticipated! (Ontario College of Teachers)

  INCLUDED IN THE WORKSHOP:

  • High quality instruction by a Document Accessibility Specialist
  • Small class size (maximum 10 participants)
  • A Step-by-Step Reference Guide
  • Complimentary coffee and tea
  • A chance to network with other professionals
  • Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

Accommodations

Accommodations are available upon request.

2 Best Ways to Train Staff on the AODA

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Training all staff, volunteers, Board Members and contractors on the AODA standards is a requirement for all organizations with 1 or more employees in Ontario. If you need some help with your AODA training, here are the two ways we recommend. The first option is quick and easy, especially if you have a lot of people that need training. The second is a cost effective way to have an in-house expert handle your AODA training.

Person teaching a class on the AODA

  1. AODA Online Training
  2. AODA Train-the-Trainer Certification

AODA Train-the-Trainer Certification

by

This workshop will provide you with an overview of the AODA Standards and how this information can be delivered in an interactive and fun training session to your staff and volunteers. The AODA Train-the-Trainer workshop qualifies as mandated training and will equip you to meet your organization’s AODA training requirements. Areas covered will include:

  • Customer Service Standard
  • General Requirements
  • Employment Standard
  • Information & Communication Standard
  • Transportation Standard
  • Design of Public Spaces Standard
  • Ontario Human Rights Code

I liked how you provided examples of activities to keep it fun to teach and learn. Often these courses are boring. Your course gave me lots of ideas! And I liked the group which included a diversity of industry people.

Instructor is an excellent and knowledgeable speaker!

Great training! What I expected to be a dry and long info session ended up being a good time. Thanks!

Fantastic! Great length. Exactly what I needed to stay on track.

Why use a Train the Trainer Model:

  • Trainers are an accessible resource for staff and volunteers with an organization.
  • Organizations can do training when it works for them, using a variety of approaches best suited to their situation.
  • It is a model that is cost and time effective for organizations.
  • It is a model that helps to support discussion and further development within an organization.

Excellent and well organized content and delivery. Respectful and inclusive presenter who created an inclusive and safe environment. Everyone participated and was engaged.

Participants in this training will receive:

  • Information on each of the Standards and OHRC
  • A customizable copy of Accessibility Services Canada’s 90-minute training PowerPoint presentation
  • Training workshop handouts and interactive activities
  • A live demonstration of a training workshop
  • Ideas on how adapt the training for your organization’s needs

Participants will receive access to Accessibility Services Canada training materials for use in internal training only (staff and volunteers of their own organization).

Training is valid for two years and updates on the AODA will be sent to participants as they arise.

Good review of the AODA and requirements. Training suggestions were great. Enjoyed the practice opportunity.

I liked how collaborative the training was. I learned a lot from other people’s experiences and knowledge. I also liked that the training comes with a certificate.

Really good at getting me to think of applying this to my own work. I would recommend the training to anyone!

Prerequisite: Participants must have knowledge of the AODA prior to attending this workshop as we do not cover the details of the AODA. This training focuses on how to design and deliver an engaging training session for your organization’s staff and volunteers. For detailed information on the AODA, look for our “Accessibility Compliance 101” webinar series. This webinar series is ideally taken before the Train-the-Trainer workshop.

  INCLUDED IN THE WORKSHOP:

  • High quality instruction by an AODA Specialist
  • Small class size 
  • AODA Training Kit
  • Complimentary coffee and tea
  • A chance to network with other professionals
  • Certificate of Completion
  • Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

Fantastic facilitator! The afternoon went by very quickly (too quickly). Fantastic insights and resources. Very varied group with varied backgrounds. Feeling confident about training and liked the variety of training tools provided.

Accommodations

Accommodations available upon request. 

 

This workshop truly focussed on preparing us to train staff. I appreciate all the resources we have been given.

The materials provided was excellent – everything we require for training in our own work place.

Excellent trainer! Lots of expertise!

Great dialogue and examples.

Very welcoming space. Felt safe and encouraging.

Clear, good balance of lecture and activities.

AODA Train-the-Trainer Certification

by

This workshop will provide you with an overview of the AODA Standards and how this information can be delivered in an interactive and fun training session to your staff and volunteers. The AODA Train-the-Trainer workshop qualifies as mandated training and will equip you to meet your organization’s AODA training requirements. Areas covered will include:

  • Customer Service Standard
  • General Requirements
  • Employment Standard
  • Information & Communication Standard
  • Transportation Standard
  • Design of Public Spaces Standard
  • Ontario Human Rights Code

Instructor is an excellent and knowledgeable speaker!

Great training! What I expected to be a dry and long info session ended up being a good time. Thanks!

Fantastic! Great length. Exactly what I needed to stay on track.

Participants in this training will receive:

  • Information on each of the Standards and OHRC
  • A customizable copy of Accessibility Services Canada’s 90-minute training PowerPoint presentation
  • Training workshop handouts and interactive activities
  • A live demonstration of a training workshop
  • Ideas on how adapt the training for your organization’s needs

Participants will receive access to Accessibility Services Canada training materials for use in internal training only (staff and volunteers of their own organization).

Training is valid for two years and updates on the AODA will be sent to participants as they arise.

Good review of the AODA and requirements. Training suggestions were great. Enjoyed the practice opportunity.

I liked how collaborative the training was. I learned a lot from other people’s experiences and knowledge. I also liked that the training comes with a certificate.

I would recommend the training to anyone!

Prerequisite: Participants must have knowledge of the AODA prior to attending this workshop as we do not cover the details of the AODA. This training focuses on how to design and deliver an engaging training session for your organization’s staff and volunteers. For detailed information on the AODA, look for our “Accessibility Compliance 101” webinar series. This webinar series is suitable to take after the Train-the-Trainer workshop.

  INCLUDED IN THE WORKSHOP:

  • High quality instruction by an AODA Specialist
  • Small class size 
  • AODA Training Kit
  • Complimentary coffee and tea
  • A chance to network with other professionals
  • Certificate of Completion
  • Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

Accommodations

Accommodations available upon request. 

 

This workshop truly focussed on preparing us to train staff. I appreciate all the resources we have been given.

The materials provided was excellent – everything we require for training in our own work place.

Excellent trainer! Lots of expertise!

Great dialogue and examples.

Very welcoming space. Felt safe and encouraging.

Clear, good balance of lecture and activities.

How to Make InAccessible PDFs Accessible

by

The task of creating an accessible document goes farther than just correctly formatting the text in your original file. When importing documents, whatever the source application, some elements “get lost in translation” and additional remediation has to be done in Adobe Acrobat.

This workshop is Part 2 of our “Accessible Word” and “Accessible InDesign” training sessions and will teach you how to create an accessible PDF, including diverse content such as complicated tables, lists and acronyms. Questions it addresses include:

  • How do I make a PDF accessible when I don’t have the source document?
  • How can I figure out whether it is faster to remediate an old PDF or create a new, accessible source document?
  • How do I make tables with merged cells more accessible?
  • What do I do with complicated drawings and charts?
  • When should I use the auto tag feature in Acrobat?
  • How do I fix incorrect reading order?
  • We use a lot of abbreviations – how do I make them accessible?

Great training – lots of new information! Well structured session.

So much to learn and use immediately. The workshop exceeded my expectations!

Who should attend this workshop

  • Anyone who attended the “How to Make Accessible Word Documents” workshop or our “How to Make Accessible InDesign Documents” webinar/workshop provided by Accessibility Services Canada.
  • If you are currently creating accessible content and need a refresher or an upgrade, including Communication or Accessibility Coordinators, Website Content Managers, Marketing staff and Administrative Assistants.

What you will walk away with…

  1. How to format an inaccessible PDF.
  2. Where relevant tools and menu items are in Acrobat.
  3. Available automated accessibility features.
  4. Understanding of some of the limitations of making accessible content.
  5. A better understanding of creating and mending accessible content using Acrobat Professional.

Learning Outcomes

By completing this workshop, participants will have and understanding of:

  • Working with accessible content tags
  • Manually tag or re-tagging content in a PDF
  • Modifying and edit tag properties
  • Removing tags from specified non-meaningful content
  • How to tag acronyms and bulleted lists
  • Tagging a table of contents
  • Creating tags for tables
  • How to deal with merged or split table cells.
  • Making scanned PDF content accessible.
  • Setting the document default page views
  • Setting reading order and reflow orfer
  • Adding bookmarks in a PDF document
  • Adding required document properties.
  • Using Accessibility Checkers and examining the results.

Take away

  • Participants will be given a handout with reference to the content covered including step-by-step procedures.
  • A full understanding of some of the limitations of making accessible content.
  • A better understanding of creating and mending accessible content using Acrobat Professional.

Detailed and great with examples and practices. (Reena)

Great examples and I appreciate the print out for future reference. (Deafblind Ontario Services)

Workshop Requirements

  • Laptop (Mac or PC) and Mouse
  • Acrobat Professional, version 11 or DC (Primary focus will be on using Acrobat Professional DC).

Technical Notes

  • Please ensure that your Acrobat Professional (not Reader) has been installed correctly.
  • We suggest you do any installations a day or two before the workshop to ensure your programs are working properly.
  • A USB key will be used to transfer class files to laptops – ensure this can be done on your laptop before class.
  • A computer mouse is recommended since it will assist in the use of keyboard shortcuts.

Good quality presentation. Presenter is excellent! Learn, knowledgeable and great at keeping us engaged. Learned more than I anticipated! (Ontario College of Teachers)

  INCLUDED IN THE WORKSHOP:

  • High quality instruction by a Document Accessibility Specialist
  • Small class size (maximum 10 participants)
  • A Step-by-Step Reference Guide
  • Complimentary coffee and tea
  • A chance to network with other professionals
  • Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

Accommodations

Accommodations are available upon request.

AODA Train-the-Trainer Certification

by

This workshop will provide you with an overview of the AODA Standards and how this information can be delivered in an interactive and fun training session to your staff and volunteers. The AODA Train-the-Trainer workshop qualifies as mandated training and will equip you to meet your organization’s AODA training requirements. Areas covered will include:

  • Customer Service Standard
  • General Requirements
  • Employment Standard
  • Information & Communication Standard
  • Transportation Standard
  • Design of Public Spaces Standard
  • Ontario Human Rights Code

 

Instructor is an excellent and knowledgeable speaker!

Great training! What I expected to be a dry and long info session ended up being a good time. Thanks!

Participants in this training will receive:

  • Information on each of the Standards and OHRC
  • A customizable copy of Accessibility Services Canada’s 90-minute training PowerPoint presentation
  • Training workshop handouts and interactive activities
  • A live demonstration of a training workshop
  • Ideas on how adapt the training for your organization’s needs

Participants will receive access to Accessibility Services Canada training materials for use in internal training only (staff and volunteers of their own organization).

Training is valid for two years and updates on the AODA will be sent to participants as they arise.

Good review of the AODA and requirements. Training suggestions were great. Enjoyed the practice opportunity.

I liked how collaborative the training was. I learned a lot from other people’s experiences and knowledge. I also liked that the training comes with a certificate.

I would recommend the training to anyone!

  INCLUDED IN THE WORKSHOP:

  • High quality instruction by an AODA Specialist
  • Small class size 
  • AODA Training Kit
  • Complimentary coffee and tea
  • A chance to network with other professionals
  • Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

Accommodations

Accommodations available upon request. 

 

This workshop truly focussed on preparing us to train staff. I appreciate all the resources we have been given.

The materials provided was excellent – everything we require for training in our own work place.

Excellent trainer! Lots of expertise!

Great dialogue and examples.

Very welcoming space. Felt safe and encouraging.

AODA Train-the-Trainer Certification

by

This workshop will provide you with an overview of the AODA Standards and how this information can be delivered in an interactive and fun training session to your staff and volunteers. The AODA Train-the-Trainer workshop qualifies as mandated training and will equip you to meet your organization’s AODA training requirements. Areas covered will include:

  • Customer Service Standard
  • General Requirements
  • Employment Standard
  • Information & Communication Standard
  • Transportation Standard
  • Design of Public Spaces Standard
  • Ontario Human Rights Code

 

Instructor is an excellent and knowledgeable speaker!

Great training! What I expected to be a dry and long info session ended up being a good time. Thanks!

Participants in this training will receive:

  • Information on each of the Standards and OHRC
  • A customizable copy of Accessibility Services Canada’s 90-minute training PowerPoint presentation
  • Training workshop handouts and interactive activities
  • A live demonstration of a training workshop
  • Ideas on how adapt the training for your organization’s needs

Participants will receive access to Accessibility Services Canada training materials for use in internal training only (staff and volunteers of their own organization).

Training is valid for two years and updates on the AODA will be sent to participants as they arise.

Good review of the AODA and requirements. Training suggestions were great. Enjoyed the practice opportunity.

I liked how collaborative the training was. I learned a lot from other people’s experiences and knowledge. I also liked that the training comes with a certificate.

I would recommend the training to anyone!

  INCLUDED IN THE WORKSHOP:

  • High quality instruction by an AODA Specialist
  • Small class size 
  • AODA Training Kit
  • Complimentary coffee and tea
  • A chance to network with other professionals
  • Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

Accommodations

Accommodations available upon request. 

 

This workshop truly focussed on preparing us to train staff. I appreciate all the resources we have been given.

The materials provided was excellent – everything we require for training in our own work place.

Excellent trainer! Lots of expertise!

Great dialogue and examples.

Very welcoming space. Felt safe and encouraging.