References on Web Accessibility

Last updated November 19, 1999, by Judy Brewer

The emergence of the World Wide Web has made it possible for individuals with computer and telecommunications equipment to interact as never before. For people with disabilities, the Web holds great promise of transforming past barriers to information access. But as with any new technology, new barriers can arise in place of the old.

The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) at the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) addresses accessibility on many levels, in partnership with the many other organizations around the world which are committed to ensuring that this new technology is accessible to all. This WAI Reference List on Web Accessibility highlights the work of organizations around the world in improving accessibility for people with disabilities.

WAI News and Updates

WAI Home Page: News, Events, History section
WAI Interest Group Home Page, IG Updates section
Events Calendar: conferences potentially relevant for outreach on Web accessibility

W3C Developments and Specifications

For general reference on W3C specifications, go to the W3C Technical Reports page

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines: Page authoring & site development
Techniques for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0
User Agent Accessibility Guidelines: Design of User Agents (browsers, multimedia players, compatible assistive technologies)
Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines: Design of Authoring Tools (tools for creating Web sites)
Accessibility Improvements in HTML 4.0-- Ian Jacobs, Judy Brewer, Daniel Dardailler
Accessibility Features of CSS -- Ian Jacobs, Judy Brewer
Accessibility Features of SMIL -- Marja-Riitta Koivunen, Ian Jacobs
HTML 4.0 Specification -- By the W3C HTML4.0 Working Group
CSS2 Specification -- By the W3C CSS/FP Working Group
SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language) -- By the W3C SYMM Working Group

White Papers, Policy Information

Policies related to Web Accessibility -- WAI Resource
People with Disabilities and NII: Breaking Down Barriers, Building Choice -- By Susan Brummel
Universal Access to the National Information Infrastructure (NII) By Dr. Gregg Vanderheiden
PDF: Document Understanding and PDF -- By Bill Lovegrove
RNIB Strategy for Building an Accessible SuperInformation Highway -- By Peter Bosche

Tools and Utilities

Alternative Web Browsing WAI Reference list of browsers designed for people with disabilities, screen readers, browsers with adaptive technologies, voice browsers, and other alternative access tools.
Evaluation, Repair, and Filter/Transformation tools WAI Reference list of tools to facilitate evaluation of Web site accessibility, repair or retrofit of site accessibility, or transformation of inaccessible content.
HTML 4 Validator from W3C
Adobe Acrobat Access Plug-In for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 Accessibility Plug-In for Acrobat browser.
AsTeR Synthetic Speech Application AsTeR -- Audio System for Technical Readings -- a computing system for rendering technical documents. Developed by Dr. T.V. Raman.
Bobby An automated accessibility checker by CAST
Netphonic's Web-On-Call Voice Browser Voice browser using telephone interface
TU Dresden International HTML to Braille Service Using ICADD Mechanism HTML to Braille transformation service using the International Committee for Accessible Document Design (ICADD) mechanism.
Visual HTMLboard An HTML Editor designed to make creating web pages easier for people with mobility impairments.

Projects and Research

Resources

Copyright © 1999 W3C (MIT, INRIA, Keio ), All Rights Reserved. W3C liability, trademark, document use and software licensing rules apply. Your interactions with this site are in accordance with our public and Member privacy statements.