"The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect."
-- Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web
The public review period for the User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 began on 3 November 1999 and will close on 1 December 1999
The review period by W3C Member organizations of the Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 began 26 October 1999 and will close 23 November 1999.
The W3C's commitment to lead the Web to its full potential includes promoting a high degree of usability for people with disabilities. The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), in coordination with organizations around the world, is pursuing accessibility of the Web through five primary areas of work: technology, guidelines, tools, education & outreach, and research & development.
Improving the accessibility of the World Wide Web means, first of all, ensuring that Web technologies support accessibility. In the Technology area, WAI addresses accessibility of HTML, Style Sheets, Multimedia, MathML, DOM, XML, Graphics, Mobile Access, Internationalization, and other W3C technologies.
Web accessibility guidelines are essential for Web site development and for Web-related applications development. WAI is coordinating with many organizations to produce Web content guidelines for accessible Web sites; for user agents (browsers, multimedia players, etc.) and authoring tools (editors & site management tools).
Tools for evaluation, repair, and proxy conversions can facilitate Web accessibility. An Interest Group in this area provides a forum to discuss tool requirements, while a Working Group develops tool prototypes.
The WAI International Program Office enables partnering and coordination among the many stakeholders in Web accessibility: industry, disability organizations, government, and research organizations. The WAI IPO focuses on education & outreach and research & development. It coordinates with the WAI Technical Activity to ensure that WAI work accurately reflects user needs.
For general discussion and input across all areas of WAI's work.
Guides development of promotional materials, curricula, demonstration materials, and technical reference materials.
Manages coordination between working groups in the WAI Technical Activity and the International Program Office.
General discussion of Web accessibility; reviews of WAI deliverables; updates on WAI activities; high traffic list. Read the information about the mailing list, including subscription and unsubscription directions, before joining. You can also receive the list as a digest, or browse the WAI Interest Group archives.
WAI IG Updates summarize recent releases, pending reviews, and upcoming events. They are sent roughly bi-weekly to the WAI IG mailing list, and are also available from the WAI IG Home Page.
The WAI Monthly Bulletin will provide a once-monthly overview of WAI activity. If you have subscribed previously you will automatically receive it once it is available.
If you are interested in committing time to working on a particular aspect of Web accessibility, please review materials on this site and contact the Chair of a WAI group in your area of interest.
Send questions to <wai@w3.org> for
information about the Web Accessibility Initiative; be specific in your question
if possible.
One position on the WAI Team is currently open.
W3C team members involved in WAI activities include:
WAI Working Groups and Interest Groups Chairs include:
The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative International Program Office is separately funded from W3C Member activities, and appreciates the sponsorship of governments and corporations that have shown their leadership in Web accessibility and Universal Design. Sponsors include the U.S. National Science Foundation; U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; European Commission's TIDE Programme under Directorate Generale XIII; the Government of Canada, Industry Canada's Assistive Devices Industry Office, Microsoft Corporation; IBM Lotus Development Corporation; and Bell Atlantic.
Please let us know if your company is interested in becoming a sponsor of the Web Accessibility Initiative.
Last Updated November 18, 1999