W3C Index - W3C Search - W3C Translations
WAI Resources - WAI Site Map - About WAI

WAI Interest Group (WAI IG) Charter

This charter is written in accordance with Section 6.2.6 of the 5 February 2004 W3C Process Document.

1. Mission
2. Scope
3. Duration
4. Deliverables
5. Milestones
6. Dependencies
7. Confidentiality
8. Meetings
9. Communication
10. Voting
11. Patent Disclosures
12. Participation

Information on how to participate in the WAI IG is available.

1. Mission

The mission of the Web Accessibility Initiative Interest Group (WAI IG) is to provide a forum for review of deliverables under development by other WAI groups; for exploration of barriers to and potential solutions for accessibility of the Web; and for exchanging information about activities related to Web accessibility around the world.

This mission supports the work of other Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) groups within the WAI Technical Activity and the WAI International Program Office. The WAI IG is part of the WAI International Program Office Activity.

The orginal WAI IG Charter and second WAI IG Charter are available. The WAI IG is renewing its charter in order to continue its role as a forum for discussions on Web accessibility.

2. Scope

The WAI IG's scope of work includes:

• review and discussion of deliverables under development by other WAI groups, including in the areas of development of W3C technologies, development of WAI guidelines and evaluation and retrofitting tools, education and outreach around Web accessibility, and research that may affect future Web accessibility;
• exploration of barriers to, and potential solutions for, accessibility of the Web;
• exchanging information about Web-accessibility related activities around the world.

3. Duration

The WAI IG is scheduled for three years, from 1 January 2005 through 31 December 2007.

4. Deliverables

As an Interest Group, the WAI IG does not produce deliverables. However, it plays a critical role in:

• reviewing and providing comments on draft deliverables from WAI groups;
• raising issues which become inputs to WAI groups.

Deliverable review

The WAI IG reviews draft deliverables from WAI groups. These WAI IG reviews help ensure consideration of the perspectives of members of disability communities, research organizations, industry, government, and others who have an interest in Web accessibility but who may not have time to regularly or directly participate in WAI working groups.

Issue raising

The WAI IG's on-going discussion of technical and implementation issues related to Web accessibility helps drive the agendas of other WAI groups. In addition, WAI working groups occasionally escalate discussion on key questions to WAI IG for additional comment and reflection as needed.

5. Milestones

6. Dependencies

The WAI IG provides a forum for review and discussion of draft deliverables from the following WAI groups:

1. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group
2. Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines Working Group
3. User Agent Accessibility Guidelines Working Group
4. Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group
5. Education and Outreach Working Group
6. Research and Development Interest Group

7. Confidentiality

The WAI IG is a public Interest Group as defined by Section 4.1 of the Process Document.

8. Meetings

The WAI IG holds face-to-face meetings once or twice per year.

9. Communication

9.1 Communication within group

• WAI IG mailing list --  the primary forum for WAI IG discussion is the WAI IG mailing list, which is also available in a digest format. Because of occasionally heavy traffic and a broad range of topics on WAI IG, sometimes WAI IG discussions are moved onto other WAI mailing lists.
• WAI IG home page

9.2 Communication with W3C

• WAI IG coordinates with other WAI working groups through the WAI Coordination Group
• WAI IG coordinates with W3C through the WAI Domain Lead
• WAI Team members communicate about W3C and WAI activities through postings to WAI IG
• Other WAI groups report to the WAI IG at face-to-face meetings

9.3 Communication with public

• WAI IG communicates with the public through the WAI IG home page.

10. Voting

As the WAI IG has no criteria for maintaining the status of participation in good standing, W3C Process with regard to voting does not apply to this Interest Group.

Review comments on WAI deliverables are evaluated by WAI Working Groups on their merits, and changes made to deliverables accordingly. 

11. Patent Disclosures

The WAI IG provides an opportunity to share perspectives on Web accessibility. W3C reminds WAI IG participants of their obligation to comply with patent disclosure obligations as set out in Section 6 of the W3C Patent Policy. While the WAI IG does not produce Recommendation-track documents, when Interest Group participants review Recommendation-track specifications from Working Groups, the patent disclosure obligations do apply.

Please note that the proceedings of the WAI Interest Group (mailing list archives, minutes, etc.) are publicly visible.

12. Participation

12.1 W3C Member and invited expert participation

The WAI IG welcomes participation from representatives of W3C Member organizations and from invited experts from disability organizations, accessibility research projects, government organizations, and others interested in promoting accessibility of the Web.

There are no minimum requirements for participation in this Interest Group; however, WAI IG members are strongly encouraged to take advantage of frequent opportunities to review and comment on draft deliverables under preparation by other WAI groups.

12.2 How to participate

Information about how to participate in the WAI IG is available.

12.3 W3C Team resources

• 5% Judy Brewer -- Chair
• 5% Shawn Lawton Henry -- W3C Team Contact

Last updated $Date: 2005/01/21 04:47:33 $ by Judy Brewer (jbrewer@w3.org)

Copyright © 1994-2004 W3C^® (MIT, ERCIM, 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.