Given the vital role that the Web plays throughout society, it is essential to ensure that the Web is accessible to people with disabilities. Access to the Web can affect people with visual, auditory, physical, cognitive, and neurological disabilities. The solutions developed for Web accessibility also benefit non-disabled people. The Web Content Accessibility Initiative (WAI) International Program Office helps create a forum where representatives of industry, the disability community, research, and government work together to identify accessibility requirements and develop solutions under W3C Process.
WAI's International Program Office Activity includes the following groups. The Education and Outreach Working Group develops a variety of materials to promote awareness and implementation of accessibility solutions for the Web. The Research and Development Interest Group explores accessibility considerations in advanced Web technologies. The WAI Interest Group maintains a large and active public discussion forum on Web accessibility; provides a forum for exchange of information on Web accessibility; and reviews deliverables produced by other WAI groups. The WAI Coordination Group coordinates work among groups in the WAI International Program Office Activity and the WAI Technical Activity.
Since the previous W3C Advisory Committee Meeting in April 2008, the Education and Outreach Working Group (EOWG) continued working on a broad range of materials to support other WAI groups. These included:
The WAI-AGE Project carried out the following in coordination with EOWG:
Additionally, WAI staff conducted the following education and outreach activities:
WAI International Program Office standards coordination work focused on promoting standards harmonization and included liaison with:
The Education and Outreach Working Group plans to:
The WAI-AGE Project plans to:
The Research and Development Interest Group plans to resume teleconference seminars in 1Q 2009.
The WAI Interest Group will continue review and discussion of WCAG 2.0, ATAG 2.0, UAAG 2.0, and WAI-ARIA drafts.
The WAI International Program Office will continue its work with M376, JTC1 SWG-A, and IGF DCAD.
| Group | Chair | Team Contact | Charter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education and Outreach Working Group (participants) | Shawn Henry | Shawn Henry | Chartered until 31 December 2008 |
| Research and Development Interest Group | Vacant | Vacant | Chartered until 31 December 2008 |
| WAI Coordination Group | Judy Brewer | Shadi Abou-Zahra | Chartered until 31 December 2008 |
| WAI Interest Group | Judy Brewer | Judy Brewer | Chartered until 31 December 2008 |
This Activity Statement was prepared for the October 2008 W3C Advisory Committee Meeting (Members only) per section 5 of the W3C Process Document. Generated from group data.
Shadi Abou-Zahra, WAI International Program Office Activity Lead
$Id: Activity.html,v 1.152 2008/11/03 14:37:13 ted Exp $