The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Technical Activity addresses barriers to Web accessibility on several levels. First, it seeks to ensure that the full range of core technologies of the Web, from HTML to the Semantic Web, is accessible. Barriers exist when these technologies lack features needed by users with visual, auditory, physical, cognitive or neurological disabilities; or when the accessibility potential in the technology is not implemented in Web content or applications. The WAI Technical Activity coordinates closely with the WAI International Program Office, which focuses on WAI education and outreach, research and development, and overall coordination of WAI activities.
The WAI Technical Activity reviews accessibility support across all W3C specifications, and develops the WAI-ARIA suite of resources for making Rich Internet Applications accessible, through the work of the Protocols and Formats Working Group (PFWG). The WAI Technical Activity also promotes implementation of accessibility improvements in Web technologies through development of a set of three WAI guidelines as Recommendations: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG), and Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG). These guidelines describe accessibility features needed to achieve different levels of accessibility, and include reference checklists and implementation techniques. The WAI Technical Activity also develops techniques to improve tools for evaluation and repair of Web sites, through the work of the Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group (ERT WG).
Since the previous W3C Advisory Committee Meeting in May 2008, the WAI Technical Activity accomplished the following through its five Working Groups.
The Protocols and Formats Working Group (PFWG) (Member PFWG page):
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group (WCAG WG):
The Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines Working Group (AUWG):
The User Agent Accessibility Guidelines Working Group (UAWG):
The Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group (ERT WG):
Protocols and Formats Working Group:
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group:
Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines Working Group:
User Agent Accessibility Guidelines Working Group:
Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group:
Group | Chair | Team Contact | Charter |
---|---|---|---|
Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines Working Group (participants) | Jutta Treviranus | Jeanne Spellman | Chartered until 31 December 2008 |
Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group (participants) | Shadi Abou-Zahra, Michael Squillace | Shadi Abou-Zahra | Chartered until 31 December 2008 |
Protocols and Formats Working Group (participants) | Alfred S. Gilman, Janina Sajka | Michael Cooper | Chartered until 31 December 2008 |
User Agent Accessibility Guidelines Working Group (participants) | Jim Allan | Jeanne Spellman | Chartered until 31 December 2008 |
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group (participants) | Loretta Guarino Reid, Gregg Vanderheiden | Michael Cooper | 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.
Judy Brewer, WAI Technical Activity Lead