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W3C Web Standards and Accessibility

Shadi Abou-Zahra, W3C/WAI
http://www.w3.org/People/shadi/

(Svenska versionen | alternate presentation format)

About the World Wide Web

The social value of the Web is that it enables human communication, commerce, and opportunities to share knowledge. One of W3C's primary goals is to make these benefits available to all people, whatever their hardware, software, network infrastructure, native language, culture, geographical location, or physical or mental ability.

"Web for Everyone", vision of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

"Att se till att webben når sin fulla potential"
(Leading the Web to its full potential)

W3C Members

Currently more than 400 W3C Members:

List of current W3C Members

W3C Process

Governs W3C work and processes:

W3C Process is publicy available

Standards Development

Working Group development
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Public Working Draft
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Public review and comment
Arrow back to 'Working Group development'.

Document Maturity

Development Process

documents can proceed to more mature levels but also drop back; the development process can take different paths

W3C Hosts & Offices

W3C host sites and offices throughout the world described at http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Offices/

W3C Sweden Office

http://www.w3c.se/

Office Manager: Olle Olsson
Tel: +46 8 633 15 19
Email: w3c-sweden@w3.org
Swedish Institute of Computer Science (SICS)
Electrum Building, Isafjordsgatan 26
P.O. Box 1263, Kista
SE-164 29, Sweden

W3C Translations

W3C welcomes translations in all languages:

W3C Work Areas

W3C Technology Stack described at http://www.w3.org/Consortium/technology

Web Accessibility

The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect. WAI will ensure the Web can be accessed through different combinations of senses and physical capabilities just as other W3C activities ensure its operation across different hardware and software platforms, media, cultures and countries. - Tim Berners-Lee, February 1997

Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)

Making the Web accessible for people with disabilities:

WAI Work Areas

WAI develops strategies, guidelines, resources to make the Web accessible:

Scope of Web Accessibility

Equal access for people with disabilities:

Web Accessibility Barriers

Examples of barriers on the Web include:

Components of Web Accessibility

Essential Components of Web Accessibility

Web Content Accessibility

different components of a Web page such as pictures, text, diagrams, structures, etc.

Web content is:

Authoring Tool Accessibility

Web developer with a symbolic path to represent information that passes through authoring tools and evaluation tools in order to be published Web content.

User Agent Accessibility

Web user with a symbolic path to represent Web content that passes through user agents and assistive technologies in order to be acquired or experienced information.

Simple Example

specific example for alternative text on images which is a requirements by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0. Web developers provide text alternatives for the images using authoring tools. The HTML specification provides a mechanism to supplement images with such text. Finally, this redundant coding is used by browsers and assistive technology to convey the information to the end users according to their preferences, for example visually, through voice synthesis, or in form of text.

When Components Are Weak...

Symbolic paths around authoring tools or through multiple browsers and assistive technologies represent how Web developers and users need to spend more effort working around weak components that do not support accessibility.

Summary and Conclusion

Get involved and take leadership...

Thank You

Shadi Abou-Zahra, W3C/WAI
Activity Lead, WAI International Program Office
http://www.w3.org/People/shadi/