
WAI-ACT Project (IST 287725)
Introduction
Web Accessibility Initiative - Cooperation Framework for Guidance on Advanced Technologies, Evaluation Methodologies, and Research Agenda Setting to Support eAccessibility (WAI-ACT)
European Commission Project, 7th Framework Programme, IST 287725
Page Contents
Announcements
- Invitation to First WAI-ACT Open Meeting on 14 February 2012 in Brussels, Belgium
- Open position: WAI-ACT Web Accessibility Specialist
- Website Accessibility Metrics - Online Symposium 5 December 2011
- WAI-ACT Project started as of 1 September 2011
Current Work
- Eval TF - WCAG 2.0 Evaluation Methodology Task Force
- RDWG - Research and Development Working Group
- EOWG - Education and Outreach Working Group
- WCAG WG - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group
- Staff Activity
Other project deliverables are currently in planning and will be announced here.
How To Participate
WAI-ACT work is developed through W3C/WAI Working Groups. Current work is listed under the Working Group or Task Force above. To directly contribute to developing WAI-ACT work, consider participating in the Working Group developing the work that you are interested in.
Anyone can review drafts. To get notifications of drafts for review, see Getting WAI Announcements for links to WAI tweets, RSS feed, and WAI IG emails.
For more information on contributing to the WAI-ACT Project and other WAI work, see Getting Involved with WAI and Participating in WAI. If you have any questions, contact Shadi Abou-Zahra (Scientific Coordinator).
Project Publications
Presentations
- WAI-ACT Project (IST 287725) - presentation at FP7 Concertation Meeting held during AEGIS Conference on 30 November 2011
- Current and Upcoming WAI Resources - Get Involved! - remote presentation at OZeWAI on 30 November 2011
- Web Accessibility Guidance, Evaluation Methodologies, and Research Explorations - presentation at AEGIS Conference on 29 November 2011
Resources
Several resources are currently under development; please see current work section for more information.
About WAI-ACT
WAI-ACT is co-funded by the European Commission as a Specific Support Action under the IST 7th Framework Programme. It is lead by and builds upon the strengths of the existing World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) cooperation mechanisms to facilitate strategic European and international participation throughout the project. WAI-ACT project partners are:
- W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (W3C/WAI)
- Stiching Bartimeus Accessibility (SBA)

- Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology (Fraunhofer)

- Johannes Keppler University (JKU)

WAI-ACT work is developed in an open, non-exclusive collaborative environment to maximize participation and involvement from stakeholders. WAI-ACT also seeks active exchange with relevant networks in Europe such as eAccess+
, and coordination standardisation activities such as EC Mandate M/376
.
More specifically...
WAI-ACT, a Cooperation Framework for Guidance on Advanced Technologies, Evaluation Methodologies, and Research Agenda Setting to Support eAccessibility, addresses critical areas of advanced accessibility support through activities that build upon the strengths of past web accessibility work, harmonizes existing work, and helps shape a research agenda in coordination with key stakeholders in Europe and internationally.
The project addresses the need for expanded European and international cooperation on the development of accessibility solutions for people with disabilities; for consensus-based, authoritative technical guidance to accelerate implementation of advanced technologies; for internationally harmonised evaluation methodologies; and for a coordinated research agenda on eAccessibility.
WAI-ACT addresses these challenges through development of a framework for open, expanded cooperation among European and international stakeholders, technical guidance on advanced web technologies; an evaluation methodology for web accessibility; and a research agenda for eAccessibility. Technical guidance will include a repository of information on accessibility support in web technologies, application notes on authoring accessible web page components, and code samples for web applications. WAI-ACT will result in:
- Expanded cooperation on the development of accessibility solutions
- Authoritative accessibility guidance on advanced web technologies
- Harmonized methodologies for evaluating accessibility of websites
- Common visions for a coordinated eAccessibility research agenda
See project deliverables and contact Shadi Abou-Zahra (Scientific Coordinator) for more information.
Project Staff
WAI-ACT project staff include the following people:
- W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (W3C/WAI)
- Shadi Abou-Zahra (Scientific Coordinator)
- Philippe Rohou (Administrative Coordinator)
- Web Accessibility Specialist (position open)
- Vivien Lacourba
- Project Assistant (to be announced)
- Stiching Bartimeus Accessibility (SBA)
- Eric Velleman
- Martijn Houtepen
- Wilco Fiers
- FIT Web Compliance Center (Fraunhofer)
- Carlos Velasco
- Yehya Mohamad
- Philip Ackermann
- Evangelos Vlachogiannis
- Johannes Keppler University (JKU)
- Klaus Miesenberger
- Daniel Pöll
- Andrea Petz