User Materials Task Force Work Statement

Status: Approved by EOWG in 7 July 2006 teleconference.

Page Contents

Objectives
Communication
Participation

Objectives

The User Materials Task Force is a task force of the Education and Outreach Working Group (EOWG) and operates under the EOWG charter. The Task Force takes a lead role in developing deliverables within the scope of this task force; but EOWG has sole authority to review and approve the deliverables.

The objective of the task force is to plan and develop different types of materials, including some non-technical materials, on topics of particular interest to potential and current Web users with disabilities and/or with accessibility needs due to ageing. Note that the task force focuses on "end users," not "developer users."

Potential topics to be addressed:

approaches for promoting and advocating for Web accessibility
opportunities for participating in W3C/WAI
what kinds of accessibility support users should be able to expect from Web sites that are accessible, and what accessibility logos actually mean (what kind of conformance statements do they represent?)
where to find information on how to use existing accessibility supports in mainstream software
where to find information on assistive technologies that can be used with browsers and media players
how to develop expertise in designing, developing, and/or evaluating Web sites
background on current standards or policy efforts that can affect Web accessibility

Potential deliverables which might address the topics listed above:

[for topic #1] How to Promote Web Accessibility in Your Community (resource page and/or slide set)
[for topic #1] Sample letters to owners of inaccessible Web sites, with attention issues of localization (resource page)
[for topic #2] How to Get Involved in W3C/WAI (resource page, slide set, presentations)
[for topic #3] How Much Accessibility Can I Expect If I See an Accessibility Logo on a Web Site? (including what does an accessibility logo mean) (resource page)
[for topics #3, #4] Sample "About the Accessibility of this Web Site" page(s), explaining the accessibility features of a given Web site, and how to find out about accessibility supports in your browser (resource page or resource suite, extending the kind of information in http://www.w3.org/WAI/changedesign)
[for topic #5] An expanded section on assistive technologies in "How People with Disabilities Use the Web," providing strategies on how to find the types of assistive technologies described in the document, and how to find other people with disabilities to network with on accessibility solutions (expand existing resource page, or add appendix)
[for topic #6] Providing User Evaluations of Web Sites: Getting Started (resource page and/or slide set)
[for topic #7] How do standards and policies help in achieving Web accessibility, and how to get involved in their development (resource page)

Communication

WAI User Materials Task Force communications are publicly visible. Communication mechanisms for the Task Force include:

User Materials Task Force mailing list <public-wai-eo-umtf@w3.org> and archives
Weekly Task Force teleconferences, as needed
Task Force work in EOWG teleconferences, monthly or when needed

Participation

Task Force participants must be participants of the EOWG, and must actively contribute to the work of the Task Force, including:

Assist in preparing Task Force deliverables
2-4 hours per week of Task Force work
Remain current on the Task Force mailing list and respond in a timely manner to postings on the list
Participate in Task Force telephone meetings, or send regrets to the list

Task Force Leadership

Facilitator: Wayne Dick
W3C Team support: Shawn Henry and Judy Brewer

Participants

User Materials Task Force participants are:

Doyle Saylor
Helle Bjarnø
Judy Brewer
Liam McGee
Shawn Henry
Wayne Dick
William Loughborough
(Pasquale Popolizio)

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