Implementation Plan for Web Accessibility

introduction - responsibilities - assessment - policy - software - training - development - promotion - monitoring - [expand all]

Introduction

After an organization makes a commitment to make its Web site accessible, it is important to plan the process for implementing accessibility. This page outlines considerations for the planning process. Actual implementation plans will vary from organization to organization, and optimal order of the steps below will also vary.

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Establish Responsibilities

Establish coordination team with communication plan.
Identify high-level champion/spokesperson for Web accessibility.

Conduct Initial Assessment

Find out whether organization is subject to external requirements regarding Web accessibility.
Conduct initial assessment of organization's Web site, using Preliminary Review method.
Assess current awareness of need for Web accessibility by survey or interviews within organization.
Assess expertise of organization's Web developers on accessible Web design.
Assess suitability of current software to support development of accessible Web sites.
Estimate resources required to address needs identified in initial assessment.
Key resources:
Evaluating Web Sites for Accessibility
Preliminary Review

Develop Organizational Policy

Find out whether organization has existing policy on Web site design and technologies.
- In large organizations, note whether some department is already developing a general policy for Web site management, and if so what their timeline is.
Establish organizational policy on Web accessibility.
- Address issues such as conformance level, scope of site, use of proprietary formats, milestones, etc.
- Organizational policy should reflect at least the minimum accessibility requirements mandated by the government or industry association, but preferably the internationally recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines from the World Wide Web Consortium.
- For organizations that have a general Web site policy, integrate an accessibility section into the existing policy.
- A concise high-level statement of commitment, plus a comprehensive implementation-oriented statement, may both be useful, particularly in large organizations.
Develop initial and ongoing promotion plans to increase awareness of organization's policy, internally and externally.
- Plan for ongoing internal promotion as staff and responsibilities change over time.
Announce new organizational policy.
- Distribute materials about the new policy, including briefings, press releases, and in-house papers.
- Organize promotional events around the new accessibility policy, such as an accessibility promotion day.
- Large organizations may need to provide executive briefings.
Key resources:
Developing Organizational Policies on Web Accessibility
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Policies Relating to Web Accessibility
Executive Briefing on Web Accessibility

Select Software

Select authoring software most conformant to Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG).
Install with recommendations for configurations supporting production of accessible content.
Select software for evaluating and repairing Web accessibility.
Develop management process to counter any shortcomings of selected software.
Key resources:
Selecting Authoring Tools for Accessible Web Sites
Frequently Asked Questions on Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines
Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 1.0

Provide Training

Plan range of training options to meet needs of people with different roles in organization.
Offer repeated training options as staff and responsibilities change.
Key resources:
Planning Web Accessibility Training

Develop Accessible Web Site

Make accessibility a priority throughout development process.
Provide development team with tools to ensure accessibility.
Key resources:
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0
Techniques for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0
Evaluating Web Sites for Accessibility

Promote Organizational Awareness

Incorporate Web accessibility policy and explanation into key documents where appropriate.
Regularly reinforce organizational policy on Web accessibility.

Monitor Web Site Accessibility

Specify Web site evaluation process to be used, and ensure quality of process.
Conduct ongoing monitoring of organization's Web site.
Invite and respond to user feedback on organization's Web site.
Periodically review all aspects of implementation plan for effectiveness.
Key resources:
Evaluating Web Sites for Accessibility
Conformance Evaluation to WCAG 1.0

Note: This document is an initial draft [see change log in progress] and should not be referenced or quoted under any circumstances. This document is under development by the Education and Outreach Working Group (EOWG), and will be offered to other W3C groups and the public for review.

Last updated 27 February, 2002, by Judy Brewer, primary editing by Sarah Horton with assistance from Members of the Education and Outreach Working Group.

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