About WAI

mission - overview - technical activity - international program office - additional information

Mission

The World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) commitment to lead the Web to its full potential includes promoting a high degree of usability for people with disabilities.

WAI, in coordination with organizations around the world, pursues accessibility of the Web through five primary areas of work: technology, guidelines, tools, education and outreach, and research and development.

Online Overview of WAI

An online presentation about the Web Accessibility Initiative, and an overview of Web accessibility issues.

WAI Technical Activity

The WAI Technical Activity includes work on technology, guidelines, and tools to increase accessibility of the Web for people with disabilities:

The Protocols and Formats Working Group reviews all W3C technologies for accessibility.
Three guidelines working groups produce guidelines for Web sites, Web authoring tools, and browsers: the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group, Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines Working Group, and User Agent Accessibility Guidelines Working Group.
The Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group develops techniques and tools for evaluating accessibility of Web sites, and for retrofitting Web sites to become more accessible.

WAI International Program Office Activity

The WAI International Program Office enables partnering and coordination among the many stakeholders in Web accessibility -- industry, disability organizations, government, and research organizations.

This Activity includes the WAI Interest Group for general discussion on Web accessibility;
the Education and Outreach Working Group which develops awareness and training materials; and
the WAI Coordination Group (member only) which coordinates among WAI working and interest groups.

Additional Information about WAI

A list of contacts includes information on how to reach WAI staff, the chairs of WAI groups; W3C press contacts, as well as directions to WAI offices.
A list of events includes upcoming meetings, press and document releases, and past WAI events.
A participation page explains how to participate in WAI interest groups and working groups.
A sponsorship lists current sponsors and provides contact information for becoming a WAI sponsor.

Last updated 11 November 2000 by Judy Brewer. Comments? wai-site-comments@w3.org

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