W3C logoWeb Accessibility Initiative

WAI: Strategies, guidelines, resources to make the Web accessible to people with disabilities

Note: This information is from a project in 2005.

WAI Site Task Analysis

Page Contents

Note: This Web page is a working draft and should not be referenced or quoted under any circumstances.

related page: previous drafts

Task List

  1. I need an overview of Web accessibility for [a report/an article/a presentation/my own curiosity].
  2. I want to know more about WAI in general. How long has it been around? How is it funded? Who is on the staff?
  3. How are documents and guidelines developed, approved, and endorsed at WAI (W3C)?
  4. I want the definition of the term "Web accessibility" for [a report/an article/a presentation/my own curiosity].
  5. I want to know the definitive meaning of some terms I've heard used in discussions about Web accessibility (e.g., "W3C technologies") - I'm looking for a glossary of terms.
  6. What are "priorities" and "conformance levels"?
  7. What do I have to do to get authorization to put a WAI logo on my site?
  8. The CEO just gave me (Internet site manager) responsibility for making our Web site accessible. I'm hoping WAI has some info to help me get started in the right direction!
  9. My boss told me (content developer) to make our Web site accessible and I need to know where to start.
  10. I want a simple checklist of what I (content developer) need to do for Web accessibility.
  11. I want to know the status of the new version of [xyz guidelines, e.g., WCAG 2.0]. When is it going to be done?
  12. I need to know the different between the old version of the guidelines and the new version of the guidelines [e.g., WCAG 1.0 and WCAG 2.0].
  13. I need to know the difference between WAI guidelines and [xyz guidelines, e.g., national guidelines]. (note: not supported on WAI site)
  14. I am doing a new thing [data tables, forms, etc.] and I want to make it accessible.
  15. I heard [xyz, e.g., text resizing] is important for accessibility; I want to know why [xyz] is important for accessibility and how to do [xyz].
  16. I heard [xyz, style sheets, SVG] technology/technique helps with accessibility; I want to know why [xyz] is good for accessibility and get an intro on [xyz].
  17. I want to know how the browsers and assistive technologies support each accessibility feature (e.g., access keys, long desc, acronym). That is, which browsers & AT support what things well, not well, or not at all.
  18. We hired a design firm to build our new Web site, and in the contract we specified that the site has to meet WCAG Priority 1 and Priority 2 Checkpoints. They just delivered the site (and invoice) for our approval. How can we tell if it indeed does meet WCAG and the accessibility is done well?
  19. Someone gave me a report generated by a Web evaluation tool, and I need to know how to evaluate the things it said needed human evaluation.
  20. Someone gave me a report generated by a Web evaluation tool, and I need to understand how to fix what it identified as errors.
  21. Someone told me that my site doesn't meet Checkpoint #x.x. I want to know what Checkpoint x.x is and how I fix my site.
  22. I (consultant, tool developer, content management system developer) need the definitive conformance answer on a specific issue related to WCAG.
  23. I am developing some online information/products using proprietary (non-W3C) products (e.g., Flash, Acrobat, JAVA) - how does WCAG apply to these?
  24. I am a software developer developing a Web-based front-end - what do I need to know to make my application accessible?
  25. I'm working on a content management system (CMS), which WAI guidelines do I need to take account of in order to be accessible?
  26. I heard WAI has a bunch of different guidelines. I want to know what they are and how they relate to each other and my work.
  27. I'm suppose to make my Web site so people with disabilities can use it - but I can't even imagine how a person who can't type or can't see can even use a computer.
  28. I want to test my pages with a screen reader and need to know which one I should use and how to use it - also, are there are things people with disabilities use that I should test with?
  29. I'm trying to convince someone that you can make visually-appealing, complex, technologically-cool sites that are accessible, and s/he said, "Prove it." I'd like a list of good example sites.
  30. I need information to help convince [self, boss, org, or other] that Web accessibility is important and that we should be doing it.
  31. I have been asked how much time and money it would take to make your Web site accessible. I'm looking for this info on the WAI site.
  32. I (government or corporate) need to incorporate Web accessibility into our Web publishing guidelines. I'm looking for examples of how others have done that.
  33. I've heard that text-only versions or sites are the easiest way to make accessible sites. But someone said that was bad. I'm looking for a definitive source on whether text-only sites are good or bad.
  34. I want statistics on disability to help make a business case for Web accessibility. (note: not supported on WAI site)
  35. I want to find out about Web accessibility laws in different countries around the world.
  36. I am trying to find a specific document. ["How People with Disabilities Use the Web", "Policies Relating to Web Accessibility", etc.] .
  37. I'm in charge of purchasing a Web accessibility evaluation tool for my organization. Does WAI provide an evaluation tool, or does WAI recommend a specific one? I'm looking for a review and comparison of the different tools. Also, it would be great to have a checklist of issues I should consider. (note: list available, other tasks not supported on WAI site)
  38. I need training on Web accessibility. Does WAI offer any training? Or list training provided by others?
  39. I am doing a presentation on accessibility and want to order Quick Tips to hand out.
  40. I am doing training on general accessibility information and trying to find materials for my presentation.
  41. I heard WAI is doing/did a redesign of their site and documented the process. I want to find the documentation.
  42. I have a specific question [e.g., interpretation of a Checkpoint] on Web accessibility that I want to ask WAI.
  43. I want to interview someone from WAI for an article.
  44. I would like to contact someone from WAI to do a presentation at a conference/meeting I'm organizing.
  45. I heard W3C WAI was open to outside participation and I want to help out.
  46. I'm interested in working for WAI and wonder if there are any current job openings.
  47. I just learned about [xyz] working group, and I want to find out all I can about them before I meet with my boss in 1/2 hour. (e.g., current work, past work, [list archives], participants, regular teleconference meetings, past meeting minutes)
  48. A WAI staff talked to me about sponsoring WAI and now I want to see who is already sponsoring WAI and get more info on sponsoring WAI.
  49. I'm a W3C AC rep and I want to check on WAI's Activity Statements and WAO WG's Charters.
  50. I am a member of a WAI WG and I am trying to find out when the next meeting is (in my time zone).
  51. I (person with a disability) want to know what aspects of accessible design should be useful to me, for example, what features of my assistive technology work with Web pages that are done right?
  52. A Web site that I want to use doesn't [increase text when I set my browser to large fonts, work with my screen reader]. First, I would like to understand why the Web site doesn't work - not the technical details, just the general idea. Second, I found like to find the technical details on how to fix it so I can send that link to the site's Webmaster.
  53. My family member just become disabled. I heard there is special software or something that can help her use the Web, and I'm looking for any help I can find. My Web search for "web disabilities" gave me the WAI home page.
  54. I would like to know what are the most common accessibility problems on Web sites today, and which are the most important WCAG checkpoints? (note: not currently supported on WAI site)
  55. My organization needs help with accessibility - who can we contact locally for advice/consulting/contracting? (note: not supported on WAI site)

Not Included:

Task-User Matrix (incomplete)

The Task-User Matrix table below includes color coding that is redundant with the text, as follows:

use: - (none or not applicable) seldom some lots

The "frequency of use" column in the User Matrix shows how much people in the user group use the WAI Web site. The Task-User Matrix table below shows how much of the time spent with the WAI site is spent doing specific tasks. For example, a the User Matrix could show that a group uses the site "probably only a few times" while the Tasks-User Matrix would show that when using the site they do a certain task "lots".

Task Web developers and content providers tool developers managers contract related disability focused legislator government policy maker (or assistant to) Web accessibility policy maker for specific organization educator, wanting to address accessibility in courses taught reporter internal public relations or marketing student doing paper on Web accessibility W3C Team member (non WAI) or W3C member organization representative WAI WG member*
1. I need an overview of Web accessibility for [a report/an article/a presentation/my own curiosity]. seldom seldom some some seldom some lots lots lots lots some lots seldom -
2. I want to know more about WAI in general. How long has it been around? How is it funded? Who is on the staff? seldom seldom seldom - some some some seldom some lots - lots seldom -
3. How are documents and guidelines developed, approved, and endorsed at WAI (W3C)? - - seldom - some some some seldom seldom some seldom seldom some some
4. I want the definition of the term "Web accessibility" for [a report/an article/a presentation/my own curiosity]. seldom seldom seldom seldom seldom some some some lots lots seldom lots seldom -
5. I want to know the definitive meaning of some terms I've heard used in discussions about Web accessibility (e.g., "W3C technologies") - I'm looking for a glossary of terms. seldom seldom seldom seldom seldom seldom some some lots lots seldom lots seldom seldom
6. What are "priorities" and "conformance levels"? lots lots seldom seldom - - - - seldom some - some seldom seldom
7. What do I have to do to get authorization to but a WAI logo on my site? lots - seldom seldom - - - - seldom - seldom - - -
8. The CEO just gave me (Internet site manager) responsibility for making our Web site accessible. I'm hoping WAI has some info to help me get started in the right direction! - - lots - seldom - - - - - seldom - - -
9. My boss told me (content developer) to make our Web site accessible and I need to know where to start. lots - seldom - - - - - - - - - - -
10. I want a simple checklist of what I (content developer) need to do for Web accessibility. lots - some - - - - - - - - some - -
11. I want to know the status of the new version of [xyz guidelines, e.g., WCAG 2.0]. When is it going to be done? lots some some seldom seldom seldom some some seldom some - some seldom seldom
12. I need to know the different between the old version of the guidelines and the new version of the guidelines [e.g., WCAG 1.0 and WCAG 2.0]. lots seldom seldom seldom seldom seldom some some some lots - seldom some seldom
13. I need to know the difference between WAI guidelines and [xyz guidelines, e.g., national guidelines]. (note: not supported on WAI site) some seldom lots seldom seldom seldom some some some some - seldom some seldom
14. I am doing a new thing [data tables, forms, etc.] and I want to make it accessible. lots lots seldom - seldom - - - - - - - seldom -
15. I heard [xyz, e.g., text resizing] is important for accessibility; I want to know why [xyz] is important for accessibility and how to do [xyz]. lots some seldom - - - - - - - - - - -
16. I heard [xyz, style sheets, SVG] technology/technique helps with accessibility; I want to know why [xyz] is good for accessibility and get an intro on [xyz]. lots seldom some - - - - - - - - seldom - -
17. I want to know how the browsers and assistive technologies support each accessibility feature (e.g., access keys, long desc, acronym). That is, which browsers & AT support what things well, not well, or not at all. some seldom seldom - lots seldom seldom seldom some seldom - seldom seldom -
18. We hired a design firm to build our new Web site, and in the contract we specified that the site has to meet WCAG Priority 1 and Priority 2 Checkpoints. They just delivered the site (and invoice) for our approval. How can we tell if it indeed does meet WCAG and the accessibility is done well?                            
19. Someone gave me a report generated by a Web evaluation tool, and I need to know how to evaluate the things it said needed human evaluation. some - seldom - - - - - seldom seldom seldom - - -
20. Someone gave me a report generated by a Web evaluation tool, and I need to understand how to fix what it identified as errors. some - seldom - - - - - seldom seldom seldom - - -
21. Someone told me that my site doesn't meet Checkpoint #x.x. I want to know what Checkpoint x.x is and how I fix my site. some - seldom - - - - - seldom seldom seldom - - -
22. I (consultant, tool developer, content management system developer) need the definitive conformance answer on a specific issue related to WCAG. lots lots seldom - - - - - - - - - - -
23. I am developing some online information/products using proprietary (non-W3C) products (e.g., Flash, Acrobat, JAVA) - how does WCAG apply to these? some some seldom - seldom seldom some some seldom - - seldom - -
24. I am a software developer developing a Web-based front-end - what do I need to know to make my application accessible? lots - - - - - - - - - - - - -
25. I'm working on a content management system (CMS), which WAI guidelines do I need to take account of in order to be accessible? some some seldom - - - - - - - - - - -
26. I heard WAI has a bunch of different guidelines. I want to know what they are and how they relate to each other and my work. seldom seldom seldom seldom seldom seldom seldom seldom seldom seldom - lots - -
27. I'm suppose to make my Web site so people with disabilities can use it - but I can't even imagine how a person who can't type or can't see can even use a computer.                            
28. I want to test my pages with a screen reader and need to know which one I should use and how to use it - also, are there are things people with disabilities use that I should test with? some - - - some - - - - - seldom seldom - -
29. I'm trying to convince someone that you can make visually-appealing, complex, technologically-cool sites that are accessible, and s/he said, "Prove it." I'd like a list of good example sites. some - some seldom lots seldom seldom seldom some some some some some lots
30. I need information to help convince [self, boss, org, or other] that Web accessibility is important and that we should be doing it. some lots some - some seldom some some lots - seldom some some lots
31. I have been asked how much time and money it would take to make your Web site accessible. I'm looking for this info on the WAI site. some - lots some seldom - - - seldom some - some - -
32. I (government or corporate) need to incorporate Web accessibility into our Web publishing guidelines. I'm looking for examples of how others have done that. - some some some seldom seldom some some some seldom seldom - - -
33. I've heard that text-only versions or sites are the easiest way to make accessible sites. But someone said that was bad. I'm looking for a definitive source on whether text-only sites are good or bad. some - some - seldom seldom seldom seldom some - - some - -
34. I want statistics on disability to help make a business case for Web accessibility. (note: not supported on WAI site) seldom - lots some seldom some lots some seldom seldom some lots - some
35. I want to find out about Web accessibility laws in different countries around the world. some some lots seldom some seldom some some seldom seldom seldom lots - some
36. I am trying to find a specific document. ["How People with Disabilities Use the Web", "Policies Relating to Web Accessibility", etc.] . some some some some some seldom some some some seldom seldom lots seldom some
37. I'm in charge of purchasing a Web accessibility evaluation tool for my organization. Does WAI provide an evaluation tool, or does WAI recommend a specific one? I'm looking for a review and comparison of the different tools. Also, it would be great to have a checklist of issues I should consider. (note: list available, other tasks not supported on WAI site) lots - lots some seldom - - - - - - - - -
38. I need training on Web accessibility. Does WAI offer any training? Or list training provided by others? some seldom - seldom some seldom seldom seldom seldom - - - - -
39. I am doing a presentation on accessibility and want to order Quick Tips to hand out. seldom - seldom seldom lots some some some lots - some some seldom lots
40. I am doing training on general accessibility information and trying to find materials for my presentation. seldom - seldom seldom lots some some some lots - some - seldom lots
41. I heard WAI is doing/did a redesign of their site and documented the process. I want to find the documentation. seldom - - seldom seldom seldom - - - - - seldom - -
42. I have a specific question [e.g., interpretation of a Checkpoint] on Web accessibility that I want to ask WAI. lots lots seldom seldom seldom some some some some some - some - -
43. I want to interview someone from WAI for an article. - - - - some - - - - lots seldom lots - -
44. I would like to contact someone from WAI to do a presentation at a conference/meeting I'm organizing. seldom seldom seldom seldom lots some some some some some seldom seldom some -
45. I heard W3C WAI was open to outside participation and I want to help out. some some seldom seldom lots - - - seldom - - seldom - -
46. I'm interested in working for WAI and wonder if there are any current job openings. seldom seldom seldom seldom some - - - - - - seldom some some
47. I just learned about [xyz] working group, and I want to find out all I can about them before I meet with my boss in 1/2 hour. (e.g., current work, past work, [list archives], participants, regular teleconference meetings, past meeting minutes) seldom seldom seldom seldom - - - - - - seldom - some some
48. A WAI staff talked to me about sponsoring WAI and now I want to see who is already sponsoring WAI and get more info on sponsoring WAI. seldom seldom seldom seldom seldom - - some - - some - some some
49. I'm a W3C AC rep and I want to check on WAI's Activity Statements and WAO WG's Charters. - - - - some - - - - - - - lots -
50. I am a member of a WAI WG and I am trying to find out when the next meeting is (in my time zone). - - seldom seldom seldom - - - - seldom - - seldom lots
51. I (person with a disability) want to know what aspects of accessible design should be useful to me, for example, what features of my assistive technology work with Web pages that are done right? - - - seldom lots seldom seldom some - - - - - -
52. A Web site that I want to use doesn't [increase text when I set my browser to large fonts, work with my screen reader]. First, I would like to understand why the Web site doesn't work - not the technical details, just the general idea. Second, I found like to find the technical details on how to fix it so I can send that link to the site's Webmaster. - - - seldom lots - - - - - - - - -
53. My family member just become disabled. I heard there is special software or something that can help her use the Web, and I'm looking for any help I can find. My Web search for "web disabilities" gave me the WAI home page. - - - - lots - - - - - - - - -
54. I would like to know what are the most common accessibility problems on Web sites today, and which are the most important WCAG checkpoints? (note: not currently supported on WAI site) seldom - some seldom lots seldom seldom seldom some lots - seldom - -
55. My organization needs help with accessibility - who can we contact locally for advice/consulting/contracting? (note: not supported on WAI site) some some lots some seldom - - - - - some - - -

* A WAI Working Group member could also fit into any of the above roles