Accessibility

The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.

Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Founding Director and inventor of the World Wide Web

The power of the web

The Web is fundamentally designed to work for all people, whatever their hardware, software, language, location, or ability. When the web meets this goal, it is accessible to people with a diverse range of hearing, movement, sight, and cognitive ability.

Including everyone

Web accessibility is about designing web sites, applications, technologies, tools, products and services in an inclusive manner, and thus lifting barriers to communication and interaction that many people face in the physical world.

The mission of the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is to develop strategies, standards, and supporting resources to help you make the web accessible to people with disabilities, thus enabling everyone to participate equally on the web.

Introduction to Web Accessibility and W3C Standards

About the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)

WAI develops its work through W3C’s consensus-based process, involving different stakeholders in web accessibility. These include industry, disability organizations, government, accessibility research organizations, and more, and in partnership with organizations around the world, pursues accessibility of the web through these primary activities:

  • ensuring that W3C standards support accessibility
  • developing accessibility guidelines for web content and applications, browsers, and authoring tools
  • developing resources to improve web accessibility evaluation processes and tools
  • supporting education and outreach on web accessibility
  • coordinating with research and development that may impact future accessibility of the web
  • promoting harmonized international uptake of web accessibility standards

Shape an accessible Web as a W3C Member

W3C Members play a significant role in shaping the Web.

Contact W3C to learn more about the benefits of W3C Membership to play a significant role yourself!