Presentation Overview

• What is Web accessibility
• What are the WAI Guidelines
• Introduction to WCAG 2.0
• Older users on the Web

World Wide Web Consortium - W3C

Leading the Web to Its Full Potential ...

• International vendor-neutral consortium
• Evolution and interoperability of the Web: for everyone, everywhere on everything
• Operates from: MIT, ERCIM, and Keio
• Develops key Web technologies such as:HTML, CSS, XML, SVG, SMIL, ...

Web Accessibility Initiative - WAI

• Accessibility support in W3C technologies
• Guidelines for implementing accessibility
• Methods for evaluating accessibility
• Conducting education and outreach
• Coordinating with R&D world-wide

Web accessibility

Means that individuals with disabilities can access and use the Web as effectively as people who don't have disabilities.

More specifically it means people with disabilities can:

• access the Web
• interact with the Web
• contribute to the Web

Including older users

Accessibility components

Discussion of component interactions

Achieving accessibility

Authoring tools are key:

• Content management systems
• Editors and development tools
• Blogs, wikis, user-generated content
• Learning management systems
• …

Who develops WAI Guidelines

• Standards-making body for the Web
• International, multi-stakeholder development
• Formal process for broad public review
• Authorized translation policy

WCAG 2.0 almost released

WCAG 2.0

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0

• International standard
• Testable Requirements
• Technology-Independent
• Adaptable and Flexible

WCAG 2.0 Structure

Principles: POUR

Guidelines:

• Success Criteria
  Level A, AA, AAA

WCAG 2.0 Documents

See the description of the different WCAG 2.0 documents

Quick Reference screen shot

Example: Color contrast success criteria

See: How to Meet WCAG 2.0

Additional Benefits

Mobile Web

Ageing community

Mobile Web

High overlap between requirements for mobile devices and people with disabilities:

• Resizing and reflowing
• Use of colors and images
• Navigation and layout
• Multimedia and scripting

Ageing Impacts

Demographic changes in Europe:

• 17% over 65 in 2010
• 30% over 65 in 2050

Changing abilities with age:

• Visual
• Auditory
• Physical
• Cognitive impairments

WAI-AGE Project

EC FP6 project focused on:

• Better understanding the needs of the ageing community
• Working with the ageing community
• Developing educational materials
• Pursuing standards harmonisation

WAI-AGE Literature review

We found the literature:

• Not well understood by industry or users
• Often did not build on previous work
• Sometimes reflected a lack of technical knowledge
• Often seemed unaware of the W3C/WAI work

WCAG 2.0 addresses these

Future WAI-AGE Work

Development of educational and outreach materials.

Currently working on:

• Revision of existing WAI materials
  • Developing a Web Accessibility Business Case for Your Organization
  • Before and After Demonstration Web site
• Development of additional WAI materials
  • Involving Users in Web Accessibility Evaluation
  • Responding to Organisations with Inaccessible Web Sites
  • Online Slide-Set on Web Accessibility and Ageing

Participation welcome

Thank you and Questions

Contact Details:

• Web Accessibility Initiative:
  • www.w3.org/WAI/
• WAI-AGE Project:
  • www.w3.org/WAI/WAI-AGE/
• Email:
  • Andrew Arch: andrew@w3.org