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WAI Interest Group (WAI IG) Charter

This charter is written in accordance with Section 6.2.6 of the 5 February 2004 W3C Process Document.

  1. Mission
  2. Scope
  3. Duration
  4. Deliverables
  5. Milestones
  6. Dependencies
  7. Confidentiality
  8. Meetings
  9. Communication
  10. Voting
  11. Patent Disclosures
  12. Participation

Information on how to participate in the WAI IG is available.

1. Mission

The mission of the Web Accessibility Initiative Interest Group (WAI IG) is to provide a forum for review of deliverables under development by other WAI groups; for exploration of barriers to and potential solutions for accessibility of the Web; and for exchanging information about activities related to Web accessibility around the world.

This mission supports the work of other Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) groups within the WAI Technical Activity and the WAI International Program Office. The WAI IG is part of the WAI International Program Office Activity.

The orginal WAI IG Charter and second WAI IG Charter are available. The WAI IG is renewing its charter in order to continue its role as a forum for discussions on Web accessibility.

2. Scope

The WAI IG's scope of work includes:

3. Duration

The WAI IG is scheduled for three years, from 1 January 2005 through 31 December 2007.

4. Deliverables

As an Interest Group, the WAI IG does not produce deliverables. However, it plays a critical role in:

Deliverable review

The WAI IG reviews draft deliverables from WAI groups. These WAI IG reviews help ensure consideration of the perspectives of members of disability communities, research organizations, industry, government, and others who have an interest in Web accessibility but who may not have time to regularly or directly participate in WAI working groups.

Issue raising

The WAI IG's on-going discussion of technical and implementation issues related to Web accessibility helps drive the agendas of other WAI groups. In addition, WAI working groups occasionally escalate discussion on key questions to WAI IG for additional comment and reflection as needed.

5. Milestones

The WAI IG does not have milestones.

6. Dependencies

The WAI IG provides a forum for review and discussion of draft deliverables from the following WAI groups:

  1. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group
  2. Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines Working Group
  3. User Agent Accessibility Guidelines Working Group
  4. Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group
  5. Education and Outreach Working Group
  6. Research and Development Interest Group

7. Confidentiality

The WAI IG is a public Interest Group as defined by Section 4.1 of the Process Document.

8. Meetings

The WAI IG holds face-to-face meetings once or twice per year.

9. Communication

9.1 Communication within group

9.2 Communication with W3C

9.3 Communication with public

10. Voting

As the WAI IG has no criteria for maintaining the status of participation in good standing, W3C Process with regard to voting does not apply to this Interest Group.

Review comments on WAI deliverables are evaluated by WAI Working Groups on their merits, and changes made to deliverables accordingly. 

11. Patent Disclosures

The WAI IG provides an opportunity to share perspectives on Web accessibility. W3C reminds WAI IG participants of their obligation to comply with patent disclosure obligations as set out in Section 6 of the W3C Patent Policy. While the WAI IG does not produce Recommendation-track documents, when Interest Group participants review Recommendation-track specifications from Working Groups, the patent disclosure obligations do apply.

Please note that the proceedings of the WAI Interest Group (mailing list archives, minutes, etc.) are publicly visible.

12. Participation

12.1 W3C Member and invited expert participation

The WAI IG welcomes participation from representatives of W3C Member organizations and from invited experts from disability organizations, accessibility research projects, government organizations, and others interested in promoting accessibility of the Web.

There are no minimum requirements for participation in this Interest Group; however, WAI IG members are strongly encouraged to take advantage of frequent opportunities to review and comment on draft deliverables under preparation by other WAI groups.

12.2 How to participate

Information about how to participate in the WAI IG is available.

12.3 W3C Team resources


Last updated $Date: 2005/01/21 04:47:33 $ by Judy Brewer (jbrewer@w3.org)

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