SVG Accessibility Task Force (SVG A11Y TF) Work Statement

Page Contents

• Status
• Objective
• Scope of Work
• Approach
• Communication
• Participation
• Facilitation
• Patent Policy

Status

This is a Work Statement for the SVG A11Y TF. It has been accepted by the ARIA WG and the SVG WG and the Task Force is active.

Objective

The objective of the SVG Accessibility Task Force is to identify the accessibility requirements and manage the progress of accessibility solutions in SVG2, while expanding participation and fostering collaboration among experts in SVG and Web Accessibility as a means to meet the requirements and goals of each group and to increase mutual understanding. This work is done as part of an effort to ensure accessibility of the W3C's Open Web Platform.

Scope of Work

The SVG Accessibility TF is a joint task force of the SVG Working Group (SVG WG) and the Protocols and Formats Working Group (PFWG). Accordingly, the SVG Accessibility TF operates in public view under the SVG WG charter and the PFWG charter.

The SVG Accessibility TF performs the following types of work in regards to accessibility in SVG2:

• review existing features;
• develop new features;
• propose solutions to identified issues;
• provide guidance to the SVG WG;
• develop and publish both specification and supporting best practices documentation.

Approach

The SVG Accessibility TF will provide a forum for identification and discussion of accessibility issues in SVG2, such as, though not limited to, well integrated support for WAI-ARIA.

All TF publications, including the SVG2 Accessibility API Mappings specification and the SVG2 Accessible Authoring Guidelines, will be joint publications of PFWG and SVG WG. The SVG Accessibility TF may create a proposal to change existing specification text to be processed in accordance with SVG WG Decision Policy. Members of either WG who have substantive comments on or concerns with SVG Accessibility TF publications are expected to raise them in the context of the SVG Accessibility TF.

Communication

SVG Accessibility TF communications and discussions are visible to the public. The primary means of communication within the task force are:

• E-mail discussions taking place on the SVG Accessibility TF's W3C mailing list, public-svg-a11y@w3.org.
• Weekly (or less frequently, as needed) SVG Accessibility TF teleconferences with minutes distributed to SVG Accessibility TF mailing list (archive);
• Sub-group teleconferences with minutes distributed to SVG Accessibility TF mailing list;
• The SVG Accessibility TF Wiki;
• The SVG Accessibility TF Issue Tracker;
• The SVG Accessibility TF may use Web-based surveys instead of email to poll group opinion.

In addition, to enable the group to work with the SVG and PF Working Groups, updates and feedback will be provided during SVG WG and PFWG teleconferences, as appropriate. These liaisons are primarily the responsibility of the SVG Accessibility TF Facilitators.

Members of the public who are not covered by the W3C Patent Policy (see Participation) are invited to send input to the public-svg-a11y mailing list. Messages should clearly indicate the deliverable to which they are related.

Participation

Any member of the PFWG or the SVG WG may participate in the SVG Accessibility TF. TF members are expected to have accepted the W3C Patent Policy via their membership in PFWG or SVG WG.

Participants should expect to dedicate 3 to 4 hours per week for SVG Accessibility TF work, which is considered part of the overall work commitment to the PFWG or SVG WG:

• Remain current on the SVG Accessibility TF mailing list and respond to postings in a timely manner;
• Provide feedback to editors of the SVG2 and any related extension specifications via email or by filing bugs;
• Participate in weekly SVG Accessibility TF teleconferences, or send regrets to the SVG Accessibility TF mailing list.

Participants may also join SVG Accessibility TF sub-groups. Sub-groups take on specific assignments for the SVG Accessibility TF. Currently active sub-groups are listed on the SVG Accessibility TF wiki.

If you are interested in becoming a participant of the SVG Accessibility TF or have any questions regarding its work, contact Michael Cooper.

Current Publications

The following is a list of documents that are managed by the SVG Accessibility TF and jointly owned by the SVG WG and PFWG:

• SVG2 Accessibility API Mappings
• SVG2 Accessible Authoring Guidelines

Facilitation

Staff contacts from the SVG WG and the PFWG oversee attention to W3C Process with respect to the chartered requirements of the respective WGs. The Facilitators set agenda, lead meetings, determine consensus, and are the primary liaison to the WGs.

Participants

Current SVG A11Y TF participants

Patent Policy

This Task Force is part of the PFWG Charter and SVG WG Charter, which operates under the W3C Patent Policy (5 February 2004 Version). W3C maintains a public list of any patent disclosures made in connection with the deliverables of the PFWG and the SVG WG.