About W3C WAI

W3C WAI

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international public-interest non-profit organization where Member organizations, a full-time staff, and the public work together to develop open web standards.

W3C’s mission is to make the web work — for everyone.

The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is a key aspect of W3C’s work to enable a web that connects and empowers humanity.

























WAI develops strategies, standards, and resources to make the web accessible to people with disabilities and enable equal participation.

See Introduction to Web Accessibility and WAI Resources.

Accessibility vision

WAI supports W3C’s vision of a web for all humanity, designed for the good of all people.

The WAI vision is that the web and related technologies are accessible so that all people with disabilities around the globe can participate equally in the digital world. That includes:

High-level objectives

WAI contributes to W3C’s vision and strategic goals by addressing the following areas:

  1. Specifications, standards, and technologies support accessibility:
    • Ensure that W3C specifications support accessibility.
    • Provide guidance on accessibility in other specifications and technologies.
  2. International accessibility standards:
    • Facilitate international multi-stakeholder development and communication so the standards can be adopted and implemented internationally.
    • Develop technical specifications to support accessibility, such as WAI-ARIA and accessibility API mappings.
    • Develop accessibility standards/guidelines for relevant tools and content.
    • Provide guidance beyond what can be included in these standards, such as WCAG Supplemental Guidance.
  3. Support understanding, adopting, and implementing accessibility:
    • Facilitate and promote translations of W3C accessibility standards and supporting resources.
    • Provide documentation on understanding and implementing accessibility standards.
    • Provide awareness and education resources, such as many listed in WAI Resources.
  4. Accessibility research:
    • Encourage effective international research to provide a solid basis for accessibility standards.
    • Conduct horizon scanning.

Current work and news

Current work is introduced in What We’re Working On - Accessibility Activities and Publications.

New WAI publications, draft documents for review, and other WAI announcements are listed on the News page.

To get announcements via email, Atom/RSS feed, and social media, see Subscribe to WAI News.

WAI groups

WAI includes the following working groups and interest group:

W3C community groups

W3C Community Groups cover a variety of topics. Anyone can join Community Groups, after getting a free W3C account and signing the W3C Community Contributor License Agreement. Of the long list of Community Groups, here are some that are actively seeking contributors:

WAI staff

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