Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Highlights ◦ Web Accessibility Initiative ◦ W3C

Updated: Tutorials on Web Accessibility

Web Accessibility Tutorials on Menus, Page Structure, Forms, Images, Tables, and Carousels have been updated. These tutorials show you how to create web content that is accessible to people with disabilities and that improves the user experience for all users. They include general guidance, and specific examples for HTML5 and WAI-ARIA. (2017-04-18)

WCAG 2.1 Working Draft - April 2017

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Working Draft is updated. This draft includes on”)success criteria that have been formally accepted by the Working Group, and not the “proposed” success criteria that were in the previous draft. The Working Group has not addressed all comments yet; they are in queue for upcoming work. We plan to publish updated drafts monthly, to encourage timely review of the success criteria that the Working Group has approved. More information is in the WCAG 2.1 April 2017 announcement and WCAG 2.1 status. Please comment by 9 May 2017. (2017-04-19)

Accessibility Conformance Testing (ACT) Rules Format 1.0 First Public Working Draft

Accessibility Conformance Testing (ACT) Rules Format 1.0 has been published as a First Public Working Draft. It specifies a common format for accessibility test rules, and how to write test procedures for quality assurance. It facilitates harmonization of automated, semi-automated, and manual accessibility testing approaches, and helps organizations to better document and share their testing methods. Please comment by 5 May 2017. More information is in the blog post WCAG Accessibility Conformance Testing (ACT); Read about the Accessibility Guidelines Working Group and the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) (2017-04-06)

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 First Public Working Draft

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 has been published as a First Public Working Draft. Sites that conform to WCAG 2.1 will also conform to WCAG 2.0, which means they meet the requirements of any policies that reference WCAG 2.0. This first draft includes 28 new Success Criteria, three of which have been formally accepted by the Working Group and the remainder included as proposals to provide an opportunity for early feedback. Further information is available in the blog post: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 First Public Working Draft. Please comment by 31 March 2017. Read about the Accessibility Guidelines Working Group and the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) (2017-02-28)

Updated: Easy Checks - A First Review of Web Accessibility

WAI's Education and Outreach Working Group (EOWG) has updated Easy Checks - A First Review of Web Accessibility. This resource helps you start to assess the accessibility of a web page. With these simple steps, you can get an idea whether or not accessibility is addressed in even the most basic way. These checks cover just a few accessibility issues and are designed to be quick and easy, rather than definitive. This update includes a new check on Moving, Flashing, or Blinking Content and instructions for the Web Developer Toolbar for multiple browsers. (2016-12-16)

Updated Resources: Planning and Managing Web Accessibility

WAI's Education and Outreach Working Group (EOWG) has updated these three resources:

Web Accessibility First Aid: Approaches for Interim Repairs is intende”)lp with the situation: “I need to make my website accessible and I don't even know where to start!” It provides guidance on addressing short-term accessibility fixes.
Developing Organizational Policies on Web Accessibility helps you develop a simple or comprehensive web accessibility policy for an organization.
Planning and Managing Web Accessibility helps you integrate accessibility throughout the web production process. It applies to individual projects and at the organizational level.

(2016-Dec-15)

WCAG 2.1 under exploration

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group announces a plan to develop WCAG 2.1, which builds on but does not supersede WCAG 2.0. We request feedback as early as possible, and by 1 November 2016. (2016-10-12)

Updated October 2016: Understanding WCAG & WCAG Techniques

Updated supporting documents for WCAG 2.0 were published today: Techniques for WCAG 2.0 and Understanding WCAG 2.0. (This is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document.) (2016-10-07)

Video Pages Updated: Perspectives on Web Accessibility -- Essential for Some, Useful for All

Web Accessibility Perspectives explores the impact of accessibility for people with disabilities and the benefits for everyone. This resource introduces 10 web accessibility topics with short videos, brief descriptions, and links to learn more. The videos relate the benefits of accessibility to everyone in different situations, and encourage viewers to learn more about web accessibility.

For links to playlists, request for specific feedback, and more information, see the Updated Video Pages e-mail. (2016-09-20)

For Review: WAI-ARIA Graphics Module, Graphics Accessibility API Mappings, and SVG Accessibility API Mappings

A First Public Working Draft of Graphics Accessibility API Mappings, along with updated Working Drafts of WAI-ARIA Graphics Module and SVG Accessibility API Mappings are available for review. Please send comments by 30 September 2016. (2016-09-08)

For Review: Final Working Draft of WAI-ARIA 1.1

A Working Draft of Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.1 is available for review. This is intended to be the last Working Draft before the specification becomes a Candidate Recommendation. Please review to ensure this version is feature complete. Comments are requested by 26 August 2016. (2016-07-21)

For Review: Updated WCAG Techniques & Understanding WCAG

WAI announces a Call for Review of draft updates to supporting documents for WCAG 2.0: Techniques for WCAG 2.0 (Public Review Draft) and Understanding WCAG 2.0 (Public Review Draft). (This is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document.) To learn more about the updates, see Call for Review: WCAG 2.0 Techniques Draft Updates e-mail. Please submit comments by 9 August 2016. (2016-07-19)

WAI-ARIA 1.0 Authoring Practices and Primer retired

WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices 1.1 is the key support resource from the ARIA Working Group for content authors using Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA). The older draft WAI-ARIA 1.0 support resources have been retired: Authoring Practices and Primer. The content of those older documents in this publication has been removed and the Status section directs readers to the WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices 1.1. Content that is still relevant from the older resources has been migrated to and updated in the WAI-ARIA 1.1 Authoring Practices. For more information, see the WAI-ARIA 1.0 Authoring Practices and Primer retired email.

(2015-07-14)

New Videos: Perspectives on Web Accessibility -- Essential for Some, Useful for All

Web Accessibility Perspectives explores the impact of accessibility for people with disabilities and the benefits for everyone. This resource introduces 10 web accessibility topics with short videos, brief descriptions, and links to learn more. The videos relate the benefits of accessibility to everyone in different situations, and encourage viewers to learn more about web accessibility. (2016-05-17)

For Review: Accessibility Requirements for People with Low Vision - First Public Working Draft

WAI invites you to review the Accessibility Requirements for People with Low Vision Working Draft. This document describes what people with low vision need for electronic content, tools, and technologies to be accessible. It includes an overview of low vision and describes specific user needs. It does not set technical requirements. It provides the background for planned future work on guidance for making web content, tools, and technologies accessible to people with low vision. Please send comments by 14 April 2016. (2016-03-17)

Updated: How to Meet WCAG 2.0: A customizable quick reference

We're excited about the shiny new version of How to Meet WCAG 2.0: A customizable quick reference to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 requirements (success criteria) and techniques. It has a more modern design and additional functionality to filter by Tags that are categorized under Developing, Interaction Design, Content Creation, and Visual Design. (The previous version is still available.) (2016-03-17)

WCAG-EM Report Tool: Accessibility Evaluation Report Generator

The WCAG-EM Report Tool: Website Accessibility Evaluation Report Generator is updated. The tool helps you generate website accessibility evaluation reports according to Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology (WCAG-EM). We encourage feedback on this version of the WCAG-EM Report Tool and suggestions for improvements for the next version. (2016-03-17)

Updated: Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool List

An updated version of the Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools List is now available. Web accessibility evaluation tool vendors are encouraged to submit information about their tool to the list. (2016-03-17)

For Review: WAI-ARIA 1.1, DPub Roles, Accessibility API Mappings, and Authoring Practices Working Drafts

Updated Working Drafts of Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.1, Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module 1.0, Core Accessibility API Mappings 1.1, Accessible Name and Description: Computation and API Mappings 1.1, Digital Publishing Accessibility API Mappings 1.0, and WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices 1.1 are available for review. Please send comments by 15 April 2016. (2016-03-17)

Updated March 2016: Understanding WCAG & WCAG Techniques

Updated supporting documents for WCAG 2.0 were published today: Techniques for WCAG 2.0 and Understanding WCAG 2.0. (This is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document.) (2016-03-17)

W3C to Receive Emmy® for Work on Accessible Captioning

W3C will receive a Technology & Engineering Emmy ® Award for work on standardization and pioneering development of broadband captioning. W3C's Timed Text Markup Language (TTML) helps make video content more accessible to people with disabilities, particularly people who are deaf or hard of hearing, through text captioning. More info about the award and about TTML is available in a press release, and info about WAI's related work is in the W3C to Receive Emmy® for Work on Accessible Captioning e-mail. Thanks to everyone who contributes to accessibility work through W3C and WAI! (2016-01-05)

For Review: Updated WCAG Techniques & Understanding WCAG

WAI announces a Call for Review of draft updates to supporting documents for WCAG 2.0: Techniques for WCAG 2.0 (Public Review Draft) and Understanding WCAG 2.0 (Public Review Draft). (This is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document.) To learn more about the updates, see Call for Review: WCAG 2.0 Techniques Draft Updates e-mail. Please submit comments by 29 January 2015. (2016-01-07)

For Review: Requirements for WCAG 2.0 Extensions - First Public Working Draft

A First Public Working Draft of Requirements for WCAG 2.0 Extensions is available for review. For information on this draft, see the Call for Review: Requirements for WCAG 2.0 Extensions - First Public Working Draft e-mail and "Shaping the WCAG 2.0 extensions" blog post. Please send comments by 5 February 2016. (2016-01-05)

User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 and UAAG 2.0 Reference published as Working Group Notes

The User Agent Accessibility Guidelines Working Group (UAWG) has published User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG 2.0) and UAAG 2.0 Reference as W3C Working Group Notes. UAAG 2.0 defines how browsers, media players, and other “user agents” should support accessibility for people with disabilities and work with assistive technologies. Although W3C does not currently have plans to advance UAAG 2.0 to Recommendation, the need and opportunity to improve accessibility in user agents still exists. We hope that this work will be continued in future combined Guidelines group. UAAG 2.0 provides specific accessibility guidance for user agent developers who want to build a better user experience for all users. See the UAAG Published as Notes e-mail for additional info. (2015-12-15)

Media Accessibility User Requirements Working Group Note

Media Accessibility User Requirements has been published as a Working Group Note. For information on this publication, see the MAUR Note announcement e-mail and MAUR Note blog post. (2015-12-03)

For Review: WAI-ARIA Graphics Module First Public Working Draft

A First Public Working Draft of WAI-ARIA Graphics Module 1.0 is available for review. For information on this draft, see the Call for Review: WAI-ARIA Graphics Module First Public Working Draft e-mail and Graphics Roles blog post. Please send comments by 15 January 2016. (2015-12-03)

For Review: Digital Publishing API Mappings First Public Working Draft

A First Public Working Draft of Digital Publishing Accessibility API Mappings 1.0 (DPub-AAM) is available for review. For information on updates in this draft, see the Call for Review: Digital Publishing Accessibility API Mappings First Public Working Draft e-mail. Please send comments by 15 January 2016. (2015-12-03)

For Review: HTML Accessibility API Mappings First Public Working Draft

An updated Working Draft of HTML Accessibility API Mappings 1.0 (HTML-AAM) is available for review. For information on updates in this draft, see the Call for Review: HTML-AAM Working Drafts e-mail. Please send comments by 15 January 2016. (2015-12-03)

For Review: WAI-ARIA 1.1, Accessibility API Mappings, and WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices Working Drafts

Updated Working Drafts of Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.1, Core Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 (Core-AAM), Accessible Name and Description: Computation and API Mappings 1.1 (AccName-AAM), SVG Accessibility API Mappings 1.0 (SVG-AAM), and WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices 1.1 are available for review. For information on updates in these drafts, see the Call for Review: WAI-ARIA 1.1 and AAM Working Drafts e-mail. Please send comments by 15 January 2016. (2015-11-19)

For Review: Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module Working Draft

Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module 1.0 is available for review as a First Public Working Draft. This specification extends WAI-ARIA 1.1 to facilitate automated processing and accessibility support for digital publications. This specification extends WAI-ARIA 1.1 to define an ontology of roles, states, and properties specific to digital publishing to allow authors to convey structural information to assistive technologies, and to enable semantic navigation, styling, and interactive features used by readers. For more information, see the [Call for Review: Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module Working Draft e-mail. Please send comments by 15 January 2016. (2015-11-19)

For Review: How to Meet WCAG 2.0: A customizable quick reference

WAI invites you to comment on the draft redesign of How to Meet WCAG 2.0: A customizable quick reference to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 requirements (success criteria) and techniques. It is intended to replace the current How to Meet WCAG 2.0: A customizable quick reference. We welcome comments on the user interface and the filtering by 2 December, preferrably via GitHub, or alternatively via e-mail to wai-eo-editors@w3.org. (2015-11-17)

Tips for Getting Started with Web Accessibility

Tips for Getting Started with Web Accessibility are designed to meet the needs of web developers, designers, writers, and others who want practical starting points for implementing web accessibility and WCAG 2.0 in their work. Three Tips pages are available now:

Tips on Designing for Web Accessibility - Tips for user interface and visual design
Tips on Writing for Web Accessibility - Tips for writing and presenting content
Tips on Developing for Web Accessibility - Tips for markup and coding

We welcome your input on improving these pages. Near the bottom of each page are links to GitHub and e-mail for comments. (2015-10-01)

ATAG 2.0 is a W3C Recommendation

The Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0 was published today as a completed web standard. ATAG provides guidelines for designing web content authoring tools that are both more accessible to authors with disabilities (Part A) and designed to enable, support, and promote the production of more accessible web content by all authors (Part B). Selecting authoring tools that conform to ATAG 2.0 can facilitate the process of creating accessible Web content, and can also remove barriers to content creation by people with disabilities. Implementing ATAG 2.0 has been published as a Working Group Note to provide additional explanation, examples and resources for the ATAG 2.0 success criteria. (2015-09-24)

For Review: User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0

Updated Working Drafts of UAAG 2.0 and the UAAG 2.0 Reference: Explanations, Examples, and Resources for User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 are now available for r”)UAAG defines how browsers, browser extensions, media players, readers, and other “user agents” should support accessibility for people with disabilities and work with assistive technologies. UAAG 2.0 is changing from a W3C Recommendation track document to a Working Group Note. It is introduced in the UAAG Overview. Please send any comments by 13 October 2015. (2015-09-15)

Low Vision Accessibility Task Force: Seeking Participation

A new Low Vision Accessibility Task Force will develop more specific guidance on meeting the web accessibility needs of people with low vision. To learn more, see the Low Vision Accessibility Task Force home page. (2015-08-18)

Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0 is a Proposed Recommendation

Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0 was published today as a Proposed Recommendation. ATAG 2.0 provides guidelines for designing web content authoring tools that are both more accessible to authors with disabilities (Part A) and designed to enable, support, and promote the production of more accessible web content by all authors (Part B). ATAG is described in the ATAG Overview.

Please send comments to public-atag2-comments@w3.org (Public Archive) by 18 August 2015. (2015-07-21)

For Review: WAI-ARIA 1.1 and Core Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 Working Drafts

Updated Working Drafts of Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.1, Core Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 (Core-AAM), and Accessible Name and Description: Computation and API Mappings 1.1 (AccName-AAM) are available for review. For information on updates in these drafts, see the Call for Review: WAI-ARIA 1.1 and Core Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 Working Drafts e-mail. Please send comments by 28 August 2015. (2015-07-14)

For Review: Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module Working Draft

Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module 1.0 is available for review as a First Public Working Draft. This specification extends WAI-ARIA 1.1 to facilitate automated processing and accessibility support for digital publications. For more information, see the [Call for Review: Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module Working Draft e-mail and blog post "ARIA and DPUB publish FPWD". Please send comments by 11 September 2015. (2015-07-07)

ATAG 2.0 CR updated with simplified exit criteria

Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0 Candidate Recommendation (CR) has been updated with simplified exit criteria that will allow ATAG 2.0 to be completed more quickly. For more information, see the ATAG 2.0 Candidate Recommendation has updated exit criteria e-mail. (2015-06-04)

For Review: WAI-ARIA 1.1 and Core Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 Working Drafts

A First Public Working Draft of WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices 1.1 and updated Working Drafts of Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.1 and Core Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 (Core-AAM) are available for review. For information on updates in these drafts, see the Call for Review: WAI-ARIA 1.1 and Core Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 Working Drafts e-mail. Please send comments by 12 June 2015. (2015-05-14)

For Review: IndieUI: Events and IndieUI: User Context Drafts Updated

Updated Working Drafts of IndieUI: Events and IndieUI: User Context are available for review. IndieUI defines a way for different user interactions to be translated into simple events and communicated to web applications. These drafts include a reduction in scope for the 1.0 version, and minor property and interface changes. See:

IndieUI Overview for a short introduction,
IndieUI: Events 1.0 - Events for User Interface Independence - for the Events draft,
IndieUI: User Context 1.0 – Contextual Information for User Interface Independence - for the User Context draft,
Requirements for IndieUI: Events 1.0 and IndieUI: User Context 1.0 for requirements the specification should meet,
Updated Working Draft: IndieUI Events - for Mobile and More e-mail for information on updates,
Mobile Accessibility to learn about related work.

The IndieUI Working Group is currently exploring moving this work to other Working Groups; however, comments on these drafts are still welcomed, preferably by 29 May 2015. (2015-04-30)

For Review: HTML Accessibility API Mappings (HTML-AAM) Working Draft

HTML Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 (HTML-AAM) is available for review as a First Public Working Draft. This specification defines how user agents map HTML markup to platform accessibility application programming interfaces (APIs). It provides HTML-specific guidance to define how the HTML user agent must respond to keyboard focus, native HTML features, and role, state, and property attributes provided in web content via WAI-ARIA. For more information, see the Call for Review: HTML Accessibility API Mappings (HTML-AAM) Working Draft e-mail. Please send comments by 8 May 2015. (2015-04-07)

WCAG-EM Report Tool: Accessibility Evaluation Report Generator

WAI is excited to announce the first version of the WCAG-EM Report Tool: Website Accessibility Evaluation Report Generator. The tool helps you generate website accessibility evaluation reports according to Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology (WCAG-EM). We encourage feedback on this version of the WCAG-EM Report Tool and suggestions for improvements for the next version. (2015-03-03)

Web Accessibility Tutorials on Forms, Images, Tables

Updated Web Accessibility Tutorials on Forms, Images, and Tables are now available. These tutorials show you how to create web content that is accessible to people with disabilities and that improves the user experience for all users. They include general guidance, and specific examples for HTML5 and WAI-ARIA. (2015-03-03)

For Review: Mobile Accessibility - How WCAG 2.0 and Other W3C/WAI Guidelines Apply

Mobile Accessibility: How WCAG 2.0 and Other W3C/WAI Guidelines Apply to Mobile is now available for your review as a First Public Working Draft. This document provides informative guidance, and does not set requirements. (It will not impact WCAG 2.0 itself; WCAG 2.0 is a stable standard.) Please see more information in the Call for Review: Mobile Accessibility - How WCAG 2.0 and Other W3C/WAI Guidelines Apply email. Comments are welcome by 26 March 2015. (2015-02-26)

HTML5 longdesc is a W3C Recommendation

The HTML5 Image Description Extension (longdesc) was published today as a completed web standard. This HTML5 extension defines a longdesc attribute that is used to provide links to detailed descriptions of images. More information is available in the HTML5 Image Description Extension (longdesc) is a W3C Recommendation e-mail. (2015-02-26)

For Review: SVG Accessibility API Mappings First Draft

SVG Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 (SVG-AAM) is available for review as a First Public Working Draft. This specification addresses scalable vector graphics (SVG) user agent developers. More information on its relationship with WAI-ARIA is available in the Call for Review: SVG Accessibility API Mappings Working Draft e-mail. Comments are welcome by 27 March 2015. (2015-02-26)

Updated February 2015: Understanding WCAG & WCAG Techniques

Updated supporting documents for WCAG 2.0 were published today: Techniques for WCAG 2.0 and Understanding WCAG 2.0. (This is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document.) More information is available in the Understanding WCAG & WCAG Techniques Updated February 2015 e-mail. (2015-02-26)

For Review: Cognitive Accessibility User Research

We invite you to review the First Public Working Draft of Cognitive Accessibility User Research. This planned W3C Working Group Note describes the challenges of using web technologies for people with learning disabilities or cognitive disabilities. It provides a basis for subsequent work to develop strategies and techniques to improve accessibility for these user groups. More information is in the Call for Review: Cognitive Accessibility User Research e-mail. Please send comments by 13 February 2015. (2015-01-15)

For Review: IndieUI Events (for Mobile and More) Draft Updated

An updated Working Draft of IndieUI: Events - Events for User Interface Independence - is available for review. It defines a way for different user interactions to be translated into simple events and communicated to web applications. This draft includes new events and a refined technical model. See:

IndieUI Overview for a short introduction,
IndieUI: Events 1.0 -for the draft technical specification,
Updated Working Draft: IndieUI Events - for Mobile and More e-mail for information on updates,
Mobile Accessibility to learn about related work.

Please send comments on this draft by 13 February 2015. (2015-01-15)

For Review: Updated WCAG Techniques & Understanding WCAG

WAI announces a Call for Review of draft updates to supporting documents for WCAG 2.0: Techniques for WCAG 2.0 (Public Review Draft) and Understanding WCAG 2.0 (Public Review Draft). (This is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document.) To learn more about the updates, see Call for Review: WCAG 2.0 Techniques Draft Updates e-mail. Please submit comments by 29 January 2015. (2015-01-08)

Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool List: Call for Tool Information

An updated version of the Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools List is now available. Web accessibility evaluation tool vendors are encouraged to submit information about their tool to the list. (2014-12-18)

For Review: WAI-ARIA 1.1 and Accessibility API Mappings Working Drafts

Accessible Name and Description: Computation and API Mappings 1.1 (AccName-AAM) is available for review as a First Public Working Draft, along with updated Working Drafts of Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.1 and Core Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 (Core-AAM). For an introduction to AccName-AAM and information on updates in these drafts of WAI-ARIA and Core-AAM, see the Call for Review: WAI-ARIA 1.1 and Accessibility API Mappings Working Drafts e-mail. Please send comments by 30 January 2015. (2014-12-11)

HTML5 longdesc is a Proposed Recommendation

W3C has published a Proposed Recommendation of HTML5 Image Description Extension (longdesc). This extension for HTML5 adds a longdesc attribute that is used to provide links to detailed descriptions of images. Comments are welcome through 16 January 2014. For more information, see the HTML5 Image Description Extension (longdesc) is a Proposed Recommendation e-mail. (2014-12-04)

Online Symposium: Accessible Way-Finding Using Web Technologies

Registration is now open for the online symposium on Accessible Way-Finding Using Web Technologies to be held on 3 December 2014. Researchers, practitioners, users with disabilities, and others are invited to explore new and on-going research and development on accessible way-finding using web technologies. Symposium participants will examine different technologies, applications, concepts, and solutions that help people with disabilities orient themselves, explore, and navigate through the physical world. For details and registration, see the Accessible Way-Finding Using Web Technologies Symposium page. (2014-11-17)

WCAG 2.0 in Portuguese: Authorized Translations Published

Two Portuguese Authorized Translations of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 are now available following completion of the W3C Authorized Translations process: European Portuguese Diretrizes de Acessibilidade para Conteúdo Web (WCAG) 2.0 and Brazilian Portuguese Diretrizes de Acessibilidade para Conteúdo Web (WCAG) 2.0. WAI encourages translating WAI documents in all languages. See:

WCAG 2.0 Translations for a list of other completed and planned translations,
WCAG 2.0 Portuguese Authorized Translation Published e-mail.

(2014-10-24)

Updated Working Draft of HTML5: Techniques for providing useful text alternatives

An updated Working Draft of HTML5: Techniques for providing useful text alternatives was published today. This publication incorporates changes and corrections since October 2012, but does not include some pending bugs, which are listed in the Status of This Document section. An updated publication with more information on descriptions of complex images and with clarifications of other guidance is expected in the near future. (2014-10-23)

WCAG 2.0 in Chinese (Simplified): Authorized Translation Published

Web内容无障碍指南 (WCAG) 2.0, the Chinese (Simplified) Authorized Translation of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, is now available, following completion of the W3C Authorized Translations process. WAI encourages translating WAI documents in all languages. See:

WCAG 2.0 Translations for a list of other completed and planned translations,
WCAG 2.0 Chinese (Simplified) Authorized Translation Published e-mail.

(2014-10-22)

For Review: User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0

Updated Working Drafts of UAAG 2.0 and the UAAG 2.0 Reference: Explanations, Examples, and Resources for User Agent Accessi”)Guidelines 2.0 are now available for review. UAAG defines how browsers and other “user agents” should support accessibility for people with disabilities and work with assistive technologies. It is introduced in the UAAG Overview. Please send any comments by 17 October 2014. (2014-09-25)

Call for Papers: Accessible Way-Finding Using Web Technologies Symposium

The Research and Development Working Group (RDWG) will hold an online symposium on 3 December 2014 to explore technologies, applications, concepts, and solutions that help people with disabilities orient themselves, explore, and navigate through the physical world. See the Accessible Way-Finding Using Web Technologies Symposium page. The Call for Papers is open until 20 October 2014. (2014-09-07)

Updated September 2014: Understanding WCAG & WCAG Techniques

Updated supporting documents for WCAG 2.0 were published today: Techniques for WCAG 2.0 and Understanding WCAG 2.0. (This is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document.) For information on these updates, please see the Understanding WCAG & WCAG Techniques Updated September 2014 e-mail. (2014-09-16)

Web Accessibility Tutorials on Images and Tables

Web Accessibility Tutorials on Images and Tables are now available. Additional tutorials will be announced soon. These tutorials show you how to create web content that is accessible to people with disabilities and that improves the user experience for all users. They include general guidance, and specific examples for HTML5 and WAI-ARIA. (2014-09-11)

For Review: Media Accessibility User Requirements Working Draft

An updated Working Draft of Media Accessibility User Requirements is available for review. This planned W3C Working Group Note describes the accessibility requirements of people with disabilities with respect to audio and video on the Web, particularly in the context of HTML5. Please send comments by 19 September 2014. (2014-08-14)

Call for Implementations: HTML5 Image Description Extension (longdesc)

W3C has published a Candidate Recommendation of the HTML5 Image Description Extension, which defines the “longdesc” attribute that enables web authors to provide longer textual descriptions for complex images. This specification is part of W3C's work to ensure that the Open Web Platform is accessible to people with disabilities. Please see details in the Call for Implementations: HTML5 Image Description Extension e-mail. Additional implementations are welcome through 26 August 2014. (2014-08-12)

For Review: Updated WCAG Techniques & Understanding WCAG

WAI announces a Call for Review of draft updates to supporting documents for WCAG 2.0: Techniques for WCAG 2.0 (Editors' Draft) and Understanding WCAG 2.0 (Editors' Draft). (This is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document.) To learn more about the updates, see Call for Review: WCAG 2.0 Techniques Draft Updates e-mail. Please submit comments by 12 August 2014. (2014-07-24)

For Review: Evaluation Tool Features First Draft

WAI invites you to review the First Public Working Draft of Developers' Guide to Features of Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools. Feedback from web accessibility evaluation tool developers, web authoring and quality assurance tool developers, evaluators, researchers, and others with interest in web accessibility evaluation tools is particularly welcome. Please send any comments on this draft by 15 August 2014, or let us know right away if you might need additional time for review. (2014-07-10)

WCAG-EM Provides Methodology for Evaluating Web Accessibility

WAI is pleased to announce publication of the completed Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology (WCAG-EM) 1.0 as an informative W3C Working Group Note. WCAG-EM describes an approach for evaluating how websites, including Web applications and websites for mobile devices, conform to WCAG 2.0. WCAG-EM provides guidance for individuals and organizations that evaluate web accessibility, and is also useful for those that have others evaluate their website. Learn more from the WCAG-EM Overview. (2014-07-10)

For Review: IndieUI User Context for web interface preferences

IndieUI: User Context 1.0 – Contextual Information for User Interface Independence defines a set of preferences that users can choose to expose to web applications, and an API for user agents to access the preferences. IndieUI: User Context complements IndieUI: Events 1.0 to provide web application developers a uniform way to design web applications that work in a wide range of contexts — different devices (such as mobile phones and tablets), different assistive technologies (AT), different user needs. A First Public Working Draft of IndieUI User Context is available for review. Please see the Call for Review: IndieUI User Context for web interface preferences e-mail for more information. (2014-06-26)

For Review: Using WAI-ARIA in HTML Working Draft

An update Working Draft of Using WAI-ARIA in HTML is available for review. Using WAI-ARIA in HTML is a practical guide for developers on how to add accessibility information to HTML elements using the Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA). For information on updates to this draft and submitting comments, see the Call for Review: Using WAI-ARIA in HTML Working Draft e-mail. (2014-06-26)

For Review: Core Accessibility API Mappings (Core-AAM) and WAI-ARIA 1.1 Working Drafts

Core Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 (Core-AAM) is available for review as a First Public Working Draft, along with an updated Working Draft of Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.1. For an introduction to Core-AAM and information on updates in this draft of WAI-ARIA, see the Call for Review: Core Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 (Core-AAM) and WAI-ARIA 1.1 e-mail. Please send comments by 11 July 2014. (2014-06-12)

For Review: IndieUI Events (for Mobile and More) Draft Updated

An updated Working Draft of IndieUI: Events is available for review. IndieUI defines a way for different user interactions to be translated into simple events and communicated to web applications. This draft includes new events and a refined technical model. See:

IndieUI Overview for a short introduction,
IndieUI: Events 1.0 - Events for User Interface Independence - for the draft technical specification,
Requirements for IndieUI: Events 1.0 and IndieUI: User Context 1.0 for requirements the specification should meet,
Updated Working Draft: IndieUI Events - for Mobile and More e-mail for information on updates,
Mobile Accessibility to learn about related work.

Please send comments on this draft by 27 June 2014. (2014-05-29)

IndieUI Requirements First Draft

The First Public Working Draft of Requirements for IndieUI: Events 1.0 and IndieUI: User Context 1.0 is available for review. The document introduces use cases related to the IndieUI specifications and the technical requirements for meeting the use cases. IndieUI is introduced in the IndieUI Overview. One focus of IndieUI is enabling better user interaction in the mobile environment. This Requirements document provides an opportunity for early review of user needs to be addressed by the IndieUI specifications. Please send comments by 23 May 2014. (2014-04-22)

WAI-ARIA 1.0 is a W3C Recommendation

Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.0 and the WAI-ARIA 1.0 User Agent Implementation Guide were published today as W3C Recommendations. WAI-ARIA is a technical specification for making dynamic, interactive Web content accessible to people with disabilities. WAI-ARIA and supporting documents are described in the WAI-ARIA Overview. Please see more information in the WAI-ARIA Expands Web Accessibility blog post and W3C's Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.0 Expands Accessibility of the Open Web Platform press release. (2014-03-20)

Web Accessibility Tutorials: Ready for Your Input

Draft Web Accessibility Tutorials are now ready for your input. See more info in the Web Accessibility Tutorials in Progress e-mail. (2014-03-17)

Updated March 2014: WCAG Techniques & Understanding WCAG

Updated supporting documents for WCAG 2.0 were published today: Techniques for WCAG 2.0 and Understanding WCAG 2.0. (This is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document.) For information on these updates and links to blog posts, please see the WCAG Techniques & Understanding WCAG Updated March 2014 e-mail. (2014-03-11)

WAI-ARIA 1.0 is Proposed Recommendation

Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.0 and the WAI-ARIA 1.0 User Agent Implementation Guide were published today as Proposed Recommendations. WAI-ARIA is a technical specification for making dynamic, interactive Web content accessible to people with disabilities. WAI-ARIA and supporting documents are described in the WAI-ARIA Overview. Please read the WAI-ARIA 1.0 is Proposed Recommendation e-mail for more information. (2014-02-06)

For Review: Pre-Publication Draft of WCAG-EM for Conformance Evaluation

WAI invites you to provide feedback on the final Working Draft of Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodol”)AG-EM). Specific review questions are listed in the Status section and indicated with “Review Note” in the Draft. After the comments from this review period are addressed, we expect to publish this as an informative (that is, non-normative) W3C Working Group Note. Please send comments on this final Draft by 28 February 2014. (2014-01-30)

For Review: Updated WCAG 2.0 Techniques

WAI announces a Call for Review of draft updates to supporting documents for WCAG 2.0: Techniques for WCAG 2.0 (Editors' Draft) and Understanding WCAG 2.0 (Editors' Draft). (This is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document.) To learn more about the updates, see Call for Review: WCAG 2.0 Techniques Draft Updates e-mail. Please submit comments by 14 February 2014. (2014-01-16)

Easy Checks - A First Review of Web Accessibility is updated for the holidays

Hav”)ver wondered: “Is this web page accessible?” Easy Checks - A First Review of Web Accessibility provides simple steps to start assessing web accessibility. It is designed for anyone who can use the Web; no accessibility knowledge or skill is required. The checks cover just a few accessibility issues and are intended to be quick and easy, rather than definitive. We welcome your suggestions and comments to the publicly-archived list wai-eo-editors@w3.org. (2013-12-20)

WAI-ARIA User Agent Implementation Guide to CR

WAI-ARIA 1.0 User Agent Implementation Guide was published as a W3C Candidate Recommendation (CR) on 17 December 2013. The Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite (WAI-ARIA) is introduced in the WAI-ARIA Overview. Candidate Recommendation and other document stages are introduced in How WAI Develops Accessibility Guidelines through the W3C Process. Please submit any comments or implementations by 17 January 2014. (2013-12-17)

Online Symposium: Accessible E-Learning

Registration is now open for the online symposium on Accessible E-Learning to be held on 16 December 2013. Researchers, tutors and trainers, providers of online learning, developers of Learning Content Management System (LCMS), users with disabilities, and others are invited to participate. Symposium participants will share e-learning experiences and research; discuss different approaches to address accessibility issues in e-learning contexts; and explore next steps to advance accessibility in e-learning environments, including Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). For details and registration, see Accessible E-Learning - Online Symposium. (2013-12-10)

WCAG 2.0 in Estonian: Authorized Translation Published

Veebi sisu juurdepääsetavussuunised (WCAG) 2.0, the Estonian Authorized Translation of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, is now available, following completion of the W3C Authorized Translations process. WAI encourages translating WAI documents in all languages. See:

WCAG 2.0 Translations for a list of other completed and planned translations,
WCAG 2.0 Estonian Authorized Translation Published e-mail.

(2013-12-10)

For Review: User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0 Last Call Working Draft

Calling all developers of browsers, media players, and web applications — and anyone interested in web accessibility: Now is the time for you to review UAAG — we published the Last Call Working Draft today. UAAG defines how browsers and other “user agents” should support accessibility for people with disabilities and work with assistive technologies. It is introduced in the UAAG Overview. Please send comments by 16 December 2013. (2013-11-07)

ATAG 2.0 Implementation Testing

We are pleased to announce that Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (ATAG 2.0) was published as a W3C Candidate Recommendation on 7 November 2013, along with the companion Working Draft of Implementing ATAG 2.0. The purpose of the Candidate Recommendation stage is to ensure that ATAG 2.0 can be implemented in the real world and to document that different types of authoring tools meet ATAG success criteria. Please see additional information in:

If you might be interested in your tool being listed in the ATAG 2.0 CR implementation report, please let us know by 7 December 2013. (2013-11-07)

Cognitive Accessibility Task Force: Seeking Participation

A new Cognitive Accessibility Task Force will develop more specific guidance on meeting the web accessibility needs of people with cognitive and learning disabilities. To learn more, see the Cognitive Accessibility Task Force home page. (2013-11-06)

For Review: WAI-ARIA User Agent Implementation Guide - Last Call Working Draft

The updated Last Call Working Draft of WAI-ARIA 1.0 User Agent Implementation Guide is available for review. It describes how browsers and other user agents should support WAI-ARIA (the Accessible Rich Internet Applications specification); specifically, how to expose WAI-ARIA features to platform accessibility APIs. For more information, see the Call for Review: WAI-ARIA User Agent Implementation Guide - Last Call Working Draft e-mail. Please send any comments by 6 December 2013. (2013-11-05)

Call for Papers: Accessible E-Learning Symposium

The WAI Research and Development Working Group (RDWG) will hold an Accessible E-Learning Online Symposium to share e-learning experiences and research; discuss different approaches to address accessibility issues in e-learning contexts; and explore next steps to advance accessibility in e-learning environments, including Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). We invite you to submit research and position papers of about 1,000 words by 15 November 2013; see the Call for Papers for details. (2013-10-22)

For Review: Using WAI-ARIA in HTML Working Draft

An update to Using WAI-ARIA in HTML was published today as a Working Draft. This document is a practical guide for developers on how to add accessibility information to HTML elements using the Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) specification, which defines a way to make Web content and Web applications more accessible to people with disabilities. Please see the Using WAI-ARIA in HTML e-mail for additional information. (2013-10-03)

Mobile Accessibility Task Force: Seeking Participation

A new Mobile Accessibility Task Force will develop more specific guidance on mobile accessibility related to WCAG and UAAG. It will build on WAI's current accessibility standards that address mobile accessibility and supplement related work in other areas, such as IndieUI and HTML5. To learn about participating in the Mobile Accessibility Task Force, see the Mobile Accessibility Task Force - Seeking Participation e-mail. (2013-10-01)

For Review: WAI-ARIA 1.1 Working Draft

Accessible Rich Internet Applications WAI-ARIA 1.1 is available for review as a First Public Working Draft. WAI-ARIA 1.1 is expected to include only a few changes from 1.0. The primary change in this Draft is the addition of of aria-describedat. WAI-ARIA is introduced in the WAI-ARIA Overview and the current status of WAI-ARIA 1.0 and 1.1 is updated in the FAQ. Please send comments by 1 November 2013. (2013-09-26)

For Review: ATAG Last Call Working Draft updated

The Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines ATAG 2.0 Working Draft is updated based on public comments and clarifications identified while developing tests for ATAG. The updates, which include 3 substantive changes, are available for review through 1 October 2013. The ATAG Working Group has prepared a test suite and preliminary data on ATAG 2.0 implementations, and is looking for people interested in coordinating with the Group to help test specific authoring tools for conformance to ATAG 2.0. (2013-09-10)

WCAG2ICT Note: Guidance on Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web ICT

WAI is pleased to announce publication of the completed Guidance on Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web Information and Communications Technologies (WCAG2ICT) as an informative W3C Working Group Note. WCAG2ICT provides guidance on the interpretation and application of WCAG 2.0 to non-web documents and software. It is the result of a collaborative effort to support harmonized accessibility solutions across a range of technologies. Learn more from the WCAG2ICT Overview. (2013-09-05)

“Understanding Techniques for WCAG Success Criteria” in Updated WCAG 2.0 Supporting Notes

Updated supporting documents for WCAG 2.0 were published today: Techniques for WCAG 2.0 and Understanding WCAG 2.0. (This is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document.) For background, important information about techniques, and opportunities to contribute to future updates, please see the Understanding Techniques for WCAG Success Criteria e-mail. (2013-09-05)

WAI position open: Web Accessibility Specialist, Europe

W3C WAI is looking for someone who excels in accessible web development and information design for a full-time position based in Europe. This is an opportunity to work directly with the W3C & WAI communities to develop interactive resources to help web developers, designers, project managers, and others use and implement WCAG 2.0. See Web Accessibility Specialist position e-mail. (2013-08-21)

For Review: IndieUI Events (for Mobile and More) Draft Updated

An updated Working Draft of IndieUI: Events is available for review. IndieUI defines a way for different user interactions to be translated into simple events and communicated to web applications. See:

IndieUI Overview for a short introduction,
IndieUI: Events 1.0 - Events for User Interface Independence - for the draft technical specification,
Call for Review: IndieUI Events (for Mobile and More) Draft Updated e-mail for information on updates,
Mobile Accessibility to learn about related work.

Please send comments on this draft by 13 September 2013. (2013-07-30)

For Review: HTML5 Image Description Extension (longdesc) Last Call Working Draft

We invite you to review a Last Call Working Draft of the HTML5 Image Description Extension, which creates a mechanism for web authors to provide longer textual descriptions for complex images and is part of W3C's work to ensure that the Open Web Platform is accessible to people with disabilities. Additional information is available in the HTML5 Image Description Extension Last Call e-mail. Please send comments by 16 September 2013. (2013-07-16)

For Review: Final Draft of WCAG2ICT - Guidance on Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web ICT

A completed Working Draft of Guidance on Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web Information and Communications Technologies (WCAG2ICT) is now available for review. After the comments from this review period are addressed, WAI expects to publish this as an informative (that is, non-normative) W3C Working Group Note. Please see important information in the Call for Review: Final Draft of WCAG2ICT e-mail. Comments are welcome through 15 August 2013. (2013-07-11)

For Review: Updated WCAG 2.0 Techniques

WAI announces a Call for Review of draft updates to supporting documents for WCAG 2.0: Techniques for WCAG 2.0 (Editors' Draft) and Understanding WCAG 2.0 (Editors' Draft). (This is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document.) To learn more about the updates, see Call for Review: WCAG 2.0 Techniques Draft Updates e-mail. See also important information in the WCAG Techniques and Understanding WCAG Updates blog post. Please submit comments by 15 August 2013. (2013-07-11)

Easy Checks: A First Review of Web Accessibility is updated

Easy Checks - A First Review of Web Accessibility is updated with new sections on Forms and Plain Content View. Easy Checks helps you answer the question, “Does this web page address accessibility?”. It provides simple steps for anyone who can use the Web; no accessibility knowledge or skill is required. The checks cover just a few accessibility issues and are designed to be quick and easy, rather than definitive. We welcome your suggestions and comments on this in-progress draft to the publicly-archived list wai-eo-editors@w3.org. (2013-07-02)

Online Symposium: User Modeling for Accessibility

Registration is now open for the online symposium on User Modeling for Accessibility to be held on 15 July 2013. Researchers, practitioners, designers, application developers, users with disabilities, and others are invited to participate. The symposium will analyze different methods and implementations of user modeling and their potential usage for improving accessibility. This includes the design, creation, storage, and usage of user models, in particular in web browsers, applications, authoring tools, and other aspects of the Web. For details and registration, see User Modeling for Accessibility - Online Symposium. (2013-07-02)

Easy Checks: A First Review of Web Accessibility

Easy Checks - A First Review of Web Accessibility helps you assess if a web page addresses accessibility. It provides simple steps for anyone who can use the Web; no accessibility knowledge or skill is required. The checks cover just a few accessibility issues and are designed to be quick and easy, rather than definitive. We welcome your suggestions and comments on this in-progress draft. (2013-06-06)

Mobile Accessibility Examples: Implementing UAAG 2.0 Updated

One aspect of mobile accessibility is how web browsers on mobile devices support the accessibility needs of people with disabilities. Accessibility of web browsers is covered in User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG). Mobile Accessibility Examples from UAAG is a new page that shows examples of how web browsers that follow UAAG benefit people with disabilities using the Web on mobile devices. W3C WAI's broader work related to mobile accessibility is introduced in Mobile Accessibility. (2013-06-06)

longdesc: HTML5 Image Description Extension Draft Updated

An updated Working Draft of HTML Image Description Extension is available for review to determine if there are any outstanding issues before it progresses to Last Call. Please see important additional information in the Call for Review: HTML5 Image Description Extension Updated e-mail. Please send comments by 20 June 2013. (2013-06-06)

For Review: User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0 Working Drafts

We invite you to review updated Working Drafts of UAAG 2.0 and Implementing UAAG 2.0, which define how browsers, media players, and other "user agents" should support accessibility for people with disabilities and work with assistive technologies. These Drafts have new examples of how UAAG applies in the mobile environment, an updated conformance section, and new definitions of level A, AA, and AAA. See the Call for Review: User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 e-mail for a summary of changes. Please send comments by 21 June 2013. (2013-05-23)

Call for Papers: User Modeling for Accessibility Symposium

The Research and Development Working Group (RDWG) will hold an online symposium to explore user modeling for accessibility, an approach for generating and adapting user interfaces to address particular user needs and preferences. See: User Modeling for Accessibility - Online Symposium 15 July 2013. The Call for Papers is open until 6 June 2013. (2013-05-15)

Registration Open: W3C Workshop on Referencing and Applying WCAG 2.0 in Different Contexts

Registration is now open for the W3C Workshop on Referencing and Applying WCAG 2.0 in Different Contexts on 23 May 2013 in Brussels, Belgium. This Workshop will explore approaches for using Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and its supporting resources in different policy settings and contexts. It is open to policy-makers, users, developers, accessibility experts, researchers, and others interested in adopting, referencing, and applying WCAG 2.0. Registration is open until 7 May 2013, or until spaces are filled. (2013-04-24)

W3C Workshop: Referencing and Applying WCAG 2.0 in Different Contexts

The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) today announced the Workshop on Referencing and Applying WCAG 2.0 in Different Contexts on 23 May 2013 in Brussels, Belgium. Participants will explore approaches for using Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and its supporting resources in different policy settings and contexts. The Workshop is open to policy-makers, users, developers, accessibility experts, researchers, and others interested in adopting, referencing, and applying WCAG 2.0. If you are interested in participating, please submit a statement of interest by 23 April 2013. Learn more about the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). (2013-03-28)

Web Standard: Role Attribute Published as W3C Recommendation

Role Attribute 1.0 is now a completed Web Standard, published today as a W3C Recommendation. Role Attribute is an XML attribute that allows authors to add semantic information to documents. Role Attribute supports WAI-ARIA, the Accessible Rich Internet Applications technical specification for making dynamic, interactive web content accessible to people with disabilities. (2013-03-28)

longdesc: HTML Image Description Extension Draft Published

HTML Image Description Extension was published today as a First Public Working Draft. This specification (“HTML-longdesc”) enables web authors to provide longer text descriptions for complex images. It defines the “longdesc” attribute to link descriptions with images in HTML5 content. HTML-longdesc is an extension specification that is part of the HTML5 family of specifications, which enables it to evolve independently and be finalized more rapidly. Please see important additional information in the Call for Review: HTML Image Description Extension e-mail. (2013-03-12)

WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices: Updated Guidance

The Working Draft of WAI-ARIA 1.0 Authoring Practices: An author's guide to understanding and implementing Accessible Rich Internet Applications is now updated to provide the current state of the art in WAI-ARIA implementation. It provides detailed advice and examples to make widgets, navigation, and behaviors accessible using WAI-ARIA roles, states, and properties. It is primarily for web application developers, and is also useful for user agent and assistive technology developers. See Call for Review: WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices e-mail. Please send comments by 5 April 2013. (2013-03-07)

WCAG 2.0 in Russian: Authorized Translation Published

Руководство по обеспечению доступности веб-контента (WCAG) 2.0, the Russian Authorized Translation of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, is now available, following completion of the W3C Authorized Translations process. WAI encourages translating WAI documents in all languages. See:

WCAG 2.0 Translations for a list of other completed and planned translations,
WCAG 2.0 Russian Authorized Translation Published e-mail.

(2013-03-04)

For Review: WCAG-EM for Conformance Evaluation

WAI invites you to provide feedback on the updated Working Draft of Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology (WCAG-EM). We are particularly interested in how it works for you in practice. For more information, see the WCAG-EM Overview and the WCAG-EM Call for Review. Please send any comments on this draft by 22 March 2013. (2013-02-26)

Developing Web Accessibility Presentations and Training: Resource Material

Developing Web Accessibility Presentations and Training provides materials for speakers, lecturers, educators, and other presenters to help their participants understand more about web accessibility. It includes a range of information from introductory slides for those new to accessibility, to updated statistics and demos for experienced trainers. To share your tips, guidance, and suggestions, see the WAI IG e-mail for links to the WAI-Engage wiki. (2013-02-21)

For Review: IndieUI Events for Mobile and More

IndieUI defines a way for different user interactions to be translated into simple events and communicated to web applications. (For example, if a user wants to scroll down a page, they might use t”)nger on a touch screen, or click a scroll bar with a mouse, or use a scroll wheel, or say “scroll down” with a voice command. With IndieUI, these are all sent to the web app as simply: scroll down.)

IndieUI will make it easier for web applications to work in a wide range of contexts – different devices (such as mobile phones and tablets), different assistive technologies (AT), different user needs. With IndieUI, web application developers will have a uniform way to design applications that work for multiple devices and contexts.

We published the First Public Working Draft of IndieUI: Events today. See:

IndieUI Overview for a short introduction,
IndieUI: Events expands user interface interactions blog post (also invites participation),
IndieUI: Events 1.0 - Events for User Interface Independence - technical specification,
Mobile Accessibility to learn about related work.

Please send comments on this Draft by 22 February 2013. (2013-01-22)

Guidance on Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web ICT: Updated Draft Published

An updated Working Draft of Guidance on Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web Information and Communications Technologies (WCAG2ICT) is now available for review. Please see important information in the Call for Review: Guidance on Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web ICT e-mail. Comments are welcome through 15 February 2013. (2012-12-13)

Role Attribute is a Proposed Recommendation

Role Attribute 1.0 is published as a Proposed Recommendation. The next stage is final publication, as explained in How WAI Develops Accessibility Guidelines through the W3C Process. Role Attribute allows authors to add semantic information to documents, which is a requirement of WAI-ARIA. For additional information, see the Role Attribute 1.0 is a Propose Recommendation e-mail. (2012-12-13)

Online Symposium: Easy-to-Read on the Web

Registration is now open for the online symposium on Easy-to-Read on the Web to be held on 3 December 2012. Researchers, practitioners, content authors, designers, developers, users with disabilities, and others are invited to participate. The symposium will address how to make information on the Web easier to understand, particularly by people with cognitive disabilities and people with low language skills. The symposium will explore user needs and the state of the art in research, development, and practice to contribute to a common understanding of easy-to-read on the Web. For details and registration, see Easy-to-Read on the Web - Online Symposium. (2012-11-20)

Online Symposium: Text Customization for Readability

Registration is now open for the online symposium on Text Customization for Readability to be held on 19 November 2012. This symposium brings together researchers, practitioners, and users with disabilities to explore the needs of people with low vision, dyslexia, and other conditions and situations that impact reading. It focuses specifically on text customization requirements and functionality, that is, providing users the ability to change (or personalize) specific aspects of text display to improve readability for their particular needs. See:

Text Customization for Readability - Online Symposium for details and registration;
Invitation for short contributions to share your perspectives on text customization for readability.

(2012-11-06)

WCAG 2.0 in Swedish: Authorized Translation Published

Riktlinjer för tillgängligt webbinnehåll (WCAG) 2.0, the Swedish Authorized Translation of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, is now available, following completion of the W3C Authorized Translations process. WAI encourages translating WAI documents in all languages. See:

WCAG 2.0 Translations for a list of other completed and planned translations,
WCAG 2.0 Swedish Authorized Translation Published e-mail.

(2012-10-23)

WCAG 2.0 is ISO/IEC 40500

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 is now also an ISO/IEC International Standard. ISO/IEC 40500 is exactly the same as the original WCAG 2.0 standard from the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). It remains freely available along with supporting resources from the WCAG Overview. Read the full press release and comment on the blog post. (2012-10-15)

Implementing ATAG 2.0 Working Draft Updated

An updated Working Draft of Implementing ATAG 2.0: A guide to understanding and implementing Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 is available. For information on the status of ATAG 2.0, see the Implementing ATAG 2.0 Updated e-mail. (2012-10-11)

For Review: User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0 Working Drafts

WAI invites you to review updated Working Drafts of User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0 and Implementing UAAG 2.0. UAAG defines how browsers, media players, and other "user agents" should support accessibility for people with disabilities and work with assistive technologies. UAAG 2.0 is updated to better address mobile devices and input by speech, touch, and gesture. See the Call for Review: UAAG 2.0 Working Drafts e-mail for a summary of changes. Please send comments by 9 November 2012. (2012-10-04)

For Review: Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology (WCAG-EM)

WAI invites you to review the updated Working Draft of Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology (WCAG-EM). For more information, see the Call for Review: Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology (WCAG-EM) e-mail. Please send any comments on this draft by 20 October 2012. (2012-09-20)

Mobile Accessibility: Resources Updated

See the Mobile Accessibility Resources e-mail for links to updated information on how mobile web accessibility is addressed in existing W3C standards/guidelines, and how the overlap between mobile web design/development and accessibility strengthens the business case. (2012-09-10)

Call for Papers: Easy-to-Read on the Web Symposium

The Research and Development Working Group (RDWG) will hold an online symposium to explore easy-to-read language to meet the needs of people with cognitive disabilities or low language skills. See the Easy-to-Read on the Web Symposium page. The Call for Papers is open until 12 October 2012. (2012-09-06)

For Review: Web Accessibility Metrics Research Report

The First Public Working Draft of Research Report on Web Accessibility Metrics, a W3C Working Group Note, is now available for review. See the Call for Review: Web Accessibility Metrics Research Report e-mail for more information. Comments are welcome through 30 September 2012. (2012-08-30)

Call for Papers: Text Customization for Readability Symposium

The Research and Development Working Group (RDWG) will hold an online symposium to explore the needs of people with low vision, dyslexia, and other conditions and situations that impact reading. See the Text Customization for Readability Symposium page. The Call for Papers is open until 24 September. (2012-08-21)

For Review: WAI-ARIA 1.0 User Agent Implementation Guide

We invite you to review an updated Working Draft of WAI-ARIA 1.0 User Agent Implementation Guide, which describes how browsers and other user agents should support WAI-ARIA (the Accessible Rich Internet Applications specification); specifically, how to expose WAI-ARIA features to platform accessibility APIs. See the Call for Review: WAI-ARIA 1.0 User Agent Implementation Guide e-mail for more information. Please send comments by 21 September 2012. (2012-08-16)

Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web ICT: First Draft Published

The First Public Working Draft of Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web Information and Communications Technologies (WCAG2ICT) is now available for review. Please see important background information in the Call for Review: Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web ICT e-mail. Comments are welcome through 7 September 2012. (2012-07-27)

Understanding WCAG 2.0: Updates in progress

The WCAG Working Group is updating a supporting document for WCAG 2.0 and a draft is available for review: Understanding WCAG 2.0 (Editors' Draft). (This is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document.) To learn more about the updates, see Understanding WCAG 2.0: Updates in progress e-mail. (2012-07-27)

Role Attribute Implementation and Testing

Role Attribute 1.0 is published as a Candidate Recommendation. Role Attribute allows authors to add semantic information to documents, which is a requirement of WAI-ARIA. Please see additional information in:

Comments are welcome through 24 August 2012. (2012-07-12)

Online Symposium: Mobile Accessibility

Registration is now open for the online symposium on mobile accessibility to be held on 25 June 2012. The symposium is intended for researchers and practitioners who want to explore mobile accessibility challenges and solutions, and help develop a roadmap for future research and development. For details and registration, see Mobile Accessibility - Online Symposium. (2012-06-11)

Indie UI: New Independent User Interface Working Group

Today W3C WAI launched the new Independent User Interface (Indie UI) Working Group to develop a way for user actions to be communicated to web applications. This will make it easier for web applications to work with a wide range of devices, including assistive technologies (AT). To learn more, see the Indie UI e-mail. (2012-05-22)

Calling All Authoring Tool Developers: ATAG 2 for You

WAI encourages developers of web authoring tools (content management systems, HTML editors, social networking apps, and more) to start using Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines ATAG 2.0 Working Draft. It's in Last Call Working Draft stage, which means we think it's stable, yet it might change somewhat based on feedback and implementation experience. See:

Please send any comments on this Last Call Working Draft by 5 June 2012. (2012-04-10)

Call for Papers: Mobile Accessibility Symposium

The Research and Development Working Group (RDWG) will hold an online symposium to explore mobile accessibility challenges, existing resources, and areas for future research and development. The Call for Papers is open until 7 May 2012. See Call for Papers: Mobile Accessibility - Online Symposium e-mail. (2012-04-05)

Accessibility Evaluation Methodology First Draft

WAI invites you to review the First Public Working Draft of Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology (WCAG-EM) that was published today. For more information, see the WCAG-EM Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology Draft Published e-mail. Please send any comments on this early draft by 27 April 2012. (2012-03-27)

Share the news: How to Make Your Presentations Accessible to All is updated

How to Make Presentations Accessible to All helps you make presentations, meetings, conferences, etc. accessible to all of your potential audience, including people with disabilities and others. We welcome your help telling others about this resource. See more in the blog post: Make Your Presentations Accessible to All updated - share the news. (2012-02-20)

BAD to Good Updated: Demo shows web accessibility barriers fixed

The Before and After Demonstration (BAD) shows an inaccessible website and a retrofitted version of the same website with the accessibility barriers fixed. BAD is especially useful for presentations. See more in the BAD accessibility demo updated - share the news e-mail. (2012-01-31)

For Review: WAI-ARIA 1.0 User Agent Implementation Guide - Last Call Working Draft

We invite you to review the Last Call Working Draft of WAI-ARIA 1.0 User Agent Implementation Guide, which describes how browsers and other user agents should support WAI-ARIA (the Accessible Rich Internet Applications specification); specifically, how to expose WAI-ARIA features to platform accessibility APIs. See the Call for Review: WAI-ARIA 1.0 User Agent Implementation Guide e-mail for more information. Please send comments by 17 February 2012. (2012-01-10)

More WCAG 2.0 Techniques Published

WAI continues to develop techniques for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and expand guidance on understanding and implementing WCAG 2.0. To learn about WCAG Techniques and about contributing to on-going work on WCAG support material, see the WCAG Techniques Updated - Learn about the informative guidance blog post. (2012-01-03)

First Draft of Media Accessibility User Requirements

We invite you to comment on the First Public Working Draft of Media Accessibility User Requirements that describes the accessibility requirements of people with disabilities with respect to audio and video on the Web, particularly in the context of HTML5. See Call for Review: Media Accessibility User Requirements email. Please send comments by 10 February 2012. (2012-01-03)

Online Symposium: Website Accessibility Metrics

Registration is now open for the online symposium on website accessibility metrics to be held on 5 December 2011. The symposium is intended for researchers and practitioners who want to explore website accessibility metrics and help develop a roadmap for future research and development. For details and registration, see Website Accessibility Metrics - Online Symposium. (2011-11-17)

WAI-ACT: Cooperation, Implementation, Evaluation, Research

You can participate in the new WAI-ACT Project to help develop:

An expanded framework for open cooperation among individuals and organizations,
Technical guidance on implementing web accessibility,
A harmonized methodology for evaluating website accessibility,
Coordinated contribution to an eAccessibility research agenda.

See WAI-ACT Project: Accessibility Cooperation, Implementation, Evaluation, and Research e-mail and WAI-ACT Project page to learn about this European Commission (EC)-funded project. (2011-11-16)

BAD to Good: Demo shows web accessibility barriers fixed

The Before and After Demonstration (BAD) shows an inaccessible website and a retrofitted version of the same website with the accessibility barriers fixed. BAD is especially useful for presentations. See more in the Call for Review: Before and After Demonstration (BAD) e-mail. (2011-10-13)

WCAG 2.0 in Norwegian: Authorized Translation Published

Retningslinjer for tilgjengelig webinnhold (WCAG) 2.0, the Norwegian Authorized Translation of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, is now available, following completion of the W3C Authorized Translations process. WAI encourages translating WAI documents in all languages. See:

WCAG 2.0 Translations for a list of other completed and planned translations,
WCAG 2.0 Norwegian Authorized Translation Published e-mail.

(2011-09-26)

Symposium: Web Accessibility Metrics

The Research and Development Working Group (RDWG) is exploring metrics for measuring web accessibility and welcomes your input. The Call for Papers is open until 1 November 2011. See Call for Papers: Web Accessibility Metrics - Online Symposium e-mail. (2011-09-15)

For Review: ATAG 2.0 and Implementing ATAG 2.0 Working Drafts

Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0 is relevant to you if you use tools to produce web content — tools such as blogs, wikis, social networking websites, content management systems (CMS), HTML editors, or others. ATAG defines how these tools should help you make your blog posts, websites, and other web content accessible — and how the tools themselves should be accessible so that people with disabilities can use them. See:

Please send comments by 15 September 2011. (2011-07-21)

For Review: UAAG 2.0 and Implementing UAAG 2.0 Working Drafts

WAI has published updated Working Drafts of User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0 and Implementing UAAG 2.0. UAAG defines how browsers, media players, and other "user agents" should support accessibility for people with disabilities and work with assistive technologies. Updates in this draft include: organization of the principles, focus behaviour and indication, and requirements for media. See:

Please send comments by 19 August 2011. (2011-07-19)

Understanding WCAG 2.0 in French: Authorized Translation Published

Comprendre les WCAG 2.0: Un guide pour comprendre et mettre en œuvre la version 2.0 des Règles pour l'accessibilité des contenus Web, the French Authorized Translation of Understanding WCAG 2.0, is now available, following completion of the W3C Authorized Translations process. WAI encourages translating WAI documents in all languages. See WCAG 2.0 Translations for a list of other completed and planned translations. (2011-07-19)

Eval Task Force: Guidance on evaluating web accessibility

WAI is starting a WCAG 2.0 Evaluation Methodology Task Force to develop more comprehensive guidance on evaluating web accessibility. The Evaluation Task Force will develop an internationally harmonized methodology for evaluating websites' conformance to WCAG 2.0. Learn more about it from the Web Accessibility Evaluation and Testing e-mail. (2011-07-13)

For Review: Updated WCAG 2.0 Techniques

WAI announces a Call for Review of draft updates to supporting documents for WCAG 2.0: Techniques for WCAG 2.0 (Editors' Draft) and Understanding WCAG 2.0 (Editors' Draft). (This is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document.) To learn more about the updates, see Call for Review: WCAG 2.0 Techniques Draft Updates e-mail. Please submit comments by 26 August 2011. (2011-06-21)

RDWG Update: Research and Development Working Group

W3C WAI's Research and Development Working Group (RDWG) will soon resume work to help identify new trends in web accessibility and inform the development of solutions. See the RDWG Update: Research and Development Working Group e-mail and RDWG home page. (2011-05-20)

For Review: EARL 1.0 Last Call Working Draft

The Last Call Working Draft of Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0 Schema is ready for your review, along with updated Working Drafts of the EARL Developer Guide and related documents. EARL supports combining test results from different software tools, for example, to compare results from web accessibility evaluation tools. See:

Call for Review: EARL 1.0 Last Call Working Draft e-mail,
Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) Overview,
How WAI Develops Accessibility Guidelines through the W3C Process: Milestones and Opportunities to Contribute.

Please send any comments on this Last Call Working Draft by 10 June 2011. (2011-05-10)

For Review: ATAG 2.0 and Implementing ATAG 2.0 Working Drafts Updated

Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0 is relevant to you if you use blogs, wikis, social networking websites, content management systems (CMS), HTML editors, or other such tools. ATAG defines how these tools should help you make your blog posts, websites, and other web content accessible — and how the tools themselves should be accessible so that people with disabilities can use them. Please review the updated Working Drafts and let us know how they can be improved to better meet the needs of developers and of people with disabilities. For more info see Call for Review: ATAG 2.0 Updated Working Drafts. Please send comments by 24 May 2011. (2011-04-26)

WCAG 2.0 in Catalan: Authorized Translation Published

Directrius per a l'accessibilitat del contingut web (WCAG), versió 2.0, the Catalan Authorized Translation of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, is now available, following completion of the W3C Authorized Translations process. WAI encourages translating WAI documents in all languages. See:

WCAG 2.0 Translations for a list of other completed and planned translations,
WCAG 2.0 Catalan Authorized Translation Published e-mail.

(2011-03-23)

WCAG 2.0 in Finnish: Authorized Translation Published

Verkkosisällön saavutettavuusohjeet (WCAG) 2.0, the Finnish Authorized Translation of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, is now available, following completion of the W3C Authorized Translations process. WAI encourages translating WAI documents in all languages. See:

WCAG 2.0 Translations for a list of other completed and planned translations,
WCAG 2.0 Finnish Authorized Translation Published e-mail.

(2011-02-16)

WCAG 2.0 in Danish: Authorized Translation Published

Retningslinjer for tilgængeligt webindhold (WCAG) 2.0, the Danish Authorized Translation of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, is now available, following completion of the W3C Authorized Translations process. WAI encourages translating WAI documents in all languages. See:

WCAG 2.0 Translations for a list of other completed and planned translations,
WCAG 2.0 Danish Authorized Translation Published e-mail.

(2011-02-16)

WAI-ARIA On the Move: Implementation Testing Underway

We are excited to announce that Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.0 was published as a W3C Candidate Recommendation on 18 January 2011. The Candidate Recommendation stage means that there is broad consensus on the technical content, and we are gathering WAI-ARIA implementations. Please see additional information in:

If you are interested in sharing implementation experience, please let us know before 25 February 2011. (2011-01-18)

WCAG 2.0 in Dutch: Authorized Translation Published

Richtlijnen voor Toegankelijkheid van Webcontent (WCAG) 2.0, the Dutch Authorized Translation of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, is now available, following completion of the W3C Authorized Translations process. WAI encourages translating WAI documents in all languages. See:

WCAG 2.0 Translations for a list of other completed and planned translations,
WCAG 2.0 Dutch Authorized Translation Published e-mail.

(2010-12-03)

More WCAG 2.0 Techniques

WAI continues to develop techniques for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and expand guidance on understanding and implementing WCAG 2.0. To learn about today's publications and about contributing on-going work on WCAG techniques, see the New and Improved WCAG 2.0 Techniques blog post. (2010-10-14)

WAI-ARIA Revised and Ready for Last Call Working Draft Review

Now ready for your review: Last Call Working Draft of WAI-ARIA, the Accessible Rich Internet Applications technical specification for making dynamic, interactive Web content accessible to people with disabilities. Working Drafts of 4 other documents in the WAI-ARIA suite are also updated. See:

Call for Review: WAI-ARIA, the Accessible Rich Internet Applications technical specification,
WAI-ARIA Overview,
How WAI Develops Accessibility Guidelines through the W3C Process: Milestones and Opportunities to Contribute.

Please send any comments on this Last Call Working Draft by 29 October 2010. (2010-09-16)

Calling All Authoring Tool Developers: ATAG 2 for You

If you develop web authoring tools (content management systems, HTML editors, websites that let users add content, and more), now is the time to take a good look at the ATAG 2.0 Working Draft. It's in Last Call Working Draft stage, and we need you to use it in developing your tools and let us know how it works for you. People with disabilities and accessibility specialists are also encouraged to review it now. See:

Call for Review: ATAG *Last Call* Working Draft,
ATAG Overview,
How WAI Develops Accessibility Guidelines through the W3C Process: Milestones and Opportunities to Contribute.

Please send any comments on this Last Call Working Draft by 2 September 2010. Thanks! (2010-07-08)

For Review: Updated WCAG 2.0 Techniques

WAI announces a Call for Review of draft updates to supporting documents for WCAG 2.0: Techniques for WCAG 2.0 (Editors' Draft) and Understanding WCAG 2.0 (Editors' Draft). (This is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document.) To learn more about the updates, see Call for Review: WCAG 2.0 Techniques Draft Updates e-mail. Please submit comments by 9 August 2010. (2010-07-08)

For Review: UAAG 2.0 and Implementing UAAG 2.0 Working Drafts

WAI has published updated Working Drafts of User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0 and the Implementing UAAG 2.0 supporting Note. UAAG defines how browsers, media players, and other "user agents" should support accessibility for people with disabilities and work with assistive technologies. WAI encourages you to review UAAG 2.0 and submit comments now, as the Working Group is preparing for Last Call. See:

Please send comments by 29 July 2010. (2010-06-17)

Reach your audience: Make your presentations accessible to all

How to Make Presentations Accessible to All helps you make presentations, talks, meetings, and training accessible to all of your potential audience, including people with disabilities and others. WAI would like to know how this resource works for you and how we can improve it. See the blog post: Make Your Presentations Accessible to All. Please send comments by 19 July 2010. (2010-06-16)

Working Together for Better Accessibility

To help and encourage developers and users working together, WAI has updated the following documents:

Contacting Organizations about Inaccessible Websites (primarily for users),
Involving Users in Web Projects for Better, Easier Accessibility (primarily for project managers, designers, developers, editors, and others involved in all types of web projects),
Involving Users in Evaluating Web Accessibility (for those evaluating accessibility).

See Updated Resources Encourage Working Together for Better Accessibility e-mail for more information. (2010-04-22)

Judy Brewer to Testify on Web Accessibility Before US House Subcommittee

On Thursday, April 22, Judy Brewer, Director of the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), will be among those testifying at a Hearing on Achieving the Promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the Digital Age – Current Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities before the US House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. In her testimony, she will speak about how web accessibility has progressed over the past ten years, and why it is important to continue to lower accessibility barriers on the web as we rely more heavily on the web for education, employment, health care, social networking, and more. Learn about W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). Note: We will link to the testimony when it becomes available online. (2010-04-21)

For Review: UAAG 2.0 and Implementing UAAG 2.0 Working Drafts

WAI has published an updated Working Draft of the User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0. UAAG defines how browsers, media players, and other "user agents" should support accessibility for people with disabilities and work with assistive technologies. This draft adds requirements in seven new areas, including support for speech input, video playback controls, and a new section on conformance. It introduces a new supporting document, Implementing UAAG 2.0, as a First Public Working Draft. WAI encourages you to review UAAG 2.0 and submit comments. See:

Please send comments by 16 April 2010. (2010-03-11)

Speak up! Tell organizations if their website is inaccessible

Contacting Organizations about Inaccessible Websites guides you through telling organizations about accessibility barriers on their website. We would like to know how this new WAI resource works for you and how we can improve it. See the blog post: Take a few minutes to encourage web accessibility. Your voice counts. Please send comments by 3 February 2010. (2010-01-06)

WCAG 2.0 in Italian: Authorized Translation Published

Linee guida per l'accessibilità dei contenuti Web (WCAG) 2.0, the Italian Authorized Translation of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, is now available, following completion of the W3C Authorized Translations process. WAI encourages translating WAI documents in all languages. See:

WCAG 2.0 Translations for a list of other completed and planned translations,
WCAG 2.0 Italian Authorized Translation Published e-mail.

(2009-12-21)

For Review: WAI-ARIA Updated Working Drafts

WAI has published updated Working Drafts of WAI-ARIA, the Accessible Rich Internet Applications technical specification, and two companion documents: WAI-ARIA User Agent Implementation Guide and WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices. Get more information on using WAI-ARIA to make dynamic, interactive web content accessible to people with disabilities from:

Call for Review: WAI-ARIA Updated Working Drafts announcement e-mail;
WAI-ARIA Overview, which links to WAI-ARIA FAQ and related documents for Web site developers and browser developers;
How WAI Develops Accessibility Guidelines through the W3C Process: Milestones and Opportunities to Contribute.

Please send comments by 2 February 2010. (2009-12-15)

Resources Supporting Web Accessibility Business Case - Share Yours

Resources for Developing a Web Accessibility Business Case for Your Organization provides a first collection of statistics, case studies, and articles that support the business case for web accessibility. We are looking for additional case studies and resources; see Share Resources Supporting the Web Accessibility Business Case blog post. (2009-12-14)

Want Better, Easier Accessibility? Involve Users in Your Web Projects

The new document Involving Users in Web Projects for Better, Easier Accessibility provides guidance for project managers, designers, and developers of:

websites and web applications;
browsers, media players, and assistive technologies;
authoring tools such as content management systems (CMS), blog software, and WYSIWYG editors;
standards and policies on accessibility;
web technologies and technical specifications.

Learn more about this and the related document Involving Users in Evaluating Web Accessibility in the Involving Users announcement e-mail and the blog post Discover new ways of thinking about accessibility. Watch for other documents from the WAI-AGE Project coming soon... (2009-12-09)

For Review: EARL 1.0 Last Call Working Draft

WAI has published a Last Call Working Draft of the Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0 Schema, updated Working Drafts of HTTP Vocabulary in RDF 1.0, Representing Content in RDF 1.0, Pointer Methods in RDF 1.0, Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0 Requirements, and a First Public Working Draft of the Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0 Guide. EARL provides a format for expressing test results, such as those generated by Web accessibility evaluation tools, using a vendor-neutral and platform-independent format. WAI encourages you to review EARL 1.0 documents and submit any comments. See:

Please send comments by 30 November 2009. (2009-10-29)

For Review: ATAG 2.0 Updated Working Draft

An updated Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0 Working Draft was published 29 October 2009. It includes a revised supporting note "Implementing ATAG 2.0". ATAG defines how authoring tools should help Web developers produce Web content that is accessible and conforms to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. ATAG also defines how to make authoring tools accessible so that people with disabilities can use them. WAI encourages you to review ATAG 2.0 and submit any comments. See:

Please send comments by 30 November 2009. (2009-10-29)

WCAG 2.0 in German: Authorized Translation Published

Richtlinien für barrierefreie Webinhalte (WCAG) 2.0, the German Authorized Translation of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, is now available, following completion of the W3C Authorized Translations process. WAI encourages translating WAI documents in all languages. See:

WCAG 2.0 Translations for a list of other completed and planned translations
WCAG 2.0 German Authorized Translation Published e-mail

(2009-10-29)

New: Perspectives on Web Accessibility

Along with the redesigned W3C website, we have a new Accessibility page that introduces the what, why, where, and how of web accessibility. Read what it says about how the impact of disabilities can be radically changed for people using the Web when websites, web technologies, and web tools are properly designed. (2009-10-14)

W3C Shares Multimedia Accessibility FAQ

In order to help the community provide accessible multimedia, W3C made public it's internal Multimedia Accessibility FAQ. The FAQ provides some practical advice on: What do I need to do to make audio and video accessible? How do I get a transcript for my media? How do I do captions? Where can I get more information?

W3C's formal guidance on accessible multimedia is provided in Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. (2009-10-08)

For Review: UAAG 2.0 Updated Working Draft

WAI has published an updated User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0 Working Draft with changes in the "Ensure that the user interface is operable" and Glossary sections. UAAG defines how browsers, media players, and other "user agents" should support accessibility for people with disabilities and work with assistive technologies. WAI encourages you to review UAAG 2.0 and submit any comments. See:

Please send comments by 9 September 2009. (2009-07-23)

Accessible and Mobile: WCAG-MWBP Overlap Document Published

Relationship between Mobile Web Best Practices (MWBP) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is published as a W3C Working Group Note. See also:

(2009-07-09)

WCAG 2.0 in French: Authorized Translation Published

Règles pour l'accessibilité des contenus Web (WCAG) 2.0, the French Authorized Translation of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, is now available, following completion of the W3C Authorized Translations process. WAI encourages translating WAI documents in all languages. See:

WCAG 2.0 Translations for a list of other completed and planned translations,
WCAG 2.0 French Authorized Translation Published e-mail.

(2009-06-26)

Business Case Updated: Impact of Older Web Users Expanded

Developing a Web Accessibility Business Case for Your Organization is updated to more thoroughly address the impact of Web accessibility on older users, as part of the WAI-AGE Project.Older users are an increasing market segment and an important target group for many organizations. This update also includes references to the new WCAG 2. Get more details on recent and upcoming updates from the WAI IG e-mail. (2009-06-25)

For Review: Accessible-Mobile Overlap Document

Relationship between Mobile Web Best Practices (MWBP) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Working Draft is ready for review. This draft is complete and is provided as a last opportunity for public review and comment before publishing it as a W3C Working Group Note. See:

Call For Review: Relationship Between Mobile Web and Web Content Accessibility announcement e-mail,
Web Content Accessibility and Mobile Web: Making a Web Site Accessible Both for People with Disabilities and for Mobile Devices introductory page.

Please send comments by 16 June 2009. (2009-05-26)

For Review: ATAG 2.0 Updated Working Draft

An updated Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0 Working Draft was published 21 May 2009. The ATAG Working Group expects the next publication to be the Last Call Working Draft. ATAG defines how authoring tools should help Web developers produce Web content that is accessible and conforms to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. ATAG also defines how to make authoring tools accessible so that people with disabilities can use them. WAI encourages you to review ATAG 2.0 and submit any comments. See:

Please send comments by 11 June 2009 so that the Working Group can review the comments at their face-to-face meeting on 15 June. (2009-05-21)

For Review: Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0 Schema

WAI has published an updated Working Draft of Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) 1.0 Schema. This document provides the formal schema of EARL 1.0, a vocabulary to express test results. EARL is a format to exchange, combine, and analyze results from different evaluation tools. See:

Please send comments by 26 May 2009. (2009-04-28)

How People with Disabilities Use the Web - Draft Introduced

"How People with Disabilities Use the Web" provides detailed examples of people with different disabilities using Web sites, applications, browsers, and authoring tools. It is currently a draft, and will soon be updated to reflect current best practice. Introduction to "How People with Disabilities Use the Web" provides a stable reference that will always link to the latest version of the main document. (2009-04-22)

Which links to what: Referencing WCAG, ATAG, UAAG, and WAI-ARIA

Ever wonder which URI (Web address) you should use for links to WCAG or other WAI technical documents? To learn which URI to use for what, which have stable content, and which give you the latest version, see Referencing and Linking to WAI Guidelines and Technical Documents. (2009-03-12)

For Review: UAAG 2.0 Updated Working Draft

WAI has published an updated User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0 Working Draft. UAAG defines how browsers, media players, and other "user agents" should support accessibility for people with disabilities and work with assistive technologies. WAI encourages you to review UAAG 2.0 and submit any comments, particularly on keyboard accessibility and defining Web applications as user agents. See:

Please send comments by 22 April 2009. (2009-03-11)

For Review: Pointer Methods in RDF (EARL Companion Document)

WAI has published Pointer Methods in RDF as a First Public Working Draft. This document provides a framework for representing pointers to identify locations in content or portions of content, using Resource Description Framework (RDF). It is a companion to Evaluation and Report Language (EARL), a format to exchange, combine, and analyze results from different evaluation tools. See:

Please send comments by 7 April 2009. (2009-03-10)

WCAG 2.0 Official in Multiple Languages

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 will soon be available in several languages as W3C Authorized Translations. The Policy for Authorized W3C Translations provides a process for stakeholder review and designation as an official translation. Draft "Candidate Authorized Translations" available for review will be announced to the WAI Interest Group (IG) mailing list.

WCAG 2.0 Translations lists completed and planned translations, and links to more information on W3C translations. (2009-03-03)

For Review: WAI-ARIA Last Call

WAI has published the Last Call Working Draft of WAI-ARIA, the Accessible Rich Internet Applications technical specification. This Last Call is provided for public review of the document with all resolutions from previous comments incorporated. See:

Call for Review: WAI-ARIA Last Call and New Document for Browsers announcement e-mail;
WAI-ARIA Overview, which links to WAI-ARIA FAQ and related documents for Web site developers and browser developers;
How WAI Develops Accessibility Guidelines through the W3C Process: Milestones and Opportunities to Contribute.

Please send comments by 17 April 2009. (2009-02-24)

For Review: New WAI-ARIA document for browsers

WAI has published the First Public Working Draft of the WAI-ARIA User Agent Implementation Guide that describes how browsers and other user agents should support the Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) technical specification, particularly how they should expose WAI-ARIA features to platform accessibility APIs. See:

Call for Review: WAI-ARIA Last Call and New Document for Browsers announcement e-mail,
WAI-ARIA Overview.

Please send comments by 17 April 2009. (2009-02-24)

For Review: ATAG 2.0 Updated Working Draft

An updated Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0 Working Draft that is synchronized with the finalized WCAG 2.0 was published 17 February 2009. ATAG defines how authoring tools should help Web developers produce Web content that is accessible and conforms to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. ATAG also defines how to make authoring tools accessible so that people with disabilities can use them. WAI encourages you to review ATAG 2.0 and submit any comments. See:

Please send comments by 16 March 2009. (2009-02-17)

WCAG 2.0 is Finalized: W3C Web Standard Defines Accessibility for Next Generation Web

On 11 December 2008 W3C announced a new standard that will help Web designers and developers create sites that better meet the needs of users with disabilities and older users. Drawing on extensive experience and community feedback, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 improves upon W3C's groundbreaking initial standard for accessible Web content, applies to more advanced technologies, and is more precisely testable. Please see additional information in:

A New Era for Web Accessibility: WCAG 2.0 is Finalized blog post,
W3C Web Standard Defines Accessibility for Next Generation Web press release,
WCAG Overview that links to several related resources.

(2008-12-11)

For Review: ATAG 2.0 Updated Working Draft

An updated Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0 Working Draft was published 24 November 2008. ATAG defines how authoring tools should help Web developers produce Web content that is accessible and conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). ATAG also defines how to make authoring tools accessible so that people with disabilities can use them. WAI encourages you to review ATAG 2.0 and submit any comments. See:

(2008-11-24)

WCAG 2.0 succeeds in test sites, moves to last stage

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 was published as a W3C Proposed Recommendation on 3 November 2008. This means that the technical material of WCAG 2.0 is complete and it has been implemented in real sites. The next stage is the final publication, which is expected in December 2008. Please see additional information in:

(2008-11-03)

WCAG 2.0 Implementations: Most done, a few to go

Since publishing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 as a Candidate Recommendation, the WCAG Working Group has been collecting and evaluating implementations (that is, examples of how real Web sites meet WCAG 2.0). We have implementations for almost all success criteria, and need a few more. For an updated list of implementations needed, see the Update in the WCAG 2 FAQ.

The WCAG Working Group is meeting 1-3 October 2008 to address remaining issues. We are still hoping to complete WCAG 2.0 in 2008, and will provide another status update by November. See How WAI Develops Accessibility Guidelines through the W3C Process for the steps needed to complete WCAG 2.0. (2008-09-30)

For Review: EARL Companion Documents

The Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group today published Representing Content in RDF as a First Public Working Draft, and an updated Working Draft of HTTP Vocabulary in RDF. These documents are companions to Evaluation and Report Language (EARL), a format to exchange, combine, and analyze results from different evaluation tools. See:

Please send comments by 29 September 2008. (2008-09-08)

For Review: Updated WAI-ARIA Specification

WAI has published an updated Working Draft of WAI-ARIA, the Accessible Rich Internet Applications technical specification. We especially request review of how WAI-ARIA is implemented in host languages, such as HTML, XHTML, and SVG. See:

Call for Review: Updated WAI-ARIA Specification announcement e-mail;
WAI-ARIA Overview, which links to WAI-ARIA FAQ and related documents for Web site developers.

Please send comments by 3 September 2008. (2008-08-06)

Shared Web Experiences: Mobile and Accessibility Barriers

WAI has just published an updated draft of Shared Web Experiences: Barriers Common to Mobile Device Users and People with Disabilities. This document is particularly useful for demonstrating the overlap between accessible and mobile-friendly Web content, for developing a business case for accessibility, and for more efficiently developing your Web site for both accessibility and mobile devices. See:

Please send comments by 20 August 2008, if possible. (2008-07-29)

For Review: WCAG 2 at a Glance

Web Accessibility: WCAG 2.0 at a Glance provides a summary of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. We welcome your comments on this draft, preferably by 15 July 2008. (2008-07-07)

For Review: Updated Accessibility-Mobile Web Overlap Document

Web sites can be designed more efficiently to be accessible for people with disabilities and also for people using mobile devices when developers understand the significant overlap between the two design goals and guidelines. W3C recently published updated material describing this overlap. See:

Call For Review: Relationship Between Mobile Web and Web Content Accessibility Updated announcement e-mail;
Web Content Accessibility and Mobile Web: Making a Web Site Accessible Both for People with Disabilities and for Mobile Devices introductory page;
Relationship between Mobile Web Best Practices (MWBP) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Working Draft.

We welcome your comments on the documents, preferably by 15 August 2008. (2008-07-07)

Public Drafts: Updated WAI-ARIA Documents

Updated Editors' Drafts of the WAI-ARIA documents are now publicly available so that anyone can follow how issues are being addressed in the draft WAI-ARIA specification. These documents are works-in-progress, not official "Public Working Drafts". Please see more information in the Updated WAI-ARIA Editors' Drafts Now Publicly Available e-mail. (2008-05-28)

WAI-AGE: Addressing Accessibility Needs Due to Ageing

The WAI-AGE Project (Ageing Education and Harmonisation) focuses on education and outreach regarding the requirements of people with Web accessibility needs related to ageing. One of the WAI-AGE project deliverables is Web Accessibility for Older Users: A Literature Review, which was published on 14 March as a First Public Working Draft. WAI encourages you to review this draft and submit any comments by 4 June 2008, if possible.

See Call for Review and Participation: WAI-AGE Literature Review and Task Force for an introduction to the project and an invitation to contribute to the literature review and other WAI-AGE work. (2008-05-14)

WCAG 2.0 On the Move: Ready to Test-Drive

We are excited to announce that Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) was published as a W3C Candidate Recommendation on 30 April 2008. The Candidate Recommendation stage means that there is broad consensus on the technical content, and W3C invites you to implement WCAG 2.0. Please see additional information in:

If you are interested in sharing implementation experience, please let us know by 23 May 2008. (2008-04-30)

John Slatin: Honored Accessibility Colleague and Friend

WAI mourns the passing of John Slatin, who was Co-Chair of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Working Group in 2005 and 2006. Through his persistence, patience, and keen insight, John contributed greatly to the field of accessibility, especially to the development of WCAG 2.0. He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his colleagues at W3C/WAI and in the broader accessibility community. For more information, see the e-mail thread: Sad news regarding John Slatin, highly-regarded Web accessibility expert and advocate. (2008-03-25)

For Review: UAAG 2.0 First Public Working Draft

The First Public Working Draft of User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0 was published 12 March 2008. UAAG explains how to make browsers and media players accessible to people with disabilities, and how to make them work better with assistive technologies. UAAG 2.0 will address more advanced Web technologies than UAAG 1.0. WAI encourages you to review UAAG 2.0 and submit any comments. See:

Please send comments by 14 April 2008. (2008-03-13)

For Review: Updated ATAG 2.0 Working Drafts

Updated Working Drafts of Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 and Implementation Techniques for ATAG 2.0 were published 10 March 2008. WAI encourages you to review these documents and submit any comments. See:

Please send comments by 14 April 2008. (2008-03-10)

March 2008 Update on WCAG 2.0

The WCAG Working Group has addressed most of the comments received on the second Last Call Working Draft of WCAG 2.0, and is currently finalizing replies to commenters and preparing for the "Candidate Recommendation" stage in the W3C Process. See: "March 2008 Update: Moving WCAG 2.0 to the next stage" in the WCAG 2 FAQ. (2008-03-05)

WAI Interviews: Shadi and Shawn Talk Web Accessibility

Recent interviews with Shadi Abou-Zahra and Shawn Lawton Henry are available online:

Webtalk: Shadi Abou-Zahra über die Web Accessibility Initiative with Shadi is in German.
Radio New Zealand Interview, February 2008 with Shawn is audio with a text transcript.

(2008-03-05)

For Review: New WAI-ARIA Resources

WAI-ARIA, the Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite, defines a way to make Web content and Web applications more accessible to people with disabilities. It especially helps with dynamic content and advanced user interface controls developed with Ajax, HTML, JavaScript, and related technologies.

New WAI-ARIA documents were published 4 February 2008. The WAI-ARIA Primer provides background on accessibility issues related to JavaScript, and introduces the technical approach used in WAI-ARIA. WAI-ARIA Best Practices describes how Web content developers can develop accessible rich Web applications using WAI-ARIA. See:

Call for Review: New WAI-ARIA Documents announcement e-mail;
WAI-ARIA Overview which links to WAI-ARIA itself and the other documents;
WAI-ARIA FAQ.

We welcome your comments, preferably by 20 February, otherwise by 3 March 2008. (2008-02-04)

Accessible and Mobile: Two Birds with One Stone

There is significant overlap between designing Web sites to be accessible to people with disabilities and designing Web sites to be usable on a mobile device. When developers understand this overlap, they can more efficiently meet both goals. On 22 January, W3C published material describing this overlap. See:

First Public Working Draft: Relationship Between Mobile Web and Web Content Accessibility announcement e-mail;
Web Content Accessibility and Mobile Web: Making a Web Site Accessible Both for People with Disabilities and for Mobile Devices introductory page;
Relationship Between Mobile Web Best Practices 1.0 and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines First Public Working Draft.

We welcome your comments, preferably by 4 March 2008. (2008-01-22)

For Review: WCAG 2.0 Last Call Working Draft

A Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) second Last Call Working Draft and updated supporting documents were published 11 December 2007. This Last Call is provided for public review of the document with all resolutions from previous comments incorporated. See:

Please send comments by 1 February 2008. (2007-12-11)

For Review: UAAG 2.0 Requirements

User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) provides guidance on designing Web browsers, media players, assistive technologies, and other 'user agents' to increase accessibility of the Web to people with disabilities. Plans for new work on a second generation of UAAG was published in the UAAG 2.0 Requirements Working Draft on 31 October 2007. WAI encourages you to review this document, submit any comments, and consider participating in the UAAG Working Group. See:

Please send comments by 14 December 2007. (2007-10-31)

Pass It On: WCAG 2.0 Presentation Materials

"About WCAG 2.0 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines" is a presentation that covers the benefits of WCAG 2.0, shortcuts for using WCAG 2.0, how it differs from WCAG 1.0, and related topics. The presentation "slides" and extensive notes are designed for presenters to use for their own presentations. It's also available for anyone who wants to learn about WCAG 2.0. See Instructions for the "About WCAG 2.0" Presentation. (2007-10-31)

October 2007 Update on WCAG 2.0

The WCAG Working Group is completing resolution of comments on the latest WCAG 2.0 Public Working Draft documents. In November 2007 they plan to send responses on each comment, asking for reply from the reviewer. The Working Group plans to publish a second WCAG 2.0 Last Call Working Draft in December 2007, before moving on to the next stages. See:

(2007-10-31)

For Review: Updated WAI-ARIA Working Drafts

W3C WAI's work on accessibility of Ajax, DHTML, and other application technologies includes the Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite (WAI-ARIA). Updated Working Drafts of WAI-ARIA documents were published 19 October 2007. See:

Please send comments by 16 November 2007. (2007-10-19)

Now Showing at the YUI Theater: WCAG 2.0 Presentation

Learn how the WCAG 2.0 Working Draft differs from WCAG 1.0, get shortcuts for using WCAG 2.0, and hear answers to common questions on W3C WAI's work in Shawn Henry's presentation to the Yahoo! User Interface Developer Network. Shawn also addresses the role of browsers and authoring tools in Web accessibility, and combining standards and usability techniques to optimize accessibility. See video with audio and slides, and text transcript. (2007-08-16)

July 2007 Update on WCAG 2.0

The WCAG Working Group received many constructive comments on the May 2007 WCAG 2.0 Working Drafts. They separated the comments into about 450 issues, ranging from minor edits to technical issues. In the first two weeks of July, the Working Group had eight half-day worksessions where they addressed about 150 of those issues and started work on another 100. See the "Update July 2007" section of the WCAG 2 FAQ for more... (2007-07-27)

A Video Interview with Shawn Henry, From California to Japan

As part of the Mitsue-Links "Meet the Professionals" video series, Shawn Henry of W3C WAI talks with Kazuhito Kidachi about shared responsibilities between web site developers, browsers, and assistive technologies; the importance of different types of authoring tools supporting accessibility; how WCAG 2.0 and WAI-ARIA address the more difficult aspects of Web accessibility; WAI's outreach resources; and what led Shawn to accessibility years ago. See video with English audio and Japanese subtitles, and text transcripts. (2007-07-11)

For Review: Updated WAI-ARIA Working Drafts

W3C WAI's work on accessibility of Ajax, DHTML, and other application technologies includes the Accessibility for Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) Suite. Updated Working Drafts of the WAI-ARIA Suite documents were published 1 June 2007. WAI encourages you to review these documents and submit any comments. See:

Please send comments by 6 July 2007. (2007-06-01)

For Review: Updated WCAG 2.0 Documents

Updated Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) Working Draft documents were published 17 May 2007. These documents incorporate resolutions to comments from the 2006 Last Call Working Draft. WAI encourages you to review the WCAG 2.0 Working Draft and submit any new comments. Please see the additional information in:

Please send comments by 29 June 2007. (2007-05-17)

WaSP Interview: Judy Brewer on WCAG 2

Judy Brewer discusses WCAG 2.0 status and upcoming drafts with Web Standards Project (WaSP) Accessibility Task Force member Jared Smith. See Interview with Judy Brewer. (2007-05-07)

Updates: WCAG 2.0 and WAI Resources Handouts

WCAG 2.0 primary points, current status, and Web accessibility resources from W3C WAI are topics covered in new handouts that you can use for conferences and presentations. The handouts direct readers to the updated WCAG 2 FAQ, How WAI Develops Accessibility Guidelines through the W3C Process, and other documents. See

(2007-04-04)

For Review: EARL 1.0 Schema Last Call Working Draft

Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) is a format to exchange, combine, and analyze results from different evaluation tools and checkers. EARL 1.0 Schema Last Call Working Draft and HTTP Vocabulary in RDF Working Draft were published 23 March 2007. See:

Please send comments by 20 April 2007. (2007-03-23)

For Review: Updated WAI-ARIA Working Drafts

W3C WAI's work on accessibility of AJAX, DHTML, and other application technologies includes the Accessibility for Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) Suite. Updated Working Drafts of the WAI-ARIA Suite documents were published 20 December 2006. WAI encourages you to review these documents and submit any comments. See:

Please send comments by 19 January 2006. (2006-12-20)

First Authorized Translation: WCAG 1.0 in Catalan

The W3C Authorized Catalan Translation of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 1.0 is now available. See:

Directrius per a l'accessibilitat al contingut web, versió 1.0. (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0);
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Overview;
Policy for W3C Authorized Translations.

This WCAG 1.0 Catalan translation is W3C's first Authorized Translation. (2006-12-20)

For Review: ATAG 2.0 Working Draft

An updated Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0 Working Draft was published 7 December 2006. WAI encourages you to review this document and submit any comments. See:

Please send comments by 11 January 2007. (2006-12-07)

Got Questions? View the New WCAG 2 F.A.Q.

WAI gathered a few frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and provided answers in a WCAG 2 FAQ. There we address: When will WCAG 2.0 be done? What is the current status? When should I start using WCAG 2.0? (2006-11-01)

For Review: Updated EARL 1.0 Schema Working Draft

Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) is a format to exchange, combine, and analyze results from different Web accessibility evaluation tools. EARL 1.0 Schema Working Draft was published 27 September 2006. See:

Please send comments by 25 October 2006. (2006-09-27)

Accessibility for Rich Internet Applications: WAI-ARIA Suite Debuts

W3C WAI's work on accessibility of AJAX, DHTML, and other rich Internet application technologies is published as First Public Working Drafts. WAI encourages review and comments. See:

For information on how Working Drafts are developed, see: How WAI Develops Accessibility Guidelines through the W3C Process. (2006-09-26)

WAI to Advise on 508 Standards Update

W3C WAI has been appointed to the Advisory Committee for the revision of U.S. Section 255 guidelines and Section 508 standards, which include Web accessibility. WAI looks forward to continuing to coordinate with organizations around the world to develop harmonized standards for Web accessibility. Additional information is available in the U.S. Access Board article: Board Names Advisory Committee for 508 Standards Update. (2006-07-20)

Podcast: Interview on WCAG 2

Shawn Henry discusses WCAG 2.0 with UK UPA president Giles Colborne: transcript and audio files. (2006-07-06)

Custom View of WCAG Two: Quick Reference.

WCAG 2.0 Quick Reference lists the basic requirements of WCAG 2.0, which are the success criteria. For each success criteria, it lists techniques that tell you how to meet the requirements. You can customize the Quick Reference for the Web technologies you are using and for Levels 1, 2, or 3. See also: Overview of WCAG 2.0 Documents. (2006-06-20)

Extended Deadline: WCAG 2.0 Last Call Review.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) Last Call Working Draft and supporting documents were published 27 April 2006. WAI encourages you to review these documents and submit any comments. See:

Please send comments by 22 June 2006. (2006-05-30)

For Review: WCAG 2.0 Last Call

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) Last Call Working Draft and supporting documents were published 27 April 2006. WAI encourages you to review these documents and submit any comments. See:

Please send comments by 31 May 2006. (2006-04-27)

For Review: Updated WCAG 2.0 Working Drafts

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) Working Draft documents were published 23 November 2005. See:

Please send comments by 21 December 2005. (2005-11-25)

For Review: Updated ATAG 2.0 Working Drafts

Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (ATAG 2.0) Working Draft documents were published 22 November 2005. See:

Please send comments by 21 December 2005. (2005-11-25)

Want to know how people with disabilities use your Web site? Ask.

Web accessibility guidelines, techniques, and tools provide the basis for Web accessibility. Including people with disabilities in the Web development process helps to understand the "why" behind accessibility. It leads to more effective accessibility solutions, developed more efficiently. See "Involving Users in Web Accessibility Evaluation". (2005-11-02)

Registration Open: Web Accessibility Evaluation Training

Registration is open for the Web Accessibility Evaluation Training — WAI-TIES Best Practices Exchange on 25 October 2005 in St. Augustin, Germany. (2005-09-20)

For Review: Updated EARL 1.0 Schema Working Draft

Evaluation and Report Language (EARL) is a format to exchange, combine, and analyze results from different Web accessibility evaluation tools. EARL 1.0 Schema Working Draft was published 9 September 2005. See:

Please send comments by 10 October 2005. (2005-09-15)

Web Accessibility 101: The Basics and Beyond

WAI's recently updated "Introduction to Web Accessibility" addresses key issues of making the Web accessible, including:

An accessible Web is essential for equal opportunities for people with disabilities
Web accessibility benefits others, such as older people with changing abilities due to aging
Web software has a vital role in Web accessibility (2005-09-12)

W3C Replies: Single Browser Bad for Accessibility

W3C responded to a US Copyright Office notice asking about making an application work only through a single Web browser. W3C comments explain that "requiring use of a particular software product for accessing Copyright Office services... could put Web users with disabilities at a significant disadvantage." (2005-09-06)

The Business Case for Web Accessibility: Three Carrots and a Stick

"Developing a Web Accessibility Business Case for Your Organization" describes the social, technical, financial, and legal and policy factors relevant to developing a customized business case for Web accessibility for a specific organization. (2005-08-23)

Finding Your WAI: Exploring the New Web Site

WAI's new Web site has been carefully designed to make it easier for you to find information on making the Web accessible to people with disabilities.

WAI Web Site Redesign Project lists on-going development to refine the markup, design, and features. (2005-07-22)

Web Accessibility: The Fellowship of the Guidelines

Many people know about WAI's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the responsibilities of Web developers in making the Web accessible to people with disabilities. But Web developers alone cannot make the Web accessible.

Web browsers, assistive technologies, and authoring tools also have a vital role in Web accessibility. Essential Components of Web Accessibility describes these roles along with the WAI guidelines. (2005-07-22)

Blogs, Wikis, CMS... Got ATAG?

Web content is created by many different types of tools these days: Web log (blog) comment features, Wikis for editing Web pages, content management systems (CMS), e-mail archivers, word processors, and more.

All of these tool are covered by WAI's Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG), which explain:

how tools should help Web developers produce accessible Web content,
how to make tools accessible to people with disabilities.

Does your tool know ATAG? (2005-07-22)

For Review: Updated WCAG 2.0 Working Drafts

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) Working Draft documents were published 30 June 2005. See:

Please send comments by 2 August 2005. (2005-06-30)

Site Navigation

Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Highlights

Archive 2017

Updated: Tutorials on Web Accessibility

WCAG 2.1 Working Draft - April 2017

Accessibility Conformance Testing (ACT) Rules Format 1.0 First Public Working Draft

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 First Public Working Draft

Archive 2016

Updated: Easy Checks - A First Review of Web Accessibility

Updated Resources: Planning and Managing Web Accessibility

WCAG 2.1 under exploration

Updated October 2016: Understanding WCAG & WCAG Techniques

Video Pages Updated: Perspectives on Web Accessibility -- Essential for Some, Useful for All

For Review: WAI-ARIA Graphics Module, Graphics Accessibility API Mappings, and SVG Accessibility API Mappings

For Review: Final Working Draft of WAI-ARIA 1.1

For Review: Updated WCAG Techniques & Understanding WCAG

WAI-ARIA 1.0 Authoring Practices and Primer retired

New Videos: Perspectives on Web Accessibility -- Essential for Some, Useful for All

For Review: Accessibility Requirements for People with Low Vision - First Public Working Draft

Updated: How to Meet WCAG 2.0: A customizable quick reference

WCAG-EM Report Tool: Accessibility Evaluation Report Generator

Updated: Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool List

For Review: WAI-ARIA 1.1, DPub Roles, Accessibility API Mappings, and Authoring Practices Working Drafts

Updated March 2016: Understanding WCAG & WCAG Techniques

W3C to Receive Emmy® for Work on Accessible Captioning

For Review: Updated WCAG Techniques & Understanding WCAG

For Review: Requirements for WCAG 2.0 Extensions - First Public Working Draft

Archive 2015

User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 and UAAG 2.0 Reference published as Working Group Notes

Media Accessibility User Requirements Working Group Note

For Review: WAI-ARIA Graphics Module First Public Working Draft

For Review: Digital Publishing API Mappings First Public Working Draft

For Review: HTML Accessibility API Mappings First Public Working Draft

For Review: WAI-ARIA 1.1, Accessibility API Mappings, and WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices Working Drafts

For Review: Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module Working Draft

For Review: How to Meet WCAG 2.0: A customizable quick reference

Tips for Getting Started with Web Accessibility

ATAG 2.0 is a W3C Recommendation

For Review: User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0

Low Vision Accessibility Task Force: Seeking Participation

Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0 is a Proposed Recommendation

For Review: WAI-ARIA 1.1 and Core Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 Working Drafts

For Review: Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module Working Draft

ATAG 2.0 CR updated with simplified exit criteria

For Review: WAI-ARIA 1.1 and Core Accessibility API Mappings 1.1 Working Drafts

For Review: IndieUI: Events and IndieUI: User Context Drafts Updated

For Review: HTML Accessibility API Mappings (HTML-AAM) Working Draft

WCAG-EM Report Tool: Accessibility Evaluation Report Generator

Web Accessibility Tutorials on Forms, Images, Tables

For Review: Mobile Accessibility - How WCAG 2.0 and Other W3C/WAI Guidelines Apply

HTML5 longdesc is a W3C Recommendation

For Review: SVG Accessibility API Mappings First Draft

Updated February 2015: Understanding WCAG & WCAG Techniques

For Review: Cognitive Accessibility User Research

For Review: IndieUI Events (for Mobile and More) Draft Updated

For Review: Updated WCAG Techniques & Understanding WCAG

Archive 2014

Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool List: Call for Tool Information

For Review: WAI-ARIA 1.1 and Accessibility API Mappings Working Drafts

HTML5 longdesc is a Proposed Recommendation

Online Symposium: Accessible Way-Finding Using Web Technologies

WCAG 2.0 in Portuguese: Authorized Translations Published

Updated Working Draft of HTML5: Techniques for providing useful text alternatives

WCAG 2.0 in Chinese (Simplified): Authorized Translation Published

For Review: User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0

Call for Papers: Accessible Way-Finding Using Web Technologies Symposium

Updated September 2014: Understanding WCAG & WCAG Techniques

Web Accessibility Tutorials on Images and Tables

For Review: Media Accessibility User Requirements Working Draft

Call for Implementations: HTML5 Image Description Extension (longdesc)

For Review: Updated WCAG Techniques & Understanding WCAG

For Review: Evaluation Tool Features First Draft

WCAG-EM Provides Methodology for Evaluating Web Accessibility

For Review: IndieUI User Context for web interface preferences

For Review: Using WAI-ARIA in HTML Working Draft

For Review: Core Accessibility API Mappings (Core-AAM) and WAI-ARIA 1.1 Working Drafts

For Review: IndieUI Events (for Mobile and More) Draft Updated

IndieUI Requirements First Draft

WAI-ARIA 1.0 is a W3C Recommendation

Web Accessibility Tutorials: Ready for Your Input