WAI International Program Office Activity Statement

Given the vital role that the Web now plays throughout society, it is essential to ensure that the Web is accessible to people with disabilities. Access to the Web can affect people with visual, hearing, physical, cognitive, and neurological disabilities. The solutions developed for Web accessibility also benefit non-disabled people. The WAI International Program Office helps create a forum where representatives of industry, the disability community, research, and government work together to identify accessibility requirements and develop solutions under W3C Process.

WAI's International Program Office Activity includes the following groups. The Education and Outreach Working Group develops a variety of materials to promote awareness and implementation of accessibility solutions for the Web. The Research and Development Interest Group explores accessibility considerations in advanced Web technologies. The WAI Interest Group maintains a large and active public discussion forum on Web accessibility; provides a forum for exchange of information on Web accessibility; and reviews deliverables produced by other WAI groups. The WAI Coordination Group coordinates work among groups in the WAI International Program Office Activity and the WAI Technical Activity.

Highlights Since the Previous Advisory Committee Meeting

The Education and Outreach Working Group (EOWG):

Through the WAI Site Task Force, continued a user-centered design process to redesign the WAI Web site, completing several prototype iterations and usability tests.
Through the the Lexicon Task Force, completed the first draft of the Beginners Lexicon for WAI Documents
Began updating the Evaluation Resource Suite, including:
- Restructuring the suite
- Developing Selecting Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools
- Developing a searchable database for Evaluation Tools
Updated Priorities for Translating WAI Documents list and contributed to the development of the Policy for Authorized W3C Translations
Developed new resources in conjunction with the WAI site redesign, including:
- Help with the WAI Web Site
- How to Change Text Size or Colors
Provided review comments to the Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines Working Group on the Last Call Working Draft of the Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 2.0

Upcoming Activity Highlights

Education and Outreach Working Group:

Publish How People with Disabilities Use the Web as Working Group Note
Publish Developing a Web Accessibility Business Case for Your Organization as WAI Resource Suite
Publish Why Standards Harmonization is Essential to Web Accessibility as Working Group Note
Complete Redesign of WAI Web Site
Complete several online slide sets
Update and prepare new documents to synchronize with WCAG 2.0 release
Conduct Web Accessibility Best Practices sessions in Europe

Research and Development Interest Group:

Complete one or more teleconference seminars

Summary of Activity Structure

Group	Chair	Team Contact	Charter
Education and Outreach Working Group (participants)	Judy Brewer	Shawn Henry	Chartered until 31 December 2007
Research and Development Interest Group	Markku Hakkinen	Wendy Chisholm	Chartered until 31 December 2006
WAI Coordination Group	Judy Brewer	Judy Brewer	Chartered until 31 December 2007
WAI Interest Group	Judy Brewer	Judy Brewer	Chartered until 31 December 2007

This Activity Statement was prepared for the 5-7 June 2005 W3C Advisory Committee Meeting (Members only) per the W3C Process Document section 5.

Judy Brewer, WAI International Program Office Activity Lead

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