Making the Web More Accessible
W3C Plans Design Guidelines for Users With Disabilities
Linda Dailey Paulson
from Computer Shopper - July, 1997 - Page 94

Usually, talk about making the Internet accessible to everyone involves
making computers and browsers available. But the World Wide Web Consortium
(W3C) is working on enabling technologies to make the Web accessible to users
who can't benefit from conventional browsers.  

In April, the W3C announced the launch of its Web Accessibility Initiative
(WAI) at a conference in Santa Clara, CA. W3C is a world-wide initiative
directed by the International Program Office (IPO) within the W3C, part of
which involves gathering and publishing formal design guidelines.  

"The goal of the Web Accessibility Initiative is to first establish the
International Program Office, which is supported by government and commercial
and nonprofit organizations to promote and achieve Web functionality for
people with disabilities," explains Mike Paciello, a volunteer consultant
helping design and organize the W3C initiative. Paciello, executive director
of the Yuri Rubinsky Insight Foundation, is also guest editor of the W3C
disabilities Web page.  

"Specifically, the IPO will coordinate the development of software protocols
and technologies, create guidelines for the use of technologies, educate
industry and users, and conduct research and development," he says.  

According to Paciello, individuals with disabilities need to be able to
access and use the Web in an independent and productive manner, especially in
a work environment. To achieve that goal, today's browser add-ons are only a
beginning.  

"Cutting edge technology like Progressive Networks' RealAudio is helping some
people with disabilities, but not all," he says. "The fact is, most Web-based
products are not designed to include the needs of people with disabilities."  

For example, Paciello continues, RealAudio can't read graphical data. "And
what good will RealAudio do for a deaf person? Conceptually, spoken words are
not always the easiest for those with dyslexia or learning disabilities, two
of the largest growing communities of disabled today."  

The W3C is trying to educate the computer industry regarding the needs of
people with disabilities and to drive the creation of technologies that will
make it easier for these people to use the Web.  

"Our primary effort will be to enhance the underlying way the Web works - for
example, to make it possible for people to use captioning or spoken language
as an interlace," Paciello says.  

"People with disabilities will benefit from equal access to the global
information, goods, and services available through the Web.  

Data Access 

World Wide Web Consortium pages devoted to accessibility issues include links
to various resources such as the CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible
Media, Gallaudet University, and the US GSA Center on Information Technology
Accommodation. For the latest information, see:
    http://www.w3.org/pub/WWW/Disabilities.
For the most comprehensive list of guidelines for Web-page accessibility,
access the Trace Research Website at: 
    http://www.trace.wisc.edu/text/guidelns/htmlgide/htmlgide.htm.
Another source of information is Mike Paciello's article, "People with
Disabilities Can't Access the Web," found at: 
    http://www.yuri.org/webable/library.