W3C Accessibility 2023 Context

W3C, WAI 2023

• Accessibility woven into W3C, Inc — Mission, Vision, press release, website

• Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) well known brand

Collaborative team

Shawn Henry leads WAI program, communication, education

Kevin White leads technical accessibility work, WG oversight

Roy Ruoxi Ran supports WGs, accessibility in China

Daniel Montalvo supports WGs, harmonization, testing

New staff will support WGs, W3C accessibility

2023 acessibility work

• Advance active projects through transitions
  • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 - What’s New
  • Translations
  • …
  • Publications and more - WAI News
  • Monthly update - What We’re Working On - Accessibility Activities and Publications
• Strategic planning for 2024 and beyond

Strategic planning for 2024

W3C Accessibility Mission, Vision, Objectives [In-Progress Draft]

Extends W3C Mission and Vision to:

• Define and document W3C’s commitment to accessibility
• Encourage support for accessibility work through W3C
• Direct limited staff (chair, facilitator, participant, contributor) resources to agreed-upon priorities.

Exploring priorities for 2024

1. Improving accessibility guidance
2. Mobile app accessibility
3. Accessibility in low resource regions (aka Global South)
4. Standards harmonization internationally
5. Resources to accomplish priorities
6. and several more

Appendix: Priorities for 2023 Q3 and Q4

2023 priorities are based on existing key activities, work commitments, and resources.

1. Support continued development of key Working Group activities, including WCAG 2.2 support materials, WCAG2ICT, WCAG 3 exploration of conformance models, ARIA, etc. Provide on-going technical advice on WCAG 2.2 and WCAG2ICT updates for EN 301 549.
   Current work is introduced in What We’re Working On: Accessibility Activities and Publications.

2. Define priorities and strategic plan
   • Define vision, mission, strategic plan, communications plan, and specific objectives for 2024-2025 and beyond. (We will revisit and refine in as useful.)
   • Work on getting additional resources to cover needs and priorities. (At least 1 new position is approved and will be posted ASAP, hopefully in September.)
3. Complete specific projects by February 2024:
   • Update Policies List and Evaluation Tools List
   • Publish and promote AI Accessibility research symposium report and recordings
   • Publish new version of Easy Checks – A First Review of Web Accessibility
   • Update How People with Disabilities Use the Web with videos
   • Translations – facilitate Authorized Translations of WCAG 2.2, manage updating existing accessibility resource translations, facilitate additional translations, improve process for WAI translations

4. Progress WAI website re-architecture project to provide more stability and easier maintenance. Expected completion is 2024 Q2.

5. Update W3C’s Digital Accessibility Foundations / Introduction to Web Accessibility course. Expected completion is 2024 Q2.