From: "National Fed. of the Blind Pgh. Chapter" <[log in to unmask]>
From: David Andrews <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
To: Multiple recipients of list <[log in to unmask]>

This might be of interest to some of you...

DA

>
>Please distribute widely?
>Hellow Listers
>The User Agent guidelines working group(UA)  of the W3c's Web
>accessability Iniative
>(WAI), =20
>is seeking the assistance of individuals
>who are blind and who have user interface design backgrounds.  Interested
>individuals should read the document below and follow the instructions
>therein.  Anyone may participate in the process in some form and if
>interested, are also encouraged to read the document below.
>
>This document is also available online at
>http://www.w3.org/WAI/UA/charter.txt
>=20
>Background information on the WAI and its structure is available at
>http://www.w3.org/WAI.
>=20
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>A. Mission Statement
>* WAI/IPO Browser Guidelines Working Group
>
>The working group will develop user interface guidelines that improve
>accessibility of WWW browsers, including improved navigation and
>orientation to information on WWW documents and scripting languages, and
>more flexible and enhanced presentation of document information to meet the
>needs of specific disabilities.  The goal is to develop guidelines that
>allow people with disabilities to have equal access to the able-bodied
>peers.  The guidelines should support features that benefit both novice and
>skilled computer users with disabilities.  The group will also develop
>technical guidelines to help WWW browser and assistive technology vendors
>be aware of the strategies that are available to achieve the user interface
>guidelines.
>
>Code Name: WAI-UA
>
>* WAI-UA Working group tasks
>
>1. User interface guidelines that improve the accessibility of WWW=
 Browsers.
>
>=B7 Develop a list of user interface specifications for improving access to
>  browser technology.
>=B7 Develop a list of features of current browser/operating system=
 technology
>  that improves accessibility of browsers.
>=B7 Compare the two lists to identify differences between what is needed=
 and
>  what is available to persons with disabilities.
>=B7 Present guidelines and comparison for public comment and input from
>  browser and assistive technology developers, and representatives of
>  sensory, motor and cognitive disability groups.
>
>2. Technical guidelines on how assistive technology and browsers can work
>   together to achieve features of the user interface guidelines.
>
>=B7 Evaluate current browser technology for use of accessibility API in
>  current operating systems =20
>=B7 Develop a reference on the resources available for assistive technology
>  developers to access browser technology
>=B7 Survey browser developers on their ability to implement guideline
>  features and ability to support assistive technology extensions for
>  accessibility.
>=B7 Survey assistive technology developers for their needs from browser
>  developers for implementing browser recommendations.
>=B7 Facilitate discussions and transfer of information between assistive
>  technology developers and browser developers for setting standards on
>  browser and assistive technology cooperation to implement the user
>  interface guidelines.
>=20
>The end deliverables of this group are W3C WAI Recommendation for
>Web Browser accessibility.
>
>* WAI-UA Timeline:
>
>Duration: 6 months.
>
>(Markup guidelines recommendation date) + 3 months.
>
>Which should put us around June 98.
>
>* WAI-UI Communication
>
>A mailing list ([log in to unmask]), a web area
>(www.w3.org/WAI/UA, and conference calls will be the normal way of
>communicating within the group.
>
>* Working Group People
>
>We encourage people whose area of competence are HTML, CSS, assistive
>technology, and Browser Accessibility to join this group.
>
>For the work group to accomplish the stated objectives the membership must
>include representatives from disability groups, and browser and assistive
>technology developers.  The group must represent the needs of a wide range
>of disabilities and computer skill levels of persons with disabilities.=20
>
>Jon Gunderson of University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign
>Rehabilitation Education Center <[log in to unmask]> will be the chair
>of this group.
>
>* Participation Level.
>
>Employees of W3C members and other invited technical experts are
>welcome and encouraged to participate in our listserv discussions
>(auto-subscription is not available, please contact the chair for
>subscription).
>
>If you want to join the WAI-UA working group and participate actively,
>please fill out the following form and send it to <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>WAI-UA working group participation form
>
>First Name:=20
>
>Last Name:=20
>
>Email Address:=20
>
>Telephone Number:=20
>
>Employer:=20
>
>Specific area of interest:
>
>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>
>-------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>Hands-On-Technolog(eye)s
>touching the internet
>voice: 1-(301) 949-7599
>[log in to unmask]
>ftp://ftp.clark.net/pub/poehlman
>http://www.clark.net/pub/poehlman
>
>