Hello all!
I recieved the following forwarded message which I'm forwarding on
F.Y.I. for anyone interested in this subject & whom it may be news to.
Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 07:56:30
To: [log in to unmask]
From: Vermont Protection & Advocacy <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: WWW Accessibility Initiative
>Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 10:39:30 -0400 (EDT)
>X-Sender: [log in to unmask]
>
>From: Stanley Greenberg <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: WWW Accessibility Initiative
>
>> (Congratulations Judy!)
>>
>> Government, Industry, Research and Disability
>> Organizations Join Forces to Promote
>> Accessibility of the Web
>>
>>The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) today announced the launch
>>of the International Program Office (IPO) for the Web
>>Accessibility Initiative (WAI) to promote and achieve Web
>>functionality for people with disabilities. "The power of the
>>Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of
>>disability is an essential aspect," said Tim Berners-Lee, W3C
>>Director and inventor of the World Wide Web. "The IPO will
>>ensure the Web can be accessed through different combinations of
>>senses and physical capabilities just as other W3C activities
>>ensure its operation across different hardware and software
>>platforms, media, cultures and countries."
>>
>>Judy Brewer, recently appointed Director of the IPO, affirmed
>>that "the W3C realizes the critical importance of the Web for
>>people with disabilities, and is committed to making the Web
>>Accessibility Initiative a success. We are proud to host this
>>unique partnership. Through the IPO, we will be coordinating
>>with industry, government, research, and disability
>>organizations to ensure that needs related to accessibility are
>>addressed throughout the Consortium's work, and that the message
>>of an accessible Web is carried as broadly as possible."
>>
>>The International Program Office is sponsored by a partnership
>>of government, industry, research, and disability organizations.
>>Endorsed by the White House, the IPO is funded by the National
>>Science Foundation, the Department of Education's National
>>Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, the
>>European Commission's TIDE Programme, and W3C industry members.
>>Industry sponsors include IBM/Lotus Development Corporation,
>>Microsoft Corporation, NCR, and Riverland Holding. In addition,
>>research and disability organizations on several continents
>>participate in the IPO.
>>
>>"The National Science Foundation recognizes the importance
>>computers can play in removing barriers," said Gary Strong,
>>Program Director for Interactive Systems at the National Science
>>Foundation. "Systems developed to aid people with disabilities
>>may help able-bodied people too. Research into speech
>>recognition and synthesis, automatic translation software,
>>alternative interfaces with computers, and new approaches to
>>representing, transmitting and storing information can have
>>countless applications. Such information technology can help
>>move the 'information age' beyond the 'information overload age'
>>to a future where useful information is accessible to all."
>>
>>"Access to information through technologies such as the Web is
>>convenient for some, but for people with disabilities it is
>>increasingly what makes educational and employment opportunity
>>possible," said Kate Seelman, Director of the US Department of
>>Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
>>Research.
>>
>>"The appointment of Judy Brewer as Director of the IPO/WAI is an
>>important step in advancing this critical initiative. With her
>>proven leadership, the efforts of the IPO/WAI will benefit not
>>only the special needs community, but all users of Web
>>technology," said John Patrick, Vice President, Internet
>>Technology, IBM. "Judy's past experience as Project Director of
>>MATP (Massachusetts Assistive Technology Partnership), her
>>tremendous contribution to our TAAC (Telecommunications Access
>>Advisory Committee) development of Telecom96 (Telecommunications
>>Act of 1996) accessibility guidelines and her broad-based
>>understanding of the E-Com (Electronic Commerce) business
>>benefits accessible Web page design brings to the table for big
>>business qualifies Judy, more than anyone else, to lead the WAI
>>(Web Accessibility Initiative) into the new Millennium," said
>>Steve Jacobs, Senior Technology Consultant, NCR Corporation.
>>Empowering Global Access
>>
>>"Software designed for accessibility makes good business sense,"
>>said Jonathan Roberts, Director of Windows Marketing for
>>Microsoft. "Access to the Internet has provided enormous
>>benefits to individuals with disabilities, and I expect that the
>>IPO/WAI will become a voice for setting standards and promoting
>>the continued accessibility of the Web."
>>
>>The International Program Office will coordinate the following
>>five activities with regard to Web accessibility:
>>
>>- data formats and protocols;
>>
>>- guidelines for browsers, authoring tools, and content
>>creation;
>>
>>- rating and certification;
>>
>>- education and outreach; and
>>
>>- research and advanced development
>>
>>Larry Goldberg, Director of Media Access at the WGBH Educational
>>Foundation said, "WGBH congratulates the W3C on the
>>establishment of the International Programming Office on Web
>>Accessibility and its choice of Judy Brewer to be its head. The
>>new IPO will be an excellent source for raising of awareness and
>>for educating all Web companies and supporters as to the need
>>for greater access for all people. WGBH and its National Center
>>for Accessible Media (NCAM) has been working closely with the
>>W3C to help address key issues for people with disabilities,
>>especially people who are blind or visually impaired or deaf or
>>hard-of-hearing. For this last group, the time is right now to
>>deal with issues of audio on the Web since we are still early in
>>that development. NCAM looks forward to working with the IPO,
>>especially on the issues of making multimedia on the Web
>>accessible to people through closed captions and audio
>>descriptions."
>>
>>"The W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative presents an
>>unprecedented opportunity to bring together Web authors, browser
>>developers and Internet infrastructure architects to address the
>>issue of access to the next generation Web in a way that would
>>not otherwise be possible," said Dr. Gregg Vanderheiden,
>>Director of TRACE Research and Development Center. "The result
>>is that for the first time we have an opportunity to address
>>access for people with disabilities (and those who are older or
>>have low bandwidth systems or are using smaller devices) in a
>>systematic and effective manner. This is important because the
>>band aid approach that has been used in the past has resulted in
>>unnecessary work for Web designers and inadequate access by many
>>Web users. Given the rate at which the Web is being integrated
>>into education and employment settings, this development is
>>essential for real access to next generation education and
>>employment environments for people with disabilities and those
>>who will be older."
>>
>>For more information on the International Program Office and the
>>Web Accessibility Initiative, please see http://www.w3.org/WAI/
>>About the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
>>
>
>
> Stan Greenberg
>
>
>
Morgan
Morgan W. Brown
[log in to unmask]
Montpelier Vermont
The Green Mountain State
USA
Please visit my personal home page at:
http://members.tripod.com/~Norsehorse/index.html
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