Activity Plan: Engage with W3C Accessibility Guidelines

This paper provides a description and project plan for the Engage with W3C Accessibility Guidelines activity within the Technical Standards for Digital Education project.

This document is a work in progress: it will be updated in collaboration with the focus group for this activity.

Table of Contents

• 1.Activity summary
• 2.Expected outcomes
• 3.Deliverables and timeframes
• 4.Methodology
• 5.Related standards activities
• 6.Related projects
• 7.Communication and dissemination plan
• 8.Further information

© Copyright 2009 University of Southern Queensland

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1.Activity summary

The current Australian government accessibility requirement for publicly funded web content is the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 1.0)¹. In December 2008, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) released a new version (WCAG 2.0²) which is designed to supersede WCAG 1.0. In response, the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) in consultation with The Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) is expected to undertake a consultation process during 2009 in preparation for a transition to WCAG 2.0³.

WCAG 2.0 caters for new technologies used in Web 2.0 content (which the old guidelines did not). However, conforming to the new guidelines will impact all web content developed in the schools sector; the differences between the two versions can be significant.

An analysis of the new guidelines would inform key stakeholders in the schools sector about the potential impact and opportunities from WCAG 2.0.

Through a collaborative effort involving a Focus Group, this activity will examine the current recommended practice in the production of accessible web content, and analyse the new WCAG2.0 within this context. Where appropriate, advice will be provided to DEEWR and the schools sector on the impact of the new guidelines and the school sector will be represented as appropriate with regard to the integration of the new guidelines.

2.Expected outcomes

Gather emerging recommended practice regarding use of WCAG

In collaboration with a Focus Group, this activity will build capability and assist the schools sector to understand the potential impact, challenges and opportunities WCAG 2.0 could present for the Australian schools sector. This activity will gather emerging recommended practice regarding the new guidelines and examine how to integrate this recommended practice into the creation of web content within the school sector through monitoring of appropriate WCAG and W3C groups and collaboration with the VET sector project analyzing WCAG2.0.

Analyse WCAG2.0 within context of current accessibility approaches in school sector

AGIMO is expected to undertake consultations on WCAG2.0 to work on establishing an Australian response to the new guidelines. This activity will establish a Focus Group to examine school sector requirements. This Focus Group will analyse the WCAG2.0 within the context of current accessibility approaches within the school sector, and the impact of the new guidelines on these processes.

Provide advice to DEEWR and the schools sector

The activity will also provide advice to DEEWR relating to AGIMO WCAG 2.0 consultations, and in collaboration with the focus group, develop recommendations for schools sector activities that further address WCAG2.0.

Represent the school sector on developments and recommendations associated with WCAG2.0

The activity will gather intelligence and represent school sector interests on further developments and recommendations associated with WCAG2.0.

It should be noted that the detailed outcomes and deliverables within the activity will be shaped by the input received from the focus group and other sector feedback.

3.Deliverables and timeframes

4.Methodology

• Identify sector requirements through consultation with key stakeholders and focus group.
• Analyse the WCAG2.0 Guidelines within the context of current accessibility approaches within the schools sector, and the impact of the new guidelines on these processes
• Collect intelligence and represent schools sector interests on further developments and recommendations associated with WCAG2.0 through monitoring of appropriate WCAG and W3C groups, and collaboration with the VET sector project analysing WCAG2.0
• Write progress report, capturing key findings (Deliverable 2)
• As appropriate, provide advice to DEEWR and the schools sector
• In collaboration with the focus group, develop recommendations for schools sector activities that further address WCAG2.0
• Communicate findings on the impact of WCAG2.0 to creation of content within the schools sector
• Write closure report (Deliverable 3)

Sector consultation plan

• Establish focus group through sector contacts, with at least three meetings, including one face-to-face. Focus group to stay in communication through EDNA Groups.
• Approval of nominees for focus group.
• Circulate background brief to focus group and key stakeholders. Integrate feedback.
• Ongoing consultation on requirements and current developments in Web Accessibility Guidelines.

5.Related standards activities

6.Related projects

7.Communication and dissemination plan

It is critical for this activity to achieve its goals that the information it gathers and produces is disseminated effectively to the appropriate audiences. The focus group will define the communication strategies it will employ, taking advantage of existing channels relevant to each member's organisation and jurisdiction. Communication to the sector generally may take advantage of wider dissemination methods such as web site postings, blog posts and sector-wide mailing lists and events.

8.Further information

Activity lead: Caroline Drury

Project team members: Nigel Ward, Owen Oneill

Focus Group: TBA

Link Affiliates: http://www.linkaffiliates.net.au/

The Technical Standards for Digital Education project is funded by the Australian Government's Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)

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