W3 Assistive Technology Workshop Summary Notes

Web Accessibility for the Disabled

Participants

• Bill Barry, Oregon State University
• Geoff Freed, WGBH
• Jon Gunderson and Tom Magliery, University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign
• Chuck Latourneau, Environment Canada
• Mayer Max, National Security Agency
• Paul Mitten and Robert Grace, Compusult
• John Monahan, Associated Press
• Mike Paciello, Digital Equipment Corporation
• Arlene R. Remz, National Center to Improve Practice (NCIP)
• Yuri Rubinsky, SoftQuad
• Jim Thatcher, IBM
• Chris Wilson and Neil Smith, Microsoft
• Steve Zilles, Adobe

Browser Accessibility

• Adobe implementing plug-ins to Acrobat that deliver text-to-speech output from PDF source files (Blind/Visually Impaired)
• IBM demonstrated Web access using Screen Reader/2 (GUI access interface) and their Web Explorer
• Compusult announced WebTALK, low-cost browser positioned at EDU/rural users
• Microsoft announced their commitment to build accessibility into Internet Explorer and their Internet UI
• Softquad announced a joint venture with University of Toronto to build accessibility into Panorama
• Softquad is actively looking for beta testers and engineers to work on this project

Web Access Technology

WGBH

• Demonstrated the implementation of closed captioning and descriptive video
• Demonstrated prototype player that features a captioning attribute
• Announced grant from Dole Foundation to develop Web Access for the disabled
• Focus on synchronized Video/Captioning

Bill Barry sitting in for TV Raman (Adobe)

• Demonstrated EmacsSpeak, a real-time speach interface for the blind.
• Used Bill Perry's W3 browser to peruse web
• Includes audible sound cues for Form completion, hyperlinks, end of lines, search notification, etc...etc...

Jon Gunderson
Gave a complete overview highlighting the implementation of several access features including:

• Implementing a "Current Anchor Marker"
• Using constrast controls over HTML, Toolbar, Menu and Dialog areas
• Providing size control over HTML, Toolbar, Menu and Dialog areas
• Navigation controls to move between HTML types
• Including browser "Accessibility Dialog" box
• Implementing accessibility information in Help files

HTML Accessibility Update

Yuri Rubinsky provided an update concerning the HTML 2+ working groups implementation of the ICADD SDA

• SGML Document Access attributes
• HTML 3 includes proposal for Table support, improved Form access
• Need support for Math

Workshop Proposals

• Develop formal Web Accessibility Guidelines (needs funding)
• Implement PDF transformation server (Adobe)
• UCLA currently implements HTML-to-Braille, large-text, voice-ready transformation server
• Develop "Helper Application"
• Helper Application (cont.)
• Browser software extension that translates displayed content into speech and/or refreshable Braille
• Include control commands, contrast adjustments
• Built using Common Client Interface (CCI)
• Prototype being developed at UIUC
• Encourage GOOD accessible web page design by way of an INDUSTRY SPONSORED "Seal of Web Accessibility"
• Build awareness by supporting and promoting accessility workshops and sponsoring Web Sites

Workshop Conclusions

Chairman Mike Paciello concluded the workshop with the following announcements:

• Next workshop in Paris!
• Workshop Papers/Resources
• WebABLE! web site