Digital accessibility updates on International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2023

As we approach the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), we are excited to share W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) updates.

IDPD promotes an understanding of disability issues and mobilizes support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. A key aspect of this is digital accessibility and ensuring that everyone can participate in the Web equally. Since 1997, W3C WAI has championed digital accessibility through international standards, guidelines, and supporting resources.

Accessibility resources free online

To learn more, see the W3C WAI website and annotated list of WAI resources. From there you can find videos, tips, tutorials, tools, translations, and training - including a free online Digital Accessibility Foundations course. There are resources for content authors, designers, developers, evaluators, testers, managers, policy makers, trainers, educators, web users, advocates, and people with disabilities.

When you find helpful information on the WAI website, would you share the links with others?

Translations

For IDPD, we are highlighting translations of accessibility resources. All WAI translations lists accessibility resources in over 35 languages. Thanks to volunteer translators!

In French, we have over 45 pages. A good starting place is Introduction à l'accessibilité du web. To tell others about these resources, you can share these announcements in French: LinkedIn French note and Mastodon French note.

If you might want to volunteer to contribute to translations, please see Translating WAI resources. You can share this invitation with others through LinkedIn translation invite and Mastodon translation invite.

International W3C WAI Team

W3C WAI staff also brings perspectives from around the world. The collaborative W3C team includes:

• Shawn Lawton Henry is Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Program Lead; Accessibility Education and Communications Lead.
• Kevin White is Accessibility Technical Lead and supports the Accessibility Guidelines Working Group that develops Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
• Roy Ruoxi Ran (冉若曦) supports accessibility Working Groups and accessibility in China.
• Daniel Montalvo supports accessibility Working Groups and standards harmonization in Europe.
• Akosua “Kosi” Asabere recently joined the W3C Team and brings first-hand experience with mobile accessibility in Africa.

W3C's CEO, Seth Dobbs, also has first-hand experience with accessibility and with international teams.

Get updates

To get up-to-date on what W3C WAI is up to, see What we're working on - Accessibility activities and publications. We also encourage you to subscribe to get WAI news via e-mail, Mastodon, and/or LinkedIn.