ISO/IEC JTC 1 Special Working Group on Accessibility (SWG-A)

JTC 1 SWG-A N 371

2009-09-08

JTC 1 SWG on Accessibility Secretariat
ITI/INCITS
1101 K Street, NW, Suite 610, Washington, DC 20005
jgarner@itic.org

Introduction
Summary of Activities
Future Activities
Future Meetings
Annex A:  SWG-Accessibility Document Register
Annex B:  Resolutions from the January 2009 SWG-Accessibility Teleconference Meeting
Annex C:  Resolutions from the June 2009 SWG-Accessibility Teleconference Meeting

Introduction

The JTC 1 Special Working Group on Accessibility (SWG-A) was established at the October 2004 JTC 1 Plenary meeting in Berlin, Germany:

Resolution 24 – Establishment of a Special Working Group on Accessibility

JTC 1 believes that the work in the area of information communication and technology standardization for accessibility is a major undertaking, encompassing many international, regional and local interests. Additionally, there are significant standards efforts taking place in ISO, IEC, ITU and the national and regional standards bodies as well as various consortia/fora and user groups.

As identified in its long term business plan and to be responsive to international, regional, national, and end user requirements in the area of accessibility, JTC 1 establishes a Special Working Group on Accessibility with the following Terms of Reference:

The SWG will:

1. determine an approach, and implement, the gathering of user requirements, being mindful of the varied and unique opportunities (direct participation of user organizations, workshops, liaisons)
2. identify a mechanism to work proactively between meetings to make forward progress
3. gather and publish an inventory of all known accessibility standards efforts
4. identify areas/technologies where voluntary standards are not being addressed and suggest an appropriate body to consider the new work
5. track public laws, policies/measures and guidelines to ensure the necessary standards are available
6. through wide dissemination of the SWG materials, encourage the use of globally relevant voluntary standards
7. assist consortia/fora, if desired, in submitting their specifications to the formal standards process
   

Membership in the SWG will be open to:

• ISO/IEC JTC 1 National Bodies and Category A Liaisons
• ISO/IEC JTC 1 SCs with accessibility efforts or concerns (such as SC 35, SC 36, SC 37)
• ISO or IEC TCs with accessibility efforts or concerns (such as ISO TC 159)
• ITU-T SGs with interests/efforts in accessibility
• Regional standard development and support organizations with accessibility efforts/concerns (such as ICT SB DATSCG, ETSI HF, ITI, ANEC, CEN TC 224)
• Representatives of consortia/fora (for example, but not limited to) W3C’s WAI, FSG Accessibility Workgroup, the International Ergonomics Association
• Consumer Organizations and User Representatives (the SWG will be responsible for determining the most appropriate method to identify and engage such recognized activities)

The SWG on Accessibility will meet twice a year. To demonstrate the achievements of the group, a status report will be submitted to JTC 1 after each SWG meeting as well as at each JTC 1 Plenary. The US will serve as Secretariat and Karen Higginbottom is appointed as Convener.

JTC 1 invites the SWG to review, modify and confirm these Terms of Reference during its initial meeting.

• National Bodies: Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, The Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom, United States
• JTC 1 Subcommittees: SC 7, SC 28, SC 29, SC 35, SC 36, SC 37
• ISO and IEC TCs: ISO/TC 159
• ITU-T SGs: ITU-T SG 16
• Regional standard development and support organizations: CEN/ISSS, CEN TC 224 WG 6, DATSCG, ETSI/HF, ETSI HF STF 333, EUAIN, ITI
• Consortia/fora: Linux Foundation, W3C/Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
• Consumer Organizations, User Representatives and other interested parties:  AFB Tech, Altarum Institute/Accessibility Forum, ANEC, Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (via the Japanese National Body), JIS Committee on Web Accessibility, Royal National Institute of the Blind (via the UK National Body), US Access Board, US Department of Education, University of Wisconsin (Trace R&D Center), Visual Impairment Knowledge Centre, WGBH National Center for Accessible Media
  

Summary of Activities

The ninth meeting of the SWG-Accessibility was held by teleconference on 15 January 2009.  The following delegations participated on the call:

• National Bodies: Canada, Denmark, France, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway, United Kingdom, United States
• JTC 1 Subcommittees: SC 35
• ITU-T SGs: ITU-T SG 16
• Regional standard development and support organizations: ITI
• Consortia/fora: W3C/Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
• Consumer Organizations, User Representatives and other interested parties:  Visual Impairment Knowledge Centre
  

• National Bodies: Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway, United Kingdom, United States
• JTC 1 Subcommittees: SC 35, SC 36
• ITU-T SGs: ITU-T SG 16
• Regional standard development and support organizations: ITI
• Consortia/fora: W3C/Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
• Consumer Organizations, User Representatives and other interested parties:  n/a
  

• The SWG-A will hold a teleconference (host TBD) on 24 June 2009 to conduct business as necessary.
• The SWG-A will hold a teleconference (host TBD) on 25 June 2009, if necessary, to conduct business not concluded on 24 June 2009.

• The SWG-Accessibility will hold a teleconference on 13 January 2010 and, if necessary, will continue on 14 January 2010.  The teleconference will be held from 13:00 to 15:00 UTC.
  
• The SWG-Accessibility will hold a teleconference on 23 June 2010 and, if necessary, will continue on 24 June 2010.  The teleconference will be held from 13:00 to 15:00 UTC.