Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
http://www.stcsig.org/usability/newsletter/9910-wai.html

Quesenbery, Whitney
STC Usability SIG
1999

Abstract:

It might be easy to dismiss the WAI as another mouthful of acronyms for yet another Web standard but that would be a mistake. Their goal is to, '…make Web content more available to all users, whatever user agent they are using (e.g., desktop browser, voice browser, mobile phone, automobile-based personal computer, etc.) or constraints they may be operating under (e.g., noisy surroundings, under- or over-illuminated rooms, in a hands-free environment, etc.).' To meet this goal, the WAI identifies two primary principles for accessible design, which are totally in keeping with the basic principles of usability: 'Ensure graceful transformation' and 'Make content understandable and navigable.' There are fourteen guidelines that help authors understand and implement these principles. Each includes a description and rationale, along with links to other resources and a set of checkpoints. A related document shows detailed techniques for implementing accessible web pages. Even if you are not primarily concerned wi