International accessibility news roundup

At ALHAUS, we believe that everyone, no matter their capabilities, should have the same access to the amazing content online.

So every month we report on the latest and greatest news and updates about international accessibility from around the world.

Here are the most exciting developments in Internet accessibility for this month:

DPUB-ARIA 1.0 is released as a candidate recommendation

Tzviya Siegman

ARIA Working Group (ARIA) and the Digital Publishing Interest Group (DPUB) have developed a new Candidate Recommendation that defines structural semantics. These semantics assign intent and meaning to HTML tagging and will help anyone with a print disability easily read and navigate published content. The new Candidate Recommendation is in beta testing and ARIA and DPUB are looking for developers to begin implementation.

U.S. access board releases information and communication technology standards and guidelines

Frank C. Morris, JR and Joshua A. Stein

In January, the Obama administration along with the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board began requiring federal agency websites to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). WCAG standards are to be implemented 12 months after the publication of the Federal Registrar. The adoption of WCAG standards by the federal government will ensure all American citizens will have access to the content on federal websites.

Software opens up new job opportunities for persons with disabilities

Times of Malta

Jader Pelligra, a student at the Malta College of Arts, has designed a new telephony software that improves voice based communication with MS Windows computer systems. The software allows individuals to make and receive phone calls without a telephone or headset. This technology will open up a variety of jobs to people, so Pelligra donated his software code to the Foundation for Information Technology Access.

W3C expresses concerns on visa suspension that may hurt our worldwide collaboration

Coralie Mercier

W3C has expressed concerns that the recent travel bans in the United States will hurt their ability to collaborate with global software designers and engineers. They are specifically concerned about the ability of accessibility-focused designers to attend their next conference located in California. W3C is concerned that if designers are unable to meet face-to-face, much of their work to improve Internet accessibility will slow down. So they are looking into ways to improve remote access for participants who are unable to attend.

New guide opens tourism opportunities for persons with disabilities

Global Accessibility News

The Queensland government has launched a new Inclusive Tourism guide designed to help people with disabilities travel to Queensland. This guide offers local businesses ideas for improving accessibility and explains their legal obligations. The Queensland government hopes that these guidelines will help make tourism easier for everyone who would like to visit.

As technology improves, so will Internet accessibility. If you would like to stay up-to-date on the latest developments, subscribe to our blog at ALHAUS for the best coverage on accessibility every month.