28 September 2006

The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) has created guidelines designed to help website developers create accessibility solutions.

Named the Roadmap for Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA Roadmap), the document marks out techniques and technologies which can be used to improve the accessibility and usability of websites for disabled users.

Rich Schwerdtfeger, IBM Distinguished Engineer and author of the WAI-ARIA Roadmap, claims that as the Internet becomes a more integral part of day-to-day life, users are beginning to expect more.

As users require begin to more require more online information, greater responsiveness from applications and better user experiences, many technologies are being created which exclude some users, he asserts.

"ARIA is our first step to bring the richer, dynamic web content experience to all users of the web, by providing technology enhancements and examples for better, more accessible implementations," Mr Schwerdtfeger explains.

WAI aims to create guidelines and standards for organisations to improve the Internet experience for disabled users.

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