1 Standards Australia and accessibility standards Irene Hagstrom Standards Australia

2 Agenda Introduction By whom and how are standards developed ISO and IEC work on accessibility Standards Australia’s role on accessibility and adaptability standards

3 Introduction Standards Australia is recognized by the government as Australia’s peak standards body. It develops Australian Standards® in the areas of Building, Utilities, Business, Community, Materials and Information Technology. Standards Australia is not-for-profit. It produces standards of public benefit and in the national interest. It is free from the pressure of creating standards based on their ability to ‘sell’.

4 Who develops the Standards? Committees of experts from a wide range of representative interest groups work to formulate or revise standards. Committee members represent: - Consumer and end-user interests; - Government: Federal, State and Local; - Commercial and retail interests; - Trade unions; - Research, academic and testing organizations; - Professional bodies; - Manufacturers and industry.

5 How are the Standards developed? - Committee discuss and debate, towards consensus - 80% agreement is required - Standards Australia is a neutral facilitator - Standards Australia have no power to influence or vote Development phases 1. Request for a new standard 2. Project approved 3. Preliminary draft 4. Committee draft 5. Draft for public comment 6. Draft for postal ballot 7. Consideration of comments 8. The published standard

6 ISO and IEC work items relating to accessibility Standards Australia is Australia’s member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand enjoy a close working relationship underpinned by a memorandum of understanding. Draft International ISO and IEC Standards 1 vote 1 Vote per member country

7 ISO and IEC committees handling accessibility ISO/IEC JTC 1 SC 35 User Interfaces ISO TC 159 / SC 4 Ergonomics of human-system interaction ISO/IEC JTC 1 SWG-A Special working group on accessibility

8 Accessibility related ISO & IEC current work items Some of TC 159 SC 4 work items ISO Ergonomic design of www Interfaces ISO S/W Accessibility guidelines ISO Accessibility Guidelines – Information and communications equipment, software & services – Common Guidelines. ISO Guidance on accessibility for human computer interfaces ISO Software ergonomics for multimedia user interfaces ISO Human-centred design processes for interactive systems ISO 9241-xxx Guidance on haptic and tactile interactions. Some of JTC 1 SC 35 WG 6 work items ISO/IEC TR Survey of icons and symbols that provide access to functions and facilities to improve the use of IT products by the elderly and persons with disabilities ISO/IEC TR Guidelines for the design of icons and symbols to be accessible to all users -- Including the elderly and persons with disabilities ISO/IEC Algorithmic framework for determining accessibility for individual users of interactive systems New Proposals - Accessible User Interface for Accessibility Setting on Information Devices Part I : General and Part II : Method to open.

9 Australia’s voice on the accessibility draft standards of ISO and IEC ISO/IEC JTC 1 SC 35 User Interfaces ISO TC 159 / SC 4 Ergonomics of human-system interaction ISO/IEC JTC 1 SWG-A Special working group on accessibility Australia participates No comment and voting right Why no voice and voting rights? Australia is not a Participating member To become a P-member Standards Australia needs a mirror committee with experts able to comment and vote intelligently on the drafts being developed.

10 Accessibility…Usability…Adaptability and Mobility? New Australian Accessibility Committee? Where is accessibility important to be considered? Do we need a committee to look at ….? These are questions for you!

11 Interested Contact me: Phone: Questions?