Networking for change: the Web Accessibility Network for Australian Universities {Your name, the institution} Web Accessibility Forums 2005: {Place, date}

WANAU’s first year in review 19 May ‘04 – WANAU’s birth 24 May ‘04 – Website & discussion forum set up 18 June ‘04 – HEIP grant application 24 June ‘04 – Membership reaches 100! 9 July ‘04 – First meeting at RMIT University 3 December ‘04 – Meeting at LaTrobe University Early Feb ’05 – CASR grant application 18 March ’05 – 1st Web Accessibility Forum 8 July ’05 – 200 th member signs up!

WANAU’s aims Raise awareness within our organisations of the problems encountered by people with disabilities that affect their use of the web Educate our university colleagues and managers about the legal requirements for organisations to create accessible online resources Direct people to information and resources on accessible web design Influence policy within our organisations Develop strategies to ensure greater compliance with accessible design guidelines Investigate ways to positively effect web accessibility across the university sector.

WANAU makes sense… WANAU advocates accessible web design which is required by law, ethical and a smart thing to do When it comes to web accessibility, universities across the country face similar challenges and barriers Networks offer opportunities for collaboration, investigating common solutions and strategies and for sharing of experience and expertise Unlike other networks, WANAU focuses on all aspects of web accessibility in the context of HE sector.

The future is here. It’s just not widely distributed yet CASR application for a grant Contribute towards the Australian university websites: addressing challenges and barriers to accessibility compliance available on our website at: Set up of SIGs mailing lists (eg. WANAU-TECH-SIG and WANAU-POLI-SIG, state-based online forums) Accessibility Forums 2005 Our next meeting William Gibson

How you can help Register if you are not already a member Participate in discussions, share your knowledge, help other members Contribute ideas about how our network can work more effectively Spread the word about WANAU and its activities Encourage your colleagues to join and contribute Become an active advocate for web accessibility at your institution

Thank you!

Martin Fathers & Amgad Louka, RMIT University for support and enthusiasm to create an accessibility network Laurie Armstrong, RMIT University for suggesting and writing the HEIP (2004) and CASR (2005) applications Guy Sangwine, Monash University for our new logo! Thank you!

Dey Alexander, Monash University for: Turning a vague idea for the network into reality Creating and maintaining WANAU’s website and administering our discussion forum Being a constant source of ideas (WANAU’s name, ideas for a research project for CASR application as well as coordinating the accessibility forums across all states…) Thank you!

Are you part of WANAU yet? WANAU REGISTRATIONS

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