AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 1 / 29 The Support-EAM Project An e-Accessibility Quality Mark to Promote Social Inclusion Dominique BURGER, - Association Pierre GUILLOU, - Association

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 2 / 29 Contents an eAccessibility QM ? –At European level, what are the choices ? –At national levels, what are the choices ? Support EAM Project ? Positive effects to all ?

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 3 / 29 Contents  an eAccessibility QM ? –At European level, what are the choices ? –At national levels, what are the choices ? Support EAM Project ? Positive effects to all ?

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 4 / 29 eEurope: an Information Society for all [ ] eEurope 2002: eAccessibility as a target –2001: W3C/WAI WCAG as de facto standard for all public Web sites –2002: AA for all Web sites [ ] eEurope 2005: eAccessibility as an horizontal action –2003: provision of an eAccessibility mark for goods and services

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 5 / 29 National policies on Web Accessibility Countries Law on Web accessibility Public Web sites AustriaYes Belgium-Yes FranceYes GermanyYes IrelandYes ItalyYes Netherlands-Yes PortugalYes SpainYes SwedenYes United KingdomYes

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 6 / 29 National interpretations of Web Accessibility Countries Law on Web accessibility Public Web sites Indirect WCAG reference “National” label AustriaYes - Belgium-Yes FranceYes GermanyYes - IrelandYes - ItalyYes Netherlands-Yes PortugalYes - SpainYes - SwedenYes - United KingdomYes

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 7 / 29 The current situation in Europe

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 8 / 29 Needs in Europe Avoid fragmentation Harmonisation WCAG System of verification Common rules for Web industry

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 9 / 29 Needs in Europe Avoid fragmentation Harmonisation WCAG System of verification Common rules for Web industry  Unified methodology  eAccessibility Quality Mark

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 10 / 29 Contents an eAccessibility QM ? –At European level, what are the choices ? –At national levels, what are the choices ?  Support EAM Project ? Positive effects to all ?

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 11 / Objectives

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 12 / Objectives Unified Web Accessibility Evaluation Methodology (UWEM).

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 13 / Objectives Unified Web Accessibility Evaluation Methodology (UWEM). e-Accessibility Quality Mark and a European Authority.

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 14 / Objectives Unified Web Accessibility Evaluation Methodology (UWEM). e-Accessibility Quality Mark and a European Authority. Accredited regional Helpdesks in Europe.

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 15 / Objectives Unified Web Accessibility Evaluation Methodology (UWEM). e-Accessibility Quality Mark and a European Authority. Accredited regional Helpdesks in Europe. 7 Partners BrailleNet (France), Fundosa Teleservicios (Spain), Bartimeus Accessibility Foundation (Netherlands), Dublin City University (Ireland), Universität Linz (Austria), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), AccessInMind Ltd (the United Kingdom). Funding The INFSO DG of the European Commission (the 6th Framework Program).

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 16 / 29 WAB Cluster The WAB Cluster is the European Web Accessibility Benchmarking Cluster. It is a cluster of 3 European projects to develop a harmonized European methodology for evaluation and benchmarking of websites [24 organisations]

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 17 / 29 WAB Cluster

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 18 /

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 19 / European Workshop « Policies and legislations in favour of e-accessibility in Europe » Paris, 31 January 2005 In the presence of Madame Marie-Anne MONTCHAMP State Secretary for Persons with Disabilities  20 presentations from 10 countries  Governmental organisations, Companies, organisations of/for handicapped persons  Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom  Participants from 16 countries

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 20 / Within the WAB Cluster, development of a Unified Web Accessibility Methodology (UWEM), in coordination with WAI, based on W3C/WAI and to be synchronised with the foreseen migration from WCAG1.0 to WCAG2.0. UWEM 0.5 soon on

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 21 / Survey online (Feb-March 2005): “Stakeholders’ needs for a Quality Mark” Objective: to collect opinions and wishes about a quality scheme for the accessibility of Web sites and other possible accompanying services to support e-accessibility in Europe. About 450 answers from more than 20 countries were received. They represent a great variety of stakeholders (public organisations, Web designers, …) Result: Stakeholders are prepared to seriously take into account the different aspects involved in Web accessibility, including the technical and financial ones. They ask for criteria, methodology, services and Quality Mark.

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 22 / CEN/ISSS Workshop ( April 2005 – March 2006) “Specifications for a complete European certification scheme concerning the delivery of a Quality Mark for Web Content Accessibility” announced January 31 st 2005 launched April 14 th 2005 – 70 participants - 45 Organisations - 14 countries 1 st of 3-4 working meeting : June 22 nd, Paris

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 23 / CEN/ISSS Workshop based on existing standards (EN45000 series – ISO standards) compatible with schemes developing in several countries (the Nethelands: ACC-RvA; France: BNET- ADAE, Spain: AENOR-ANEC…)

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 24 / CEN/ISSS Workshop Applicable to –Voluntary self certification –Mandatory self certification –Voluntary third-party certification –Mandatory third-party certification But the Workshop will NOT recommend any of these schemes.

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 25 / Third Party Certification Conformity Check Certificate Independant Organisation Developer/owner Web Site Accessibility Specification Contract

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 26 / Conformity Check Declaration Quality Assurance Developer/owner Web Site Accessibility Specification Conformity Declaration

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 27 / 29 Contents an eAccessibility QM ? –At European level, what are the choices ? –At national levels, what are the choices ? Support EAM Project ?  Positive effects to all ?

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 28 / 29 Positive effects of a Quality Mark Quality Mark User Training companies Telecom companies ISP NTI companies Web site owner National policies

AAATE 2005Lille – 6 September 2005Page 29 / 29 Thank you ! Questions are welcome.