AccessLearn Fall 2019 update and new phase of work

Dear AccessLearn group members,

After a summer pause, we are pleased to introduce a new phase of our group work.  To date, AccessLearn has accomplished the following:

  *   reviewed W3C resources to identify areas where current resources exist and additional resources may be needed to facilitate participation of people with disabilities in online learning experiences,
  *   produced a set of recommendations for new or supplemental content for the WAI web site that focus on online learning accessibility to fill gaps in information,
  *   produced a Requirements Analysis https://github.com/w3c/wai-eo-online-learning/wiki/Requirements-Analysis on where information that is directly relevant to a range of stakeholder groups in online learning could be added or made easier to find on the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) web site
  *   requested the Education and Outreach Working Group (EOWG) review our requirements analysis with a goal of working with them to produce content outlined in our proposal.

We are excited to report that, based on review and conversation with EOWG, we will now start drafting content for a new Landing web page on Accessibility and Online Learning!  The purpose of this new landing page will be to extend the coverage of online learning accessibility on the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) web site. As outlined in the Requirements Analysis, the focus will be to draft content that supplements and connects stakeholders in online learning to WAI resources they seek and require to influence accessibility.  At a later date, we will start the process to add additions to existing WAI websites.

As your co-leads, our first step will be to set up a framework for this process and an accessible means for AccessLearn group members to contribute to this content.  As we set up this environment, we invite you to start thinking about how you could contribute to this effort.  We plan to invite various forms of contribution – such as content experts, writers, editors, or reviewers – who can help us adhere to our requirements analysis outline, focus on online learning without duplicating any existing WAI resources (but to direct to them), and write in plain, simple language.

Overall, we envision this landing page as a starting point for organizations and individuals working in online learning to find what they need on the WAI website.
Thank you for your support and let us know if you have any questions.
Warm regards,
Mary and Dave
AccessLearn co-chairs
AccessLearn Website https://www.w3.org/community/accesslearn/