WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

FW: The HTML-A11y Bug triage team needs you!

for

From: John Foliot
Date: Feb 9, 2012 8:15PM

Hello All,

I'd like to forward on this import email from our good friend Léonie Watson,
who is looking for some assistance from like-minded accessibility folks
(like you!).

Léonie Watson wrote:
>
> Good afternoon,
>
> We've recently lost two people from the bug triage team, due to
> changing jobs and family priorities. This means we're looking for
> people who would like to help us keep an eye on bugs filed against the
> HTML5 specification, and consider their implications for accessibility.
>
> We currently meet once every two weeks, on a Tuesday at 16:00UTC*
> for 30 minutes. During active periods with the HTML5 specification,
> this becomes a weekly meeting at the same time for 60 minutes.
>
> If you're a member of the HTML A11y task force and would like to
> get involved, please drop me a line. It may not be rock 'n roll, but
> it's an important step in making sure accessibility plays a key role as
> the HTML5 spec evolves.

(* 11:00 AM Eastern / 8:00 AM Pacific)

I know that some of you reading this are thinking "I don't have the time for
the politics, squabbling and tug-of-war that is the HTML5 process", and I
can certainly appreciate where you may be coming from. But at the same time,
contributing to the efforts of the W3C can be rewarding and satisfying, and
your help will make a difference for years to come.

If you have even once thought about lending a hand, this is your
opportunity. Working within the Accessibility Task Force of the HTML5
Working Group need not leave you stressed-out or angry, and participating is
relatively easy. If you have an hour or three a week that you can lend to
this effort, I know Léonie and the Bug Triage Team would appreciate your
help. If you are interested, the process is fairly straight forward:

1) Become a member of the HTML5 Working Group. This is an important first
step, as at this stage you sign-off on the W3C patent policy
(http://www.w3.org/2003/12/22-pp-faq.html). Essentially you agree that you
do not, or will not, lay an Intellectual Property claim on any of the work
you contribute to the W3C. This ensures that the work of the W3C remains
patent and royalty free, and that anyone can use the Standards created by
the W3C without paying a license fee. To start, go here:
http://www.w3.org/html/wg/#join

2) Once you are a member of the larger Working Group, you can apply to be
a participant on the Accessibility Task Force.
(http://www.w3.org/WAI/PF/html-task-force) To join the Task Force, you need
only send an email to either Michael Cooper ( <EMAIL REMOVED> ) or Mike Smith
( <EMAIL REMOVED> ) expressing your interest, and they will reply back to you.
Tell them I sent you <grin>.

I hope you will consider this, and I would be happy to answer any off-list
question you may have. I hope to see you on the Task Force soon.

Cheers!

JF