Reviews

Search results

• Disability, Differences, and Diversity: Revisiting Inclusive Design and Access

  Himanshu Verma, Giulia Barbareschi, Sophia Ppali, Kathrin Gerling, Maartje De Meulder, Judith Good, Jatinder Singh, Katta Spiel, Abdallah El Ali, Marios Constantinides, Maristella Matera, Monica Perusquia-Hernandez, Hamed Alavi, Pablo Cesar, Alessandro Bozzon · 2026 · Extended Abstracts of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA '26) — Meetup

  This 2026 CHI EA meetup position paper — authored by 15 researchers across eleven European and Asian institutions — frames the current moment in accessibility as a policy-compliance inflection point and invites the HCI community to resist a compliance-only reading of the…

  inclusive design · disability justice · accessibility policy · critical computing · ableism

• The Use of ADKAR to Instil Change in the Accessibility of University Websites

  Silvia Rodríguez Vázquez · 2022 · Proceedings of the 19th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This short paper applies the ADKAR change management model — Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement — to understand what interventions are needed to improve web accessibility at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) in Switzerland. The author argues that…

  organizational accessibility · change management · higher education · web accessibility · accessibility policy

• Comparative Analysis of Web Accessibility Standards and Regulations

  Shantanu D. Ladkat · 2019 · Proceedings of the 16th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This doctoral consortium paper proposes a comparative analysis of web accessibility standards and regulations across different regions and organizations. The author identifies a practical problem facing the accessibility industry: there is no systematic tool for generating…

  accessibility standards · WCAG · Section 508 · accessibility compliance · accessibility policy

• On Accessibility Policies for Higher Education Institutions

  Giorgio Brajnik, Sanela Graca · 2018 · Proceedings of the 15th International Web for All Conference (W4A 2018)

  This short paper analyses the web accessibility policies of twenty universities across Europe, the USA, Canada, and Australia to identify what constitutes an effective accessibility policy and provide guidance for institutions creating or revising their own. The authors argue…

  web accessibility · higher education · accessibility policy · WCAG · organizational accessibility

• Web Standards to Enable an Accessible and Inclusive Internet of Things (IoT)

  Shadi Abou-Zahra, Judy Brewer, Michael Cooper · 2017 · Proceedings of the 14th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  Written by three W3C staff members, this paper argues that the Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to disproportionately benefit people with disabilities — but only if accessibility is built in from the start. The authors examine IoT across three scales: the micro…

  Internet of Things · web standards · smart environments · assistive technology · interoperability

• Considerations for Implementing a Holistic Organisational Approach to Accessibility

  Chris Bailey, Voula Gkatzidou · 2017 · Proceedings of the 14th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper proposes a human-centred model of accessibility that moves beyond treating accessibility as a purely technical standards-compliance exercise. The authors argue that accessibility, usability, and user experience are interdependent quality attributes that must all be at…

  organizational accessibility · accessibility maturity · accessibility policy · user experience · human-centred design

• Masterplanning the digital campus to support learners with disabilities

  David Sloan, Sarah Horton, Billy Gregory · 2016 · Proceedings of the 13th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This position paper from accessibility consultants at The Paciello Group argues that educational organizations delivering online learning need a strategic, holistic approach to digital accessibility rather than the reactive, remediation-based practices that are common in the…

  e-learning accessibility · organizational accessibility · accessibility policy · higher education · inclusive teaching

• Life-long learning on the inclusive web

  Jutta Treviranus · 2016 · Proceedings of the 13th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  In this keynote-style paper, Jutta Treviranus—director of the Inclusive Design Research Centre at OCAD University—argues that formal education systems are fundamentally failing to enable all students to reach their diverse potential, and that this failure will worsen as society…

  inclusive design · inclusive education · accessibility policy · complex adaptive systems · open educational resources

• Complementing standards by demonstrating commitment and progress

  Sarah Horton, David Sloan, Henny Swan · 2015 · Proceedings of the 12th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  Written by consultants at The Paciello Group, this position paper argues that treating digital accessibility solely as a standards compliance activity is insufficient for organizations with large, complex digital estates. The authors draw a parallel between physical…

  accessibility standards · organizational accessibility · WCAG compliance · accessibility policy · barrier removal

• 'The new accessibility panic': Remaining challenges to the achievement of Australia's National Transition Strategy

  Denise Wood, Scott Hollier · 2014 · Proceedings of the 11th Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper examines the Australian Government's progress toward its 2010 National Transition Strategy (NTS), which mandated that all federal, state, and territory websites achieve WCAG 2.0 Level AA conformance by the end of 2014. Drawing on content analysis of government blog…

  web accessibility · government accessibility · accessibility policy · WCAG compliance · accessibility training

• Global Considerations in Creating an Organizational Web Accessibility Policy

  David Sloan, Sarah Horton · 2014 · Proceedings of the 11th Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper from The Paciello Group examines the legislative and policy landscape for web accessibility across five countries — Australia, Brazil, China, India, and South Africa — to help multinational organisations develop global accessibility policies. The authors review…

  accessibility policy · accessibility law · global accessibility · WCAG compliance · organizational accessibility

• Certification or Conformance: Making a Successful Commitment to WCAG 2.0

  Suzette Keith, Nikolaos Floratos, Gill Whitney · 2012 · Proceedings of the International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  Commissioned by ANEC (the European consumer voice in standardisation), this study examined whether voluntary self-declaration or third-party certification of web accessibility conformance translates into actual compliance with WCAG 2.0. The researchers selected 100 websites from…

  WCAG compliance · accessibility evaluation · certification · conformance testing · e-government

• A Challenge to Web Accessibility Metrics and Guidelines: Putting People and Processes First

  Martyn Cooper, David Sloan, Brian Kelly, Sarah Lewthwaite · 2012 · Proceedings of the International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This influential paper argues that web accessibility is not an intrinsic property of a digital resource but a relational quality determined by the interaction between users, resources, and contexts — shaped by political, social, cultural, and technical factors. The authors…

  accessibility theory · accessibility policy · WCAG compliance · user experience · disability studies

• Guidelines, Icons and Marketable Skills: An Accessibility Evaluation of 100 Web Development Company Homepages

  Teresa D. Gilbertson, Colin H. C. Machin · 2012 · Proceedings of the International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This study examined whether web development companies that market accessibility as a skill actually practice what they preach, by evaluating the homepages of 100 UK web development companies selected from Google searches across four geographic regions. Each homepage was tested…

  web accessibility · WCAG compliance · developer awareness · conformance testing · accessibility evaluation

• Understanding Web Accessibility and Its Drivers

  Yeliz Yesilada, Giorgio Brajnik, Markel Vigo, Simon Harper · 2012 · Proceedings of the International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This highly cited study surveyed over 300 people with an interest in web accessibility to investigate how the community defines accessibility, what motivates people to work on it, and which definitions are most widely accepted. The authors note that the accessibility community…

  accessibility theory · accessibility definitions · user experience · usability · accessibility policy

• Accessibility Approach to Adopting Web Technologies

  Neil King, Damien McCormack · 2011 · Proceedings of the International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper presents findings from a comprehensive Australian Government-commissioned study by Vision Australia into the accessibility of the PDF format for people with disabilities. The three-phase research combined user consultation (focus groups with blind and low vision…

  PDF accessibility · assistive technology · blind and low vision · screen readers · document accessibility

• Developing countries; developing experiences: approaches to accessibility for the real world

  Brian Kelly, Sarah Lewthwaite, David Sloan · 2010 · Proceedings of the 2010 International Cross Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper critically examines the limitations of relying solely on technical accessibility guidelines like WCAG to achieve digital inclusion, particularly in the context of developing countries. The authors argue that the WAI model — which depends on coordinated conformance…

  accessibility policy · social inclusion · disability studies · WCAG limitations · developing countries

• A Survey of Technology Accessibility Problems Faced by Older Users in China

  Dengfeng Yao, Yunfeng Qiu, Zaixin Du, Jianqing Ma, Harry Huang · 2009 · Proceedings of the 2009 International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper presents the broadest survey of web accessibility for older users conducted in China at the time, with 180 valid responses from participants across all 25 Chinese provinces. The web-based questionnaire was supplemented with in-person discussions at meetings with older…

  aging · older adults · digital divide · global accessibility · survey research

• One World, One Web ... But Great Diversity

  Brian Kelly, Liddy Nevile, EA Draffan, Sotiris Fanou · 2008 · Proceedings of the 2008 International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This provocative paper challenges the dominant WAI/WCAG-centric model of web accessibility, arguing that its narrow focus on guideline conformance of individual digital resources fails to account for the diversity of user needs, contexts of use, and the realities of Web 2.0…

  WCAG · accessibility policy · social model of disability · learning disabilities · Web 2.0

• An Accessibility Evaluation Platform: Borrowing from Web 2.0

  Yui-Liang Chen, Gina Lin · 2008 · Proceedings of the 2008 International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper proposes a community-driven Accessibility Evaluation Platform for Taiwan, drawing on Web 2.0 principles to supplement the government-led accessibility compliance program administered by the Research, Development & Evaluation Commission (RDEC). At the time of writing,…

  accessibility evaluation · web 2.0 · crowdsourcing · community review · Taiwan

• WCAG 2.0: A Web Accessibility Standard for the Evolving Web

  Loretta Guarino Reid, Andi Snow-Weaver · 2008 · Proceedings of the 2008 International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  Written by two members of the WCAG working group (from Google and IBM respectively), this paper explains the major design challenges faced in developing WCAG 2.0 and the strategies adopted to address them. WCAG 1.0, finalized in 1999, was designed for a web of static HTML pages…

  WCAG · web standards · accessibility guidelines · WAI · ARIA

• Thailand's National Digital Divide Strategic Framework

  Proadpran Punyabukkana, Suchai Thanawastien, Ajin Jirachiefpattana · 2008 · Proceedings of the 2008 International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper presents Thailand's Digital Divide Strategic Framework (2008-2010), a national plan developed by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to address ICT accessibility for three target populations: the poor, people with disabilities, and senior…

  accessibility policy · digital divide · assistive technology · web accessibility · universal design

• Towards Bridging the Accessibility Needs of People with Disabilities and the Ageing Community

  Shadi Abou-Zahra, Judy Brewer, Andrew Arch · 2008 · Proceedings of the 2008 International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This keynote paper introduces the WAI-AGE (Web Accessibility Initiative: Ageing Education and Harmonisation) project, a 36-month W3C/WAI initiative funded by the European Commission under its 6th Framework Programme. The project aimed to bridge the gap between the disability and…

  web accessibility · aging · accessibility policy · WCAG · standards harmonization

• Ubiquitous Accessibility, Common Technology Core, and Micro Assistive Technology: Commentary on "Computers and People with Disabilities"

  Gregg C. Vanderheiden · 2008 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This influential commentary reflects on the evolution of digital accessibility from 1992 to 2008 and proposes a vision for addressing emerging challenges. Vanderheiden, director of the Trace R&D Center, traces progress from an era when only Apple had built-in accessibility…

  ubiquitous accessibility · assistive technology · accessibility policy · digital divide · universal design

• Computers and People with Disabilities

  Ephraim P. Glinert, Bryant W. York · 2008 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This is a 2008 reprint of a landmark 1992 Communications of the ACM article that issued a "call-to-arms" for research on computers and people with disabilities. Glinert and York argued that human-computer interfaces systematically failed to account for disabled users, treating…

  accessibility history · assistive technology · accessibility policy · HCI · universal access