Accessibility Industry Organization Formed

[Janina Sajka]

The following may be of interest. I particularly hope that any developing
accessibility applications for Linux/Unix would join this organization.
Let's not let them get away with a Windows centric bias!


---------- Forwarded message ----------

  Dear Colleagues

  Date:  February, 2001

  RE: International Coalition of Access Engineers and Specialists (ICAES)
formed by
  former Association of Access Engineering Specialists (AAES) Board of
Directors

  On November 9, 2000 after serious consideration and negotiation, the
Board of
Directors
  of the Association of Access Engineering Specialists (AAES) voted (9_1),
industry and
  consumer representatives alike, to leave NARTE.   This group has now
formed a
new
  freestanding organization called the International Coalition of Access
Engineers and
  Specialists (ICAES).

  This new organization is based on collaboration among the different
individuals and
  groups working in this area including industry, consumer, research,
government and
  public sectors.    It will also work to bridge the efforts of these
groups in
different
  countries.


  Goals and Activities

  ICAES is an organization of individuals and organizations dedicated to
researching,
  developing and deploying accessible technologies.  Our activities and goals
include

       creating a body of knowledge for the design, development and deployment
of
     accessible electronic information and telecommunication technologies;

       encouraging the development of techniques and standards, where
appropriate, to
     promote accessibility, compatibility, and interoperability;

       providing a forum for discussions regarding access_related problems,
developments,
     recommendations and solutions;

       supporting an ongoing and international dialog among the disability,
research,
     industry, government and public sectors regarding the accessibility of
     telecommunications, electronic and information technology,  and;

       supporting forums and groups that pursue these goals



  Open to All

  ICAES is open to all, and we invite those who belonged to AAES as well as
any
others
  interested in this area to join with us in creating this new
organization. To
facilitate
  membership in ICAES, and since many have just paid their AAES dues, we will,
for an
  inaugural period only, provide a complimentary membership for anyone
(including
  new members) who is interested in joining.  To take advantage of this offer,
send an e_
  mail with your name, contact information to our secretary Jim Tobias
  tobias at inclusive.com by April 15, 2001 or see our Web site
http://www.icaes.org  .


  Upcoming Activities

  We have an active year laid out before us.  A primary goal at this point is
to identify and
  disseminate ways to help improve access to mainstream technology by persons
with
  disabilities in a commercially practical and effective manner.   In carrying
out these
  activities, we will continue to maintain a balanced representation of
industry, consumers,
  and resarchers.

  ICAES will be sponsoring or collaborating with other groups on the following
events:

            Workshops being conducted by our members and collaborators on
commercially
       practical accessible design of information and telecommunication
technologies.

            Support of the ANSI / ISO efforts RE: Guidelines For
Standardization To
       Address The Needs Of Older Persons And People With Disabilities

            Collaboration on briefing session in Washington DC on Section 508
regulations
       and resources.

            A hot tips newsletter for keeping track of the latest information
and opportunities
       that will be available via email or print.

            Special "Birds of a Feather" information and collaboration
sessions
at major
       professional conferences.

            Technology, regulation and resource briefing sessions at major
disability
       conferences.

            A resource website on practical accessible design.

            Support and collaboration on several projects with others on
development of
       accessibility metrics and testing.

            More in the works .



  It is an important time for us to work together internationally to address
the design of
  new and emerging technologies and to help harmonize both the access efforts
and
  requirements in this area.   We are looking forward to working with you on
this in order
  to improve access for everyone to future telecommunication and information
  technologies.

  For further information on our organization, activities and calendar please
see our
  website at   http://www.icaes.org .


  Sincerely,


  The ICAES Board of Directors


  Current board members and email addresses:

  Judy Brewer     _  jbrewer at w3.org
  Christian Buehler    _ Cb at ftb_volmarstein.de
  Alexandra Enders    _ enders at selway.umt.edu
  Gunnar Hellstrom    _ gunnar.hellstrom at omnitor.se
  Steve Jacobs    _ steve.jacobs at ncr.com
  Bill LaPlant     _  blaplant at census.gov
  Linda Nelson    _ linda.nelson at verizon.com
  Susan Palmer     _ susan.palmer at cingular.com
  Mike Patrick    _mike.patrick at cingular.com
  Paul Schroeder     _ pws at afb.net
  Jim Tobias     _ tobias at inclusive.com
  Gregg Vanderheiden     _ gv at trace.wisc.edu


  Please feel free to contact any or all of us directly or through our
Secretary, Jim Tobias
  for information about ICAES or how you can participate.
  Jim's contact information is:
     Jim Tobias
     Inclusive Technologies
     Temper Complex
     37 Miriam Drive
     Matawan, NJ  07747
     email: tobias at inclusive.com
     voice and TTY: 732_441_0831
     fax: 732_441_0832




				Janina Sajka, Director
				Technology Research and Development
				Governmental Relations Group
				American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

janina at afb.net
(202) 408-8175
http://www.afb.org/gov.html


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