View source for Accessibility SG Calls/ISOC Accessibility


== June 13 2022 ISOC Accessibility==
 ISOC internal WG on accessibility (Joyce Dogniez, Naveed Haq, James Wood, Gunela Astbrink and Judith Hellerstein)

The '''[https://www.internetsociety.org/resources/accessibility-toolkit/ ISOC Accessibility Framework]''' was discussed, concentrating on the second section '''Ensuring minimal barriers...'''. The main points were:
* ISOC delivered '''content training modules''' including one module on inclusion and accessibility as a test case to 35 staff in late 2021. This material will be incorporated into a comprehensive package to all staff to be delivered after July 2022. The vendor Contentious will finalise the package in the next week and James Wood will share this with the SG for feedback and suggestions for complementary resources with links. The SG in future will be involved earlier in the process.
* A vendor in the UK ([https://torchbox.com/ TorchBox]) is '''auditing''' the ISOC website for accessibility and navigability. James Wood and Kristi Mason (Marketing Communications) will check if human testers with disability are checking for accessibility.
* Kristi Mason and a new staff member will be working on '''event planning'''. Discussions about making events accessible will be made.
* AMS and Connect will migrate to a new platform called [https://fonteva.com/ Fonteva] based on Salesforce. The '''migration''' will take 10 months.
* Other collaborative and communications tools have been or will be '''checked for accessibility'''. This includes the AMS and Community. 
* 6 and 7 September is '''ISOC Community'''. It is an opportunity for the SG to present on accessibility, the work being done, and discuss ideas. 
* '''Jeanette Engel''' (Talent, Culture and Personnel) may be invited to the next meeting to discuss employment of persons with disability. 
* The first Framework section on ''''Building a culture of accessibility'''' will be discussed at the next meeting with the suggestion that disability awareness training (on-boarding) be extended from staff to include Chapters, SIGs and SGs. This is for action by Kyle Shulman.

== Nov 10 2022 Accessibility SG + ISOC Comms ==
 (Gunela Astbrink, Joly MacFie, Andre Copelin, Klaus Hoeckner, James Wood,  Kristi Mason, Kyle Shulman, Judith Hellerstein) (Apologies from Kelly O'Hara)

* Disability Training 
** Approved development of course
** Narmita will be engaged
** Esther very helpful
* Accessibility Framework
** James has sent revised version with more collaborative wording
** Accessibility will be discussed at Upcoming BoT Nov 11 / 12
** Board's decision e.g. resources may affect framework construction
** Shabbir has made a paper, will be the starter for BoT discussion
** Para 2 add SGs
** 'for consideration" - depends on BoT 
** Similarly "consider" on physical meetings >> "Where practical" ?
** ++ Procurement of tools based on existing standards e.g. '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EN_301_549 EN 301 549]'''  or US Equivalent
** Andre: More research needed - Shabbir is quoting UN Standards.
** Otherwise, we are basically good.
*  ISOC Content Accessibility Training Module
** Pilot in Q4 2021 - 8 modules including Accessibility - provided feedback on which current training is based
** Lives on Back Channel - Staff may access as needed
** Part of onboarding process
** Gunela suggests follow up to examine efficacy of training
* Disability Awareness Toolkit / Training 
** HR's province
** '''ACTION''' Meet with Jeanette Engel to be arranged
** Establish champions within staff
** Kristi - already happening organically
** further training on accessible documents
** Cheat sheet ?
* Including PWDs as keynoters / speakers
** Raquel Kroich - Global Events Manager
** Alejandra Prieto - Early / Mid Career Fellowships Director
* "Running an accessible event"
** Kristi suggests ASG might run a webinar on this
* Next meeting
** 23:00 UTC December 8/15 TBD
** Slack can be used in the meantime to perhaps set up a meeting to examine BoT decision.

== July 27 2023 ISOC Accessibility ==
 Follow up from [https://a11ysig.org/wiki/Accessibility_SG_Calls/2022#November_10_2022_ISOC_Accessibility_SG_Leaders Nov 22 2022]
 (Gunela Astbrink, Joly MacFie, Andre Copelin, Henri Wohlfarth, Naveed Haq, Joyce Dogniez, Klaus Hoeckner)

 Continue discussion
 1. Next steps with the ASG’s [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H4AzX3DcjQTDGFlGUKknv5G3SPM0fzDG2YrmYA68Uj8/edit Accessibility Framework]
 2. [https://www.a11ysig.org/isoc-a11y/ BOT Resolution 2023-08]  Policy on Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities.

* Important issues for ISOC and everyone
* BOT resolution instructs CEO to prepare a plan.
** Andrew will lead development
** Framework will be part of input
** Andre is focused on AMS for now
* Question
** Will Andrew be consulting with ASG?
** Gunela experience of plan development with telcos
** responsibilities and timelines?
** Nothing about us without us
* Response
** Andre will convey this to Andrew
* Funds and Resources?
** Too early to say
* Next steps?
** Look at framework
** Identification of champions
** More frequent meetings
** More involvement of PwDs at events
** Relatively quickly
* ''Procurement of tools based on existing standards e.g. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EN_301_549 EN 301 549] or US Equivalent''
** Is it possible to add to framework?
** Andre notes variations in standards globally
** Klaus - EN 301 549 is adopted by several countries and may be considered a global standard
** Current redraft under the new EU act and WCAG 2.2 
** Needs time to go thru all 
** Joyce - EN 301 549 is WCAG 2.1 but also goes to tools and services?
** Klaus - Yes. Prescribes what but not how.
* Training content 
** Agency selected to review to WCAG 2.1AA 
** Sufficient for now.
** Modules being reviewed for accessibility
** 5 courses in Q3 2023 will be updated
** Dashboard made screen reader friendly
** Gunela welcomes this
** Tiered bandwidth courses - Lo/mid/Hi. Lo is WCAG compliant
* Mid Career Fellowship has visually impaired participant, and lessons are being learned.
** ASG will follow up - Silver Francis Oonyu from Uganda
* New AMS - Fonteva
** Level Access engaged to do accessibility testing
* Disability Training Course
** ASG has developed [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-A7oqByxuaEXVcT31udjp8BLT9QNq4pT/edit 91 page syllabus]
** Confusion over funding for further development 
** '''ACTION''' Joyce to check with Kyle
** Andre does not have budget, and made suggestions to Kyle for alternatives eg ISOC Foundation or BTN grants to chapters
** Approx $25k basic , then translation to tiers and languages make it $70-80k. 
** On roadmap.
* Naveed - note on empowerment
** Recent F2f training in Pakistan w/ physically impaired person
** Doing video interviews 
** Edit focusing on accessibility
** PwD gained employment with ISP
* PwD on ISOC staff?
** New ISOC HR person hire in process
* ISOC Website
** Henri has been focused on accessibility last few months
** 3rd party accessibility audit kicked off process
** WP is accessible by design
** Issues come with theme, templates, plugins
** Goal is to improve semantic HTML for screen reader and keyboard compatibility
** Color contrast issues resolved
** Comms is working on improving content, with an eye to people with cognitive disabilities
** Would like to collaborate more with ASG on assessing solutions
** Using [https://wave.webaim.org/ WAVE] to check ongoing work, also Firefox Inspector, and Voiceover on Mac.
** Limited resources e.g. fixing cookie banners took 3 months
* Staff training on creating accessible content
** Guidelines have been developed and shared
** Available on GitHub wiki
** Access to LinkedIn training
* Next meeting to focus on Framework?
** Andre - we can set up a standard bimonthly meeting?

== Sep 25 2023 ISOC Accessibility ==
 Follow up from [https://a11ysig.org/wiki/Accessibility_SG_Calls#July_27_2023_ISOC_Accessibility July 27 2023]
 (Gunela Astbrink, Joly MacFie, Andre Copelin, Garrett Coakley, Naveed Haq)



1. Training
* Esther will be contacting Gunela
* Amount requested $60k
* Timeline tbd
2. Internet Society Disability Inclusion Action Plan 1.1
* https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DoRUFSprIZJYaqV0tIK2aePRkrQglQQC/edit
* Example [https://www.telstra.com.au/content/dam/tcom/about-us/community-environment/pdf/telstra-accessibility-action-plan-digital.pdf Australia DIAP] PP 25-28
3. Process
* Building a culture of accessibility
* Minimising barriers to participation and engagement
** Andre needs to examine practical timelines
4. Plan
* Toolkit example? '''ACTION''' ASG
* Awareness raising - Internal campaigns
* Technical workshops
* Level Access
* Recognition program is developed and launched
* “Accessibility Champions”
** Exploit existing champions
** Format tbd by ISOC
* Employment of staff with disabilities 
** Andre in process, but no current head of HR 
* Active cooperation between ISOC and ASG
*
* Demonstrations
** Community Day
** GAAD
** IDPD
* Accessibility impact assessment (AIA) in policy development
** example - privacy policy
*** Gunela has been meeting with Christine Runnegar
** ISOC has a PDP
** Could/should include AIA
* Research 
** ISOC Foundation
** "especially for those with invisible or less recognised disabilities." ?
*** change to "including"
** Naveed suggests discussion with ISOC Foundation to formallyinclude Accessibility in its research grant program
** '''ACTION''' ISOC group to reach out to IF
5. Chapters 
* [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CYsT5TzjwA7Q4gdiGCNijioloJnFgEES/view?usp=sharing Chapters survey]
** 35 Chapters
** Naveed: BYN grants can be used for Accessibility
** Chapter engagement team
** Joyce would comment if here
** '''ACTION''' Andre will raise with Sebastien Bellagamba
** '''ACTION''' Gunela to share full results
6. Budget
* Andre and Andrew will determine
7. Gunela, Kyle, Andrew Sullivan to continue this discussion.
8. Next meeting(s). Andre will notify


==Jan 20 2024 ASG/ISOC joint collaboration ==
(Gunela Astbrink, Joly MacFie, Andre Copelin, Joyce Dogniez, Garrett Coakley, Kyle Shulman, Henri Wohlfarth)

1. Draft Internet Society Disability Inclusion Action Plan 1.1
* https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DoRUFSprIZJYaqV0tIK2aePRkrQglQQC/edit
* Andre will share any further progress with ASG
2. Continuance of this liaison vis-a-vis ASG election / New leadership
* Gunela not standing in election
* She will continue for a couple of months to smooth transition
* '''ACTION ASG''' to arrange specific onboarding call with new leadership to this topic
* Leadership team is newly extended
3. Strategy
* Guidelines
* Content
** WCAG - is now updated to 2.2 but ISOC working to 2.1
** Legacy content - best efforts within budget
* Training
** Courses are currently being updated in multiple languages
** '''Andre ACTION''' Contact Comms, responsible for implementation with Staff
* Procurement audit
* Annual audit 
** Understood
* support contact info is clearly displayed 
** Footer statement -  contact
** '''Henri ACTION''' look at footer
** '''Andre ACTION''' talk to Level Access
* Include questions on accessibility within all feedback mechanisms 
** Existing webfeedback@isoc.org goes to Comms
** Feedback addresses are available here: https://www.internetsociety.org/contact-us/
* Procurement
** Standards:  Section 508 and EN 301 549.
** Broad purview, including Support, Systems, Legal, Finance officers
4. WCAG updates
* Realistic timeframes to comply with updated WCAG standards
* Requirement is be compliant with major standard
* Needs to be articulated. Andre ACTION work with legal.
* “WCAG 3 will not supersede WCAG 2, and WCAG 2 will not be deprecated, for at least several years after WCAG 3 is finalized."