ISOC Accessibility Standing Group

Formation

The Internet Society Accessibility Standing Group was formed on November 1 2021, subsequent to ISOC's plan to de-charter existing Special Interest Groups. While the new SIGs are temporary and project-based, both Accessibility and Youth, as Standing Groups, are permanent.

The Accessibility SIG (A11ySIG) will continue, but revert to its origin as an Internet Society New York Chapter (ISOC-NY) project.

Communication

The SG communicates via the Accessibility Standing Group Connect Community

Elections

An election was held in January 2022, with the results (pdf | xls) , announced on February 14 2022. Terms expire on Dec. 31 2024.

• Chair: Gunela Astbrink
• Vice-Chair: Vashkar Bhattacharjee
• Secretary: Kindy Vereus Montreuil (from March 2022)
• Treasurer: Judith Hellerstein
• Planning and Reporting Officer: (Tie) Zakari Yama and Swaran Sanadhika Ravindra
• ChAC Representative: SHAMSUDDEEN MOHAMMED LAWAL
• AMS Admin: Joly Macfie

Former officers

• Peter Crosbie (Secretary Jan-Mar 2022)

Calls

• Mar 9 2022: Meeting with Andre Copelin and James Wood to discuss ISOC accessibility (Gunela Astbrink, Vashkar Bhattacharjee) (audio, video)
  • ISOC has formed an informal accessibility working group comprising staff from across a number of areas such as policy, engagement and content.
  • This group wishes to collaborate with our Standing Group to develop a framework of accessibility for ISOC.
  • The first step is an accessible content strategy for 2022.
  • James Wood explained that a Content Foundations training program for staff is being developed and one module is on accessibility. He will forward the draft module to us for feedback.
  • Our input:
    • content training needs to include demonstrations by persons with disability in using content
    • need to ensure that content is manually checked for accessibility through contractors
    • need to employ persons with disability at ISOC
    • need to ensure current and new online tools are accessible
    • importance of ongoing collaboration to ensure policy and programs incorporate accessibility

• Mar 14 2022: Call with Kyle Shulman on SG admin matters (Gunela Astbrink, Vashkar Bhattacharjee, Zakari Yama, Swaran Sanadhika Ravindra, Joly MacFie)