d

International Web Accessibility Summit

Radical changes in practice may be required to promote web content accessibility in the real world

In this paper, the author argues for the introduction of the role of website architect into the web development process. In addition, she requires that graphics designers are not involved in the web content presentation aspect of the development.

In a series of case studies, the author attempted to use the proposed approach. The graphics designers did not really understand the change although they moved from the production of Photoshop versions of the look and feel that got implemented without any regard for accessibility, to accessible versions of style sheets that showed the 'look and feel' and also demonstrated accessibility.

Nevertheless, the author is confident that this approach, if adopted completely, will make a difference.

Liddy Nevile
Associate Professor, Sunrise Research Laboratory

Primary work focus:

• Research and development supervision and management
• Educational development and practice
• Professional leadership
• Standards Development for the WWW
• Formal qualifications include:
• BJuris/LLB (Monash) with a major in Pure Mathematics
• MEd (RMIT)

• 2000- Sunrise Research Laboratory
• 1999-2000 Principal Researcher at Melbourne IT Pty Ltd
• 1990-1999 Associate Professor, Director of Sunrise Research Laboratory at RMIT
• 1986-1990 Education and Technology Theme Co-ordinator at the Australian Council for Educational Research
• 1984-1986 Director of Barson Research at Barson Computers
• 1974-1980 Senior Tutor in Law, David Syme Business School, CIT

Publications and public activities include 4 co-authored books, 5 book chapters and 10 edited works, more than 40 refereed conference publications, working papers, keynote and invited talks, and many conferences, seminars and workshops convened.

Grants to support my work have included more than $500,000 from government sources, $200,000 from philanthropic sources, $325,000 in university special initiative grants, and $258,000 in ARC funding. Queensland Department of Education investment in the Queensland Sunrise Centre exceeded $500,000.

• Collaborative faculty development in emerging technology (Sunrise@RMIT Project)
• Offline use of WWW resources for teachers and children without reliable Internet access (OZeKIDS)
• Early development of tutorials to promote rapid adoption of web technology, and pioneering efforts in the development and propagation of the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative
• Involvement in promoting and deploying Dublin Core metadata in a variety of projects including educational resources, aboriginal rock art, and commercial adoption of metadata standards in Australia.