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== 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.

== September 27 2022 ISOC Accessibility ==

 ISOC internal WG on accessibility (Gunela Astbrink, Joly MacFie, Andre Copelin, Swaran Ravindra, James Wood, Vashkar Bhattacharjee))
 (Apologies from Judith Hellerstein, Zakari Yama)

* ISOC shared the [[ISOC Content Accessibility Training Module]]
* ASG would like to be consulted earlier in the formulation of such efforts
* Resources
** [https://www.internetsociety.org/resources/accessibility-toolkit/ ISOC accessibility toolkit]
** [https://www.w3.org/WAI/teach-advocate/accessibility-training/ W3C WCAG training materials]
* Comms team have received latest WCAG guidelines, and have been implementing some things e.g alt tags on Twitter posts.
* Torchbox recommendations have been received and aaree being digested by ISOC Comms team.
* ISOC procurement procedures
** ISOC has accessibility criteria. Can be shared with ASG.
** Limited accessibility user testing
** Vashkar  has had access issues with ISOC LEARN
*** Vashkar is willing to give feedback directly
*** Andre can organize that with ISOC IT Team
** Professional testing is desirable
** Joly suggests Fable. More vendors can be suggested.
* Transcripts
** Transcripts need to be available both live and after ISOC events.
* Joly suggest there be #accessibilty channel on ISOC Slack
* [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UbnGTE1VFkrVwpbYNe1SpXAZOaWiUN9A/edit ISOC Accessibility Framework (Version 1.1)]

** Andre can review but not make recommendations
** Building a culture of accessibility
*** Tone needs adjustment - James will look.
*** Slack channel?
** Ensuring minimal barriers to participation 
*** Content - covered to some extent by current training
*** WCAG - Kristi will need to look at this
*** ISOC policy on web accessibility - Again Kristi, but also ongoing conversation via Slack channel. 
*** Physical meeting. Capability should be there.
*** Platforms. rename 'Online meetings' Andre's area of concern. Add some examples.
*** Evangelization. ISOC to encourage accessibility.

* Next meeting. 6 weeks.

== Nov 10 2022 ISOC Accessibility ==
 (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 ISOC Accessibility ==
(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."

==Sep 23 2024 ISOC Accessibility ==
(Gunela Astbrink, Dan York, Joly MacFie, Andre Copelin, Joyce Dogniez, Garrett Coakley, Ivana Trbovic, Vashkar Bhattarcharjee, Dr. Muhammad Shabbir, Praveen Misra)


1. Dan is assisting Sally with this matter.

2. Board resolution </br>
1) Web Accessibility  </br>
2) Accessibility Framework
* Agreed that these are this group's purpose

3. Progress on accessibility
* Site is WCAG 2.0
* Many Training courses are audited  

4. Training  in Internet Governance
* Esther has development well in hand
** Joyce: Could be useful for staff, as well

5.  Draft Internet Society Disability Inclusion Action Plan 1.2
* https://a11ysig.org/accessibility_sg/Disability_Inclusion_Action_Plan_1.2.pdf
* Toolkit
** ?
* Training
** Dan: LinkedIn Learning should be checked? Ivana Has some familiarity, (ISOC has account)
** (see below)
* Regular meetings
** Bi-Monthly worked until hiatus - may be resumed.
* Showcase events
** Support ASG to celebrate IDPD and GAAD
* digital inclusion research
** Dan dubious on feasibility, but will consult with Chris Locke
** Joyce - this could be ASG activity
** Joyce - existing ISOC Foundation funded projects could be subjects
* Financial impact
** Dan "no magic pot of money"
** Shabbir - Board expected impact to be spread over some years
** Estimates will need to be presented to board.
* Content
** Andrew produced [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Cz1e08fjnhlz0EfcAZbNOROKX4JfJPWB/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112255764393980826276&rtpof=true&sd=true a detailed document].
* Training
** Andre: Idea is develop existing legacy staff training module
** Shabbir: IAAP and W3C have existing courses on making accessible documents.
** Dan agrees. To expedite, 3rd party courses should be explored.
* Accessibility statement
** Can be added to current legal in footer
** Joly: statement should be accessible
* Feedback mechanisms
** Dan questions "all"
** Standard statement inviting feedback to an email address could be added to all
* Vendor requirements
** Legal has done some work on this.
* '''ACTION''' Dan will update Action Plan + Website Plan later in the week.
** To be presented to board meeting Nov 2 and 3, so deadline is Oct 25.

==Nov 25 2024 ISOC Accessibility ==
(Gunela Astbrink, Garret Coakley, Joyce Dogniez, Joly MacFie)

* Garret continues to work on making Pulse WCAG compliant
* Training going well. 2 down 4 to go. 
* Manique will be doing this week.
* Nepal F2f Meetup - 1-3 December, coincides with IDPD, and Nepal SIG.
* Training needs permalink
* ISOC analyzing where and why people drop
* Contemplating certification for select modules, as well as whole course."microlearning"
* Dan has said Operation Framework is imminent.
* Maybe work on advance agenda for January to encourage attendance.

==Jan 27 2025 ISOC Accessibility ==
(Gunela Astbrink, Garret Coakley, Joyce Dogniez, Joly MacFie, Andre Copelin, Ivana Trbovic. Naveed Haq, Ashutosh Pathak, Dan York)
* Accessibility Framework: https://www.internetsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Accessibility-Operational-Framework.pdf
* Accessibility Plan https://www.internetsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Website-Accessibility-Plan.pdf
* Above currently posted as Board Minutes
* Gunela - could they be placed more prominently?
* Accessibility Working group - small but active
* Tracker for board updated quarterly 
* Staff training course - there is interest
* Shabbir - more training required beyond that. Dan agrees.
* Gunela - specific modules on work areas.
* Name of this group? Joint ISOC-ASG Working group on ISOC Accessibility
* Ashutosh Pathak has certified a large number of websites for the India Government.
* India government is keen to associate with ISOC in a certification program. A proposal has been submitted. Response expected in March.
* Dan / Shabbir - please share more information
* Joly suggests ASG run event focused on certification / standards
* Gunela - Would like more implementation details on hiring of PWDs..
* Dan - work to do on internal systems e.g. Box  - that needs to be done before recruitments
* Joly - Cart before the horse. Why not hire PWD to work on that?
* Ashutosh Pratak asks about updated frameworks.
* Shabbir - board has specified WCAG 2.1 - Board left option open to updating to new standards once that are stable, but right now that is the target.
* Garret - WCAG 2.1 and 2.2 are essentially the same. WCAG 3 is a couple of years away.
* New accessibility compliant ISOC Wordpress theme made available to Chapters. https://chapter-template.isoc.org/

==Mar 24 2025 ISOC Accessibility ==
(Garrett Coakley, Joly MacFie, Ivana Trbovic, Henri Wohlfarth, Muhammad Shabbir)
* Joly mentions the [https://isoc.live/18948/ A11yNYC March presentation] on a new accessibility metric Accessible Usability Scale (AUS). 
* Call postponed - Shabbir has heard from Gunela that Dan York will reschedule.

==May 26 2025 ISOC Accessibility==
(Joly MacFie)
* Joly was the sole attendee.

==June 2 2025 ISOC Accessibility==
(Joly MacFie, Dan York, Gunela Astbrink, Muhammad Shabbir, Praveen Misra, Yul Vanek)

* Time moved to 10:00 UTC to cater to Shabbir
* Accessibility Update Report to board
** Annual audits
** 99/100 for main site on Level Access Tool
** 87/100 for ISOC Foundation
** Pulse site being rebuilt by Garrett Cokely, with special attention being given to A11y.
** ASG will be asked to review new accessibility statement that will be used on all sites. 
* New point person, [https://www.internetsociety.org/author/vanek Yul Vanek], Vice President, Technology Solutions and Services
** has a background in A11y.
** Yul, Gunela, Praveen, and Joly introduced themselves.
** Yul happy to schedule one-on-ones.
* Level Access contracted for another year. Includes human testing.
* Online course has run twice already in 2025 with 229 registrations.
* ISOC looking for training material for staff, interested in any suggestions.
** Level Access has training material available.
** ISOC has LinkedIn Learning account
** Gunela suggests Deque.
** something that works across all staff.
* [https://codi.global CODI] - ISOC has joined. Promoting multilingual Internet.
** ISOC LIVE webcast launch event. Provided transcript.
* Joly mentions [https://isoc.live/18948/ Accessible Usability Scale metric]. Dan will pass along to team.
* Joly notes that the BoT Zoom recordings are published on YouTube with no A11y considerations
** https://isoc.live/19048/ is an example of how it could be done better.


==Oct 6 2025 ISOC Accessibility==
(Joly MacFie, Dan York, Gunela Astbrink, Muhammad Shabbir, Yul Vanek, Henri Wohlfarth, Garrett Coakley, Ivana Trbovic)

* Dan has notes from September
** '''ACTION:''' Add to wiki
* Challenges 
** Staffing transitions - Andre out - Yul in /  Dan overwhelming new role
* Framework review - one year in, in 5 year process.
** https://www.internetsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Accessibility-Operational-Framework.pdf
** Prelim report to board due next week. Full report in a month.
* 1.3 Awareness training for staff
** Level Access provides courses - will be promoted to staff.
** Limited seats
* 1.4  Compliance - Dan has consulted with Brianna
** Possibility to add a module to Compliance training
** Modules split to quarterly so not all at once
** Something interactive?
** All staff will do the module once a year
** Yul: can content be sourced from Level Access?
** Henri: LinkedIn Learning a good resource.
** '''ACTION''': develop
* 1.5 Content Training module 
** '''ACTION''': develop with consultation
* 1.6 Internal Campaigns
** Perhaps invite in some guest speakers.
** Dan, timing? e.g. GAAD May, IPWD Dec 3  
** '''ACTION''' do something for Dec 3, including external blog post / social media
* 1.13 Employment of PWDs
** Internal systems are changing, but under consideration
* 2.1 Content
** New templates being rolled out
* 2.3 Events
** DCAD guidelines adopted
** Shabbir: Translations available
** https://igf-dcad.org/accessibility-guidelines/
** '''ACTION''': add translation links inside ISOC
* 2.5 Audits
** Where to publish?
** Major sites done, some small still in process
* 2.6 Display support info
** New contact link just added
* Ivana report
** Monthly audit using Level Access tools
** Both mobile and desktop
** WCAG AA
** 3 levels down
** Transition to new platform underway - yet to be tested
** Next step - LA human testing
** Minor sites - mamually tested using WAVE - doing well.
* Garret
** Pulse moving from WordpRess to Django
** Mostly AA compliant
** Next step - LA testing
** Wagtail input system incorporates accessibility . https://wagtail.org/accessibility/
* WordPress Chapter template
** https://chapter-template.isoc.org/
** Joly: idea to make 'unboxing' style video - appeal to Chapters to provide?
** Already available for a year.
* Internal best practices document
** '''ACTION''' - needs updating
* Discussion
** Accessibility Standing Group
*** Not very active lately
** Idea to make demo video of screen reader use
*** Shabbir - not just blind but other PWDs
*** Gunela - W3C did this already
** AI use in creating accessible content
*** Joly using Chat GPT to convert docX to TinyMCE (WorddPress).
*** Yul: ISOC has confidentiality concerns about internal use, and is producing guidelines
*** Dan: CODI exploring AI use in translation
** Accessibility Toolkit
*** '''ACTION''' - replace Andrew intro
** APRALO
*** Welcomed report of ISOC compliance results
* '''Next meeting''' is planned for Monday, December 1, 2025, 11:00 UTC

==Dec 1 2025 ISOC Accessibility==
(Joly MacFie, Dan York, Gunela Astbrink, Muhammad Shabbir, Henri Wohlfarth,  Ivana Trbovic)

* Joly arrived late, so notes are limited.
* Accessibility should be built into systems from the start, since retrofitting later is far more costly and time-consuming.
* The Pulse website rebuild was cited as a good example of designing with accessibility as a core requirement from the outset.
* Automated accessibility testing tools can only check technical compliance; real usability must be validated through testing with actual users.
* The accessibility support email has received very little activity so far, with only one indirect inquiry recalled.
* A previous RSS feed issue was traced to Cloudflare security settings enabled during a period of cyberattacks and has since been resolved.
* The Internet Accessibility Toolkit on the website is outdated and needs review and updating.
* Potential updates include:
** Replacing outdated leadership messaging
** Updating WCAG references to version 2.2
** Refreshing outdated content
** Fixing broken elements on the page
* A target was proposed to have the Toolkit updated by May 2026, possibly aligned with Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAD).
* A lighter, quicker interim update may be possible earlier.
* Shbabir’s proposed WSIS+20 accessibility language will be flagged for internal review.
* Additional plans include an IDPD blog post and a possible GAAD 2026 promotional activity.
* Nwxt call - 11:00 UTC - Feb 2 2026