Accessibility Internet Rally for Austin

Are YOU Accessible??

No one would design a building today that was not accessible to the broadest segment of the population. And yet, as more organizations begin to do business on the World Wide Web, they are unwittingly denying access to a large group of potential customers, employees, and contributors - those who use assistive technologies to browse the Internet.

If you'd like to learn about the latest, easy to use, elegant tools that will make any web site immediately available to millions more people, you'd love AIR-Austin. It's fun, it's politely competive, and it's a great way to connect to the community. Imagine that you are working with some of the most creative designers around AND that you are doing work that will benefit many community-based organizations while you are learning. All this and a chance at a Grand Prize! That's what AIR-Austin is all about.

In 1998, the Accessibility Internet Rally engaged folks from more than 40 organizations and built 20 web sites for nonprofit groups. Use this link to take a look! Each site was designed with accessibility in mind and the results were great - the event won the Achievement in Media Award from the Austin Mayor's Committee on People with Disabilities. We're enlisting members of the Austin community to compete again this year! Follow the links to find out more.

More Information

• 1998 AIR-Austin Background, Rally Organizers, Sponsors and Volunteers
• 1998 Event Details (including pictures and feedback)
• Research, viewpoints and tools in support of making Web sites accessible to people with disabilities
  
• Tools to help designers work with nonprofit organizations
  
• Gallery of Accessibility, award-winning Web sites that pass the BOBBY test.
  
• The Center for Applied Technolgy has an online test for your favorite websites. See how accessible you are with BOBBY

The mission of AIR-Austin is to educate information technology professionals about the uses of assistive technologies, AND to provide education and employment opportunities to people with disabilities.

Employment is a critical issue of mutual concern for both information technology employers and people with disabilities. There are currently thousands of information technology industry jobs that are unfilled because of the lack of qualified candidates. At the same time, nearly 86% of people with disabilities remain unemployed even though the vast majority of them want to work.

AIR-Austin is working to bridge this gap through educational and employment initiatives which include:
· Web accessibility tools training
· AIR-Austin information Web site
· AIR-jobs program
· Collaboration with employers to obtain grant funded IT training and placement assistance.

How can you get involved?

AIR-Austin is actively seeking corporate partners, volunteers, and others to get involved in its educational and employment activities. For more information, call Sharron Rush at 512/478-4596
or send email sharrush@mail.utexas.edu
or visit the
AIR-Austin Web site
http://www.main.org/AIR-Austin