Improving Web Accessibility

The Center for Accessible Technology (CforAT) is working to raise awareness of and improve web accessibility for people with disabilities.

In 2008, we launched the California Digital Inclusion Program (CDIP), a joint-initiative of CforAT and the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) to provide recognition and no-cost technical assistance to organizations interested in improving their web accessibility.

For three years, the organizations that participated in the program made accessibility enhancements to their websites. They received no-cost website reviews and consulting services from CforAT, and the ones that made significant enahncements were honored at an awards celebration.

Now that CETF funding has ended, we are exploring options for continuing this program, which has been highly successful. Our hope is to continue to offer the CDIP for 2012.

Here's how it works:

CDIP Staff will review parrticipants' websites and suggest a tailored accessibility project in consultation with each organization.

Organizations interested in participating must:

1. Identify a primary staff person for CDIP staff to work with
2. Commit to completing at least one accessibility project.

Participating organizations will achieve accessibility improvements by participating in the program and committing an average of 5 staff hours per month (generally from April through October). Organizations with significant resources may be able to devote more staff hours and successfully complete an even larger-scale web accessibility project through the Program.

Because funding has ended, we can no longer offer the program at no charge. However, we are willing to work at a reduced consulting rate while we are seeking new funding for this program. We cannot guaranee we will have the event at the end of this cycle, unless we get funded, but the CDIP work can still continue with organizations interested in participating.

Members of the public may also nominate organizations for participation. CDIP staff will then invite nominated organizations to apply.

For more information, email us.

Past Awards

The California Digital Inclusion Program has completed three cycles, and worked with some companies and organizations that have done great work on enahncing the accessibility of their websites.

The 2008 Award Winners were:

San Francisco State University

SeamlessWeb

Gap Inc.

The California State University

The 2009 Winners were:

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)

Intel Corporation

TechSoup Global

The 2010 Winners were:

Santa Barbara School Districts

Clif Bar and Company

Social Interest Solutions

Parlerai Inc.

Each of these organizations are addressing one or more accessibility barriers on their websites. Read more about the 2009 winners.

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