Guild of Accessible Web Designers (GAWDS) Cracks The Whip

Contributed by Jim Byrne

Contact: Jim Byrne
Mobile tel: 07810098119
Tel: (44) 141 334 1650
Email: info@gawds.org
Web:www.gawds.org

(See foot of page for list of local contacts.)

Release Date: 26th May, 2004

New Web Standards Incubator Will Act As Catalyst For Worldwide Adoption Of Professional Standards.

Glasgow, May 26th 2004 - The Guild of Accessible Web Designers marked its launch today by calling upon Web designers to embrace accessibility as the cornerstone and guiding principle of their profession.

"Accessibility goes far beyond preparing Web sites for disabled people," said Jim Byrne, founder of Glasgow-based GAWDS. "Accessibility is now shorthand for the adoption of core standards that benefit every user of the Internet and impact the bottom line of every business. GAWDS intends to promote these standards to instill in Web designers the high level of competence and professionalism required to unlock the full potential of the Internet."

One of GAWDS' immediate goals is to address and debunk myths that lead some Web designers to shrug off standards. Guild members websites will demonstrate the inherent good sense of Web standards and give encouragement and support to designers who adopt standards in their work. There are also longer-term plans to offer accreditation programs that give members a competitive edge through association with and profiling on the GAWDS site.

GAWDS organizers also hope that offering a locator service for qualified Web designers will bring the association closer to convincing business owners of the importance of Web standards. "While the public understands how inaccessible web sites are a barrier to people with disabilities, many businesses have yet to see how accessibility and universal, standards-based design impacts their bottom line." said GAWDS founding member, Derek Featherstone, of Canadian Accessibility Consultantcy WATS.ca. "As technology and the web industry evolves to allow web access through many new devices, businesses can no longer rely on old, outdated techniques for their web sites. With standards and universal design comes accessibility to all users, including those with disabilities."

GAWDS also hopes to demonstrate to businesses how standards-based Web design reduces dependency on a single Web design company, or Web designer, and typically reduces costs for site development and site maintenance.

As a public demonstration of the wisdom of using Web standards, GAWDS marked its launch today by announcing an open competition inviting Web designers worldwide to submit redesigns of the GAWDS Web site at www.gawds.org

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Contacts:
(Jim Byrne mobile: 0781 0098 119) (info@gawds.org) www.gawds.org

Derek Featherstone
WATS.ca
40 Equestrian Drive
Ottawa, ON Canada

feather@wats.ca
tel: 613 599 9784

Darren Taylor
Acquiweb
5 The Beeches
Killinchy
County Down
Northern Ireland
BT23 6WA

darren@acquiweb.com

Marco Battilana
Crazy Bat Designs
http://crazybat.ca

2678 King Geroge Highway
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
V4P1H6

info@crazybat.ca
ph: 604-312-4315