The city of Houston has just concluded another successful Accessibility Internet Rally (AIR-Houston), and another 200 people have become more knowledgeable about creating Web sites that are accessible to all people, including those with a disability. At a time when businesses as well as public agencies are under pressure to adhere to worldwide Web accessibility standards, it’s good to know that more Web developers have learned important techniques that will carry forward in every project they do.

AIR-Houston is one of several AIR programs led by Austin-based Knowbility, a nonprofit organization with a mission to promote the use and improve the availability of accessible IT. The award-winning AIR program is a competitive and fun way to teach Web developers about the tools and techniques for creating accessible Web sites.

AIR pairs teams of developers with nonprofit organizations (NPO) from the local community. The developer teams pay a small fee to enter the competition, and in return they receive $1200 worth of technical training for each member of the team. This training prepares them for the AIR competition, but it’s useful information that the developers can apply in their day jobs, as well.

AIR-Houston’s 2006 rally day was October 21 at the University of Houston main campus. About two and a half weeks prior to the rally, the Web development teams were each assigned an NPO to work with at a kick-off event hosted by Rice University. The teams used the few weeks before rally day to plan the new Web site and assemble the content, but no coding could take place until the actual rally day.

“Rally” is almost a misnomer, for this is the quietest rally you’ll ever see. On this day , developers huddle over computers for eight hours, silently scurrying to write the code for their NPO’s new Web site. Coders are required to use the techniques and Web standards they learned in the classes and attain points for how well they do so. Judging is intense, with other developers critiquing the work of the teams.

Douphitt Briggs is a project manager with Idea Integration in Houston. 2006 was his first year to participate in AIR-Houston, although his company had teams in the competition in 2004 and 2005. “I was an alternate for the team last year, but they didn't need me then. This year, we entered two teams in the program, and I made sure I got on one of them,” said Briggs. “Last year’s team had such a positive experience that we wanted to expand our role this year. We might enter three teams next year to give more people the chance to participate.”

Linda Musthaler is a principal analyst with Essential Solutions Corporation.