The W4A 2010 Organising Committee are delighted to announce that, thanks to generous sponsorship from Google, two awards, each of up to US$1200, are available to support students to enable them to attend W4A 2010. We now invite applications from interested students.

The 1st "Student Awards Programme", sponsored since 2010 by Google, is organised to give an opportunity to high quality students with limited funding to attend the W4A Conference.

This year's theme, "Developing Regions: Common Goals, Common Problems?" addresses the accessibility challenges produced by the hyper-growth of mobile phone penetration in the developing countries. Next step is obviously to access the Web. The Web has already touched the lives of over a billion people and now is the time for the next billions. However, this expansion faces unprecedented accessibility challenges. Even the word "accessibility" needs a new definition for people in the developing regions. How can someone who is illiterate or barely literate access the Web? In some cases, a language may not even have a written form. The affordability of the technology is also a challenge, while access is constrained by low computational power, limited bandwidth, compact keyboards, tiny screens, and even by the lack of electric power. All of these constraints compound the problems of access and inclusion. The desire for access in developing regions and the resourcefulness of the people who want inclusion unite the communities of people in developing regions and the communities of disabled people in the developed world. What problems exist, what are the newly appearing problems, and what solutions are required? What can we learn from existing traditional accessibility solutions? What about people with disabilities in the developing world?

Students with interests related to this year's topic are encouraged but it is certainly not a requirement as all students with an interest in accessibility technologies are welcome to apply.

Eligibility

This award is open to any student in a postgraduate position (part time or full time) at a University or other Higher Education institution, AND who is carrying out research that is directly relevant to the field of web accessibility. We particularly encourage applicants from under-represented parts of the world.

Submission details

If you would like to apply, we require the following documents as part of your submission:

• A 500 word statement outlining your interest in web accessibility, why you wish to attend and what you hope to achieve by attending W4A 2010. This can include details of your accessibility research, its originality and its anticipated impact on end users.
• A letter of support from your research supervisor, confirming your position as an accessibility researcher.
• A completed application form including personal details (http://www.w4a.info/2010/backingfiles/Award-Application.doc).

Please send these documents with a covering email to students2010@w4a.info - You will receive an email acknowledgement on successful receipt of your application

Judging criteria

Each submission will be carefully reviewed by members of the W4A Steering Committee. Submissions will be judged on a number of quality factors, each of which you should consider when writing your application:

• Relevance of your research to the theme of this year's conference (Developing Regions: Common Goals, Common Problems);
• Awareness of the field of web accessibility;
• Originality and potential impact of your research;
• This award is aimed at supporting students who otherwise would not be able to attend W4A for financial reasons, so you should also provide an indication of current funding limitations (including details of any unsuccessful attempts to secure funding to attend).

Deadlines

(all dates refer to Midnight Hawaii Standard Time)

• Submissions: Thursday February 4th 2010
• Notification of successful awards: Friday 12th February 2010.

The deadlines have been chosen to give as much time as possible to allow successful applicants to make their travel and accommodation arrangements.

Award details

The awards are made as follows:

• Both successful applicants will be entitled to support of up to US$1200, covering expenses incurred in attending W4A 2010 (including reasonable travel, accommodation and subsistence costs).
• Payment will be made by way of reimbursing expenses incurred. Receipts will be required as evidence of purchase - without these we will be unable to make any payment.
• Both successful applicants will be provided with free registration as a conference delegate for the two days of W4A 2010 (26-27 April 2010).

Expectations

Conditions of receiving the award are as follows. Successful applicants will:

• Attend the conference as an active delegate - W4A Google Sponsored Accessibility Research Student.
• Present for 15 minutes on their research and the likely impact on the field of web accessibility, as part of a dedicated session in the conference.
• Write a post-event reflective report on W4A 2010. This will be published on the W4A web site, and may also be submitted to other publications, such as the ACM SIGACCESS newsletter.

Questions or queries

If you have any questions relating to the submission process, please email students2010@w4a.info

Acknowledgement

We are extremely grateful to Google for providing the financial support to allow this award to be made.