BrailleNet

BrailleNet was a French non-profit association (association loi de 1901) founded in 1998 and dedicated to digital accessibility for people with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments. Its mission was to ensure that people who, due to disability, lack access to digital services and tools could fully participate in the digital society. The association brought together 25 legal entities, including associations, educational institutions, research organisations, and industrial companies, to promote accessible internet use in schools, universities, and training centres, to develop and adapt accessible teaching materials, to coordinate initiatives, and to encourage the development of adapted software and hardware. BrailleNet is best known for two major initiatives. First, the AccessiWeb label and resource centre, which awarded bronze, silver, or gold accessibility certificates to websites meeting criteria inspired by the W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The AccessiWeb reference framework influenced French public policy: an early version served as the basis for the French government's accessibility standard adopted between 2004 and 2007, and later versions aligned with WCAG 2.0 and the RGAA (Référentiel général d'accessibilité pour les administrations). BrailleNet was chosen by the W3C in January 2009 to coordinate the French translation of WCAG 2.0, published in June 2009, and became a W3C member in March 2010. It also published the AccessiWeb HTML5/ARIA framework in December 2013, which formed the basis of the new RGAA. Second, BrailleNet initiated and managed the Bibliothèque Numérique Francophone Accessible (BNFA), an accessible French-language digital library launched in 2012 with two partners. By 2014, the BNFA had 2,600 readers and nearly 30,000 titles, offering reading in audio (human voice and speech synthesis), braille, and large print. BrailleNet also operated the Hélène server, a secure internet server allowing producers of adapted books to obtain source files from publishers. BrailleNet was a member of the W3C since 2010, a member of the Daisy Consortium since 2003, a founding member of Daisy France in 2010, and a member of the CFPSAA (Confédération française pour la promotion sociale des aveugles et des amblyopes) since 2010. The association faced a judicial liquidation procedure opened in March 2022. At the end of the procedure in late 2022, the judge entrusted the continuation of the BNFA to the Valentin Haüy association. BrailleNet thus ceased its activities, leaving a legacy in French digital accessibility standards and accessible reading services.

BrailleNet was founded in 1998 as a French association loi de 1901, bringing together 25 legal entities including associations, educational institutions, research organisations, and industrial companies. Its initial objectives focused on implementing internet access for visually impaired people in schools, universities, and training centres; developing and adapting accessible teaching materials on the web; coordinating initiatives among participating institutions; encouraging the development of adapted software and hardware; and developing web content accessibility through training actions. In the 2000s, BrailleNet developed the AccessiWeb label and resource centre for web accessibility. An early version of the AccessiWeb reference framework served as the basis for the French government's 'Référentiel accessibilité des services Internet de l'administration' adopted between 2004 and 2007 by the ADAE (Agence pour le développement de l'administration électronique). In 2009, BrailleNet was chosen by the W3C to coordinate the French translation of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0; the W3C-approved French translation was published on 25 June 2009. Also in 2009, the AccessiWeb framework was complemented by the 'Référentiel AccessiWeb CMS 1.0', reflecting the W3C's ATAG standard for content production tools. BrailleNet became a W3C member in March 2010. It had been a member of the Daisy Consortium since 2003 and became a founding member of Daisy France in 2010. It also joined the CFPSAA (Confédération française pour la promotion sociale des aveugles et des amblyopes) in 2010. In 2012, BrailleNet initiated and began managing the Bibliothèque Numérique Francophone Accessible (BNFA) with two partners: the Groupement des intellectuels aveugles ou amblyopes and the Association pour le bien des aveugles. By 2014, the BNFA had 2,600 readers and nearly 30,000 titles, offering audio, braille, and large-print reading modes. In 2014, BrailleNet conducted a study with Université Pierre et Marie Curie titled 'Ce que les sites Web publics nous disent de leur accessibilité', examining 600 online communication services of the French State, ministries, regional councils, general councils, prefectures, agglomeration communities, and town halls. Another 2014 study highlighted difficulties encountered by internet users with disabilities when using certain library websites. In September 2014, the BNFA renewed the 'rentrée littéraire accessible' operation with support from the SNE (Syndicat National du Livre), the Centre National du Livre, and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France. In December 2013, BrailleNet published the AccessiWeb HTML5/ARIA framework, which would become the basis for the new RGAA (Référentiel général d'accessibilité pour les administrations). BrailleNet participated in the group of experts selected to support the DISIC on this project, alongside Smile, Meanings, ACS Horizons, Qelios, and V-Technologies. The association also operated the Hélène server, a secure internet server allowing organisations producing adapted books in braille or large print to obtain source files from publishers. BrailleNet faced a judicial liquidation procedure opened in March 2022. At the end of the procedure in late 2022, the judge entrusted the continuation of the BNFA to the Valentin Haüy association. The association thus ceased operations, but its AccessiWeb frameworks and standards continue to influence French digital accessibility policy.

• 2022

  Judicial liquidation procedure opened in March; at the end of 2022, the judge entrusts the continuation of the BNFA to the Valentin Haüy association.

• 2014

  Study with Université Pierre et Marie Curie examines 600 French public online services; BNFA reaches 2,600 readers and nearly 30,000 titles; 'rentrée littéraire accessible' renewed.

• 2013

  AccessiWeb HTML5/ARIA framework published in December, later forming the basis of the new RGAA.

• 2012

  BrailleNet initiates and begins managing the Bibliothèque Numérique Francophone Accessible (BNFA) with two partners.

• 2010

  BrailleNet becomes a W3C member in March; becomes founding member of Daisy France and joins CFPSAA.

• 2009

  BrailleNet chosen by W3C on 8 January to coordinate French translation of WCAG 2.0; translation published 25 June. AccessiWeb CMS 1.0 framework published.

• 2004

  An early version of the AccessiWeb framework serves as the basis for the French government's accessibility standard adopted between 2004 and 2007 by the ADAE.

• 2003

  BrailleNet becomes a member of the Daisy Consortium.

• 1998

  BrailleNet founded as a French association loi de 1901, grouping 25 legal entities.

Non-profit association providing digital accessibility standards, certification, training, and accessible reading services for people with disabilities in France and Francophone countries.

• AccessiWeb label and certification

  A label and resource centre for web accessibility, awarding bronze, silver, or gold certificates to websites meeting criteria inspired by W3C WCAG.

• AccessiWeb reference frameworks

  Frameworks including AccessiWeb CMS 1.0 (2009) and AccessiWeb HTML5/ARIA (2013), used for certifying conformity to WCAG 2.0 and the RGAA.

• Bibliothèque Numérique Francophone Accessible (BNFA)

  An accessible French-language digital library initiated and managed by BrailleNet from 2012, offering audio, braille, and large-print reading. By 2014 it had 2,600 readers and nearly 30,000 titles.

• Hélène server

  A secure internet server allowing organisations producing adapted books in braille or large print to obtain source files from publishers.

1. 1BrailleNet official websitebraillenet.org
2. 2BrailleNet - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3BrailleNet - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org