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AIR Team Roadmap

AIR runs for 10 weeks. Teams spend Weeks 1–8 building an accessible website with their client, then Weeks 9–10 helping the client deploy and launch it.

Here is what to expect on your journey as a AIR Team member.

Prior to the Kick-Off

Read the Rally Rules

AIR works because everyone starts on the same page. The Rally Rules lay out how the competition runs — who qualifies, the conditions sites are built under, how judges evaluate it — along with the commitments clients, teams, and mentors make to one another.

Individuals - Meet Your Teammates

Registered individuals matched with others to form a team will meet their teammates for the first time at the virtual Indy Team Meetup (see the calendar of events for the date and time).

Before the Kickoff, teams should confirm that at least one member will attend to represent the team and meet their client.

Attend the Kick-Off

At least one client representative and two team members must attend, virtually or in person (see the calendar of events for the date and time).

During the kickoff, you will:

  • Meet your team and client.
  • Assign roles: Team Captain, Project Manager, Developer(s), QA Tester, and UX Designer.
  • Confirm your communication and project management tools/platforms (Slack, Google Drive, other)
  • Set a date and time for your first team meeting, and choose who will organize it and send invitations.

Meet Weekly (Weeks 1–8)

Meet with your team and client every week to plan, build, test, and prepare your site for submission.

Week 1: Get to Know Your Team

  • Hold an introductory meeting with your full team and client.
  • Define team roles and responsibilities.
  • Share the AIR Judging Form with all team members and the client.
  • Set up your communication and collaboration tools.
  • Begin the AIR Training courses in Knowbility's Learning Center (enrollment codes will be sent via email).

Week 2: Plan the Site

  • Create Your Team Project Plan: A project plan helps your team schedule meetings, share tasks, and stay on track through AIR.
  • Review the AIR Judging Form in depth: the scoring system, deliverables, and timeline.
  • Review initial design artifacts (wireframes, content inventory, sitemap) and give feedback.
  • Confirm your client's post-AIR hosting plan. Email air@knowbility.org if you need help.

Weeks 3–6: Build, Test, and Refine

  • Hold design review and feedback sessions with your client.
  • Submit an AIR Usability Testing Request, then attend usability testing sessions.
  • Attend the Meet the Judges / QA Event to see evaluation techniques, testing tools, and best practices.
  • Review toolkits and choose reliable testing tools for your team.
  • Plan your optional AIR Highlights video (1–2 minutes, with captions and a transcript) and check its progress.
  • Keep working on fixes and your Judging Form inputs.

Week 7: Prepare for Submission

  • Complete a final review of the Judging Form and resolve remaining accessibility issues.
  • Work with your client to collect remaining submission materials and confirm post-AIR hosting details.

Week 8: Final Review and Website Submission

  • Complete final QA on your site.
  • Submit your AIR Highlights video and transcript, if you made one.
  • Join the Final Countdown to Submissions event.
  • Upload your site and email your Judging Form by the deadline.
    • Late submissions will receive a penalty.

Weeks 9–10: Site Deployment (Migration) and Launch

  • Help your client migrate the site to its permanent host and launch it.
  • Walk your client through a maintenance plan so the site stays accessible after AIR.

Judging and Awards Ceremony

  • Judges review each submitted site against the AIR Judging Form.
  • Attend the AIR Awards Ceremony at AccessU, where winners are announced and celebrated in front of the accessibility community. (see the calendar of events for the date and time)
  • Keep applying what you learned, and share your successes with your client.