How AIR started and has evolved
History of AIR
The Accessibility Internet Rally (AIR) is a competition to raise awareness for global web accessibility. Started by Knowbility in 1998 as a local hackathon in Austin, Texas, the program has evolved into a pioneering teaching and learning event that puts accessibility and digital inclusion front and center — where it belongs.
The Accessibility Internet Rally (AIR), and Knowbility as an organization, got their start in 1998 when several nonprofits and community groups in Austin began getting together for an annual "web-raising" competition with the goal of building accessible websites for people with disabilities.
The Internet had already proven to be a "great equalizer" in terms of providing knowledge, economic power, and job possibilities to people with disabilities. However, many websites weren’t (and still aren’t) built with these millions of users in mind. People with disabilities use special tools, called assistive technologies, to browse the Web, which can be confused by some website designs and functions.
AIR-Austin ‘98 was created to help educate the general public, and web professionals in particular, about the tools and techniques to make truly accessible websites. Each competing team consisted of 1–2 representatives of an Austin-area nonprofit organization and 4–6 web developers.
Over the years AIR has built hundreds of accessible websites and trained thousands of developers, creating a network of advocates, designers, creators, and decision-makers working to make the web inclusive to all.
Registration
Registration for AIR 2027 opens soon. Whether you want to enter as a team, join as an individual looking to be matched, take part as a nonprofit or community organization, or volunteer as a mentor or judge, fill out the Interested in AIR form and we'll email you as soon as registration is live.
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