GAWDS, based in United Kingdom, is a worldwide association of professional organisations, web designers and developers working together to promote the use and preservation of accessible design standards. Its mission is to promote a vision of the future that assumes accessible web design to be, relevant, obtainable, and not at odds with successful business practice or good visual and usable design.

     Membership of the Guild is open to all organisations involved in the creation and development of content and design for the web - both for profit, and not for profit organisations. However, membership is not automatic. All membership applications are assessed by a current Guild administrator and applicants must demonstrate a commitment to accessible web design - either by exhibiting good practice on an existing site or by participating in, and contributing to, the accessible web design community.

     A part of the letter states, "We are aware that Mr Esposa is coordinating with the NCWDP, Vision Office and the National Computer Center in forming the Web Accessible Association of the Philippines with the aim of forming a working group to promote accessible web standards within the Philippines. We fully support this initiative and will offer Mr Esposa, and the working group, whatever assistance we can."

     In order to become a member, an individual or an organization must pass through a series of inquiries about your intention to join as well as proof in the form of website that passed the web standards. The site must be validated by the HTMLHELP web validator aside from the W3C validator. Upon passing, an individual must pay $75 or organization $500 as one-time membership fee. MCCID is very fortunate because the membership fee was waived, thanks to their administrator, Ms. Pedley.

     Benefits from being a member include among others, free access to web forums, download of an accessible Content Management System file and web accessibility books in PDF formats. Through GAWDS assistance and support, it will add boost to the planned Accessible Web Designers of the Philippines.

     Mr. Esposa is the first Filipino web designer to become a member of GAWDS. Mr. Leo Valdes of Vision Office, Ltd. was technically the first Filipino member although he's a Canadian citizen. You can visit their website at www.gawds.org and MCCID membership.