RE: Accessibility Test Suite

Chris,

I have a problem with some of the wording in the Introduction section.
The following text has been taken from the first paragraph; "This test
suite represents the best thinking of the Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines Working Group and as such is the only method for testing
conformance to WCAG 2.0.

The contents of this document is *not* the *only* method for testing
conformance to WCAG 2.0.  As a conformance specialist and 10 years
experience in test management of Web sites and technologies, I strongly
disagree with your statement. Therefore, I would like to propose the
following text: "This test suite represents the best thinking of the Web
Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group and as such is the
*recommended approach* for testing conformance to WCAG 2.0. 

It's not important to give reasons why I hold this opinion, as you can't
profess to know the 'only' method to validate anything.  I'm sure this
was an oversight, but thought I'd bring it to your attention. If only I
had time to read the rest of the document! :) 

My team is busy building lots of good stuff that you will soon hear
about (possibly use), so resource is tight - although Sorcha and/or
David will gladly help with document reviews.

Thanks,
Paul



      -----Original Message-----
      From: public-wai-ert-request@w3.org
[mailto:public-wai-ert-request@w3.org] On
      Behalf Of Chris Ridpath
      Sent: 06 December 2005 20:01
      To: WAI ER IG List
      Subject: Accessibility Test Suite
      
      
      On tomorrow's telecon [1] I'd like to give an overview of the
accessibility
      test suite that we've been working on.
      
      The test suite can currently be found at:
      http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/WCAG20/tests/
      
      The test suite can be used to test HTML content for conformance to
      accessibility guidelines like the WCAG. It's not WCAG specific
though and
      can be used on other accessibility guidelines like 508 as well.
      
      One of the problems with current accessibility guidelines is that
they are
      open to interpretation and we all interpret the guidelines
differently. One
      tool may claim that a page fails the guideline while another tool
claims
      that it passes. The test suite is designed to remove this
ambiguity and
      create a standard that can be used by all.
      
      I'll give an overview of how the test suite was developed and how
it may be
      used by other tool creators in the group.
      
      Cheers,
      Chris
      
      [1]
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-wai-ert/2005Dec/0008.html

Received on Friday, 9 December 2005 01:37:38 UTC