Re: Online Overview: What is Web Accessibility [slide]

Hello Judy,
I think the description we came up with is  apt. 
When one says "Web accessibility means effective use of all aspects of the Web by everyone, regardless of disability.". ... does it mean that the website is inaccessible just because  I have no effectieve use for a particular site although it is "accessible"?
Ability to perceive,  navigate etc is what "access" is and being able to do those does not make it "effective use" 
"

The term "access to" ... it conveys ability to "get to" the content and I think is ok in the circumstances.

Sailesh Panchang
Senior Accessibility Engineer
Deque Systems Inc
11752, Valley Ridge Circle, Fairfax, VA 22033
Tel: 703-218-8018
Fax: 703-218-5047
E-mail: sailesh.panchang@deque.com
* Look up <http://www.deque.com> *
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Judy Brewer 
  To: EOWG 
  Sent: Friday, April 25, 2003 8:44 AM
  Subject: Online Overview: What is Web Accessibility [slide]



  EOWG:

  This is what we came up with in EOWG after considerable discussion several 
  weeks ago:

  ---------------

  What is Web Accessibility?

  Web accessibility means access to the Web by everyone, regardless of 
  disability.

  Web accessibility includes:
  - Web sites and applications
           -- that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, 
  navigate, and interact with;
  - Web browsers and media players
           -- that can be used effectively by people with disabilities, and
           -- that work well with assistive technologies that some people 
  with disabilities use to access the Web;
  - Web authoring tools, and evolving Web technologies
           -- that support production of accessible Web content and Web 
  sites, and
           -- that are usable by people with disabilities.

  --------------

  I took this to the WAI Coordination Group (Chairs of all WAI Working 
  Groups) given their interest in the topic. There was some concern about 
  whether the term "access to" was adequate, and Jan Richards suggested 
  "effective use," which the other WAI CG members thought would be effective. 
  Here is a slightly modified version of something he suggested, for your 
  further consideration:

  --------------

  What is Web Accessibility?

  Web accessibility means effective use of all aspects of the Web by
  everyone, regardless of disability.

  Effective use means the ability to perceive, understand, navigate,
  author and interact, by oneself or with appropriate assistive technology.

  Aspects of the Web include Web sites and applications, Web browsers
  and media players, Web authoring tools, and evolving Web technologies.

  --------------

  I'm wondering whether we can't just build the term "effective use" into our 
  original slide?

  Regards,

  - Judy


  -- 
  Judy Brewer    +1.617.258.9741    http://www.w3.org/WAI
  Director, Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
  MIT/LCS Room NE43-355, 200 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA,  02139,  USA