W3C

Relationship Between
Mobile Web Best Practices (MWBP) and
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

Overview

Shawn's suggestions for revisions to the
Editor's Draft 24 September 2008

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Abstract

This technical report describes the similarities and differences between the requirements in Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Mobile Web Best Practices 1.0 (MWBP). See introductory information in Web Content Accessibility and Mobile Web: Making a Web Site Accessible Both for People with Disabilities and for Mobile Devices.

Status of This Document

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Changes since the last version of this document are described in the changelog of updates and modifications, available separately. Comments on this new version are welcome.

[[[[Alan: Note that before publication, this section should include a list of specifically what we want reviewers to focus on; and probably also more clearly the status, e.g., if we think it's done and are just waiting for finalization of WCAG 2.0 to confirm nothing changes...]]]

Table of Contents

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Introduction

This technical report helps Web developers meet both Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Mobile Web Best Practices 1.0 (MWBP). It describes the similarities and differences between requirements in WCAG and MWPB. It is primarily designed to help Web developers who have worked with either WCAG or MWBP to learn about the additional requirements in the other.

This document is a companion to WCAG and MWBP; it does not replace either of them. In order to comply with WCAG, you will need to read to WCAG 1.0 or WCAG 2.0. Similarly, see the MWBP document itself to ensure compliance.

WCAG 2.0 was approved in [[ future date ]] and W3C encourages organizations to focus on WCAG 2.0 instead of only WCAG 1.0.

The Relationship Between WCAG and MWBP

The relationship between WCAG and MWBP is too complex for a simple mapping table to adequately communicate what developers need to do to meet both. For example, in some cases complying a specific WCAG provision will meet the related MWBP; however, the inverse is not true and complying with the MWBP provision will not necessarily meet the related WCAG provision.

Therefore, this document provides more details on the relationship between WCAG and MWBP. A table that shows some of the general relationship is available in a separate document.

Priorities and Levels

WCAG 1.0 checkpoints are Priority 1, 2, or 3. WCAG 2.0 success criteria are Level A, AA, or AAA.The Mobile Web Best Practices (BP) are not assigned priorities or levels.

How to Use This Document

Please see the following introductory and related information:

This document includes four subpages that each address a different scenario. Most people will use only one of the subpages described below:

If you are not familiar with either WCAG or MWBP, a strategy is to:

  1. Use the table of barriers common to mobile device users and people with disabilities for an overview of the barriers and solutions common to WCAG 2.0 and MWBP.
  2. Become familiar with WCAG 2.0.
  3. Use the WCAG 2.0 to MWBP subpage of this document to learn about the additional requirements in MWBP.
  4. Become familiar with MWBP.

Appendix A: References

For the latest version of any W3C specification, see the list of W3C Technical Reports.

[[[ Alan: I think should add "eds." for "editors" at the end of names below. Also, add editors for the first two. ]]]

[WAI/Experiences]
Experiences Shared by People with Disabilities and by People Using Mobile Devices
[WAI/Mobile]
Web Content Accessibility and Mobile Web: Making a Web Site Accessible Both for People with Disabilities and for Mobile Devices
[MWBP1.0]
Mobile Web Best Practices 1.0, Rabin, J. and McCathieNevile, C., November 2006 (see http://www.w3.org/TR/mobile-bp/)
[WCAG1.0]
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0, W. Chisholm, G. Vanderheiden and I. Jacobs, May 1999 (see http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/WAI-WEBCONTENT-19990505/)
[WCAG2.0]
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, B. Caldwell, M. Cooper, L. Guarino Reid and G. Vanderheiden (see http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20)

Appendix B: Acknowledgements

This document was developed by the WAI Education & Outreach Working Group and the Mobile Web Best Practices Working Group. Charles McCathieNevile (Opera Software) particularly contributed to this document.