RE: For Discussion: "Essential Accessibility"

To Gregg, Bruce and Adam

Apologies for the delay in replying and our organisations' general quiet presence on the group, we're currently restructuring our internal W3C involvement are are hoping to be more involved in the future.

I just wanted to thank you for information on this: we were also sceptical about it and appreciate the information.

Scott.

Dr Scott Hollier
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Media Access Australia - Inclusion Through Technology

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From: w3c-wai-gl-request@w3.org [mailto:w3c-wai-gl-request@w3.org] On Behalf Of Adam Solomon
Sent: Friday, 3 June 2011 11:36 PM
To: GLWAI Guidelines WG org
Subject: FW: For Discussion: "Essential Accessibility"

I read this in their user manual http://www.essentialaccessibility.com//user-guide-en/<http://www.essentialaccessibility.com/user-guide-en/>:

"eSSENTIAL Accessibility(tm) allows any user to overcome any physical limitation to access a web site. However, the Web Page-Reading functions do not work with Flash and may not function on websites that are not designed in accordance with W3C/WAI guidelines."

Sounds like this is no replacement for conformance whatsoever.



From: w3c-wai-gl-request@w3.org [mailto:w3c-wai-gl-request@w3.org] On Behalf Of Bailey, Bruce
Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 6:14 PM
To: GLWAI Guidelines WG org
Cc: 508
Subject: RE: For Discussion: "Essential Accessibility"

Thanks for posting this Gregg.  This is different than the after-the-fact plain text filtering algorithms I am more immediately worried about.

I am confident that we can all agree that this sort of approach is not necessary for WCAG 2.0 conformance.  I am personally skeptical that this approach is sufficient for conformance, so I am glad you raise the issue for discussion!  I am not sure if there is an action item for the working group either.

Here is the link for the product in question:
http://www.essentialaccessibility.com/

Here is a product that I think is similar, and for which similar claims are made:
http://www.browsealoud.com/

--
Bruce Bailey
Accessibility IT Specialist
U.S. Access Board
1331 F Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC  20004-1111
202-272-0024 (voice)
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Thank you for your questions concerning section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998.  Section 508 authorizes the Access Board to provide technical assistance to individuals and Federal departments and agencies concerning the requirements of this section.  This technical assistance is intended solely as informal guidance and is not a determination of the legal rights or responsibilities of entities subject to section 508.


From: w3c-wai-gl-request@w3.org [mailto:w3c-wai-gl-request@w3.org] On Behalf Of Gregg Vanderheiden
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 6:22 PM
To: GLWAI Guidelines WG org
Subject: For Discussion: "Essential Accessibility"

It has been said that many organizations think that if they link to "Essential Accessibility" they have dealt with accessibility.
 It is Windows only.
It was covered by the New York Post and is promoted by the some in accessibility.
There is also a critique at: http://www.aoda.ca/?p=1098

I was asked to post this to the list to start up discussion

Gregg
--------------------------------------------------------
Gregg Vanderheiden Ph.D.
Co-Chair WCAG WG

Director Trace R&D Center
Professor Industrial & Systems Engineering
and Biomedical Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Co-Director, Raising the Floor - International
and the Global Public Inclusive Infrastructure Project
http://Raisingthefloor.org   ---   http://GPII.net
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