Re: Language use in web sites to increase accessibility

There's been quite a bit of activity organized around the concept of "plain
language".   Regarding studies specifically regarding people with
disabilities, I would check with some of the major university sites (Trace
Center, University of Toronto, Temple).    I also included a link to the
Cognitive Disabilities links page I had put together a while ago -- please
let me know if you run across broken links.

Plain Language
http://plainlanguagenetwork.org/
http://www.plainlanguage.gov/

Trace Center
http://www.trace.wisc.edu

University of Toronto -- Research and Development
http://www.utoronto.ca/atrc/rd.html

PENNSYLVANIA'S INITIATIVE on ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY (PIAT)
http://www.temple.edu/inst_disabilities/piat/

Links on Cognitive Disabilities
http://w3.gsa.gov/web/m/OLD_cita.nsf/Lists/Cognitive

_____

Karl Hebenstreit, Jr.
US General Services Administration
Office of Governmentwide Policy
Office of FirstGov
1776 G Steet NW, Suite 105
Washington, DC  20006
E-mail:  Karl.Hebenstreit@gsa.gov
Direct::  202-275-0540
Office:  202-275-0560
Fax:  202-275-0566
Websites: http://www.firstgov.gov
          http://w3.gsa.gov/web/m/old_cita.nsf/CheckYourPage





"Charles McCathieNevile" <charles@w3.org>@w3.org on 05/17/2001 09:18:35 AM

Sent by:  w3c-wai-ig-request@w3.org


To:   "Jo Donkin" <j.m.donkin@durham.ac.uk>
cc:   "Wai-Ig List" <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org> (bcc: Karl F. Hebenstreit
      Jr./MB/CO/GSA/GOV)

Subject:  Re: Language use in web sites to increase accessibility


Well, I don't think it is taken as read, but it is understood to be
important
on the Web just as it is elsewhere.

There is a checkpoint in the Web Content Accessiblity Guidelines:
Use the clearest and simplest language appropriate for a site's content.
http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/wai-pageauth.html#tech-simple-and-straightforward


And there is ongoing discussion of this in the Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines group, as well as some discussion in the tools groups of methods
that can be used to check this.

cheers

Charles McCN

On Thu, 17 May 2001, Jo Donkin wrote:

  Hi

  Are there any sites or books or papers which contain any information
about
  the effects on accessibility by making language on web sites simpler.
For
  example, less jargon and slang can improve things for those without Eng
as a
  first language, and also those with limited education, the deaf, blind
and
  so on.  Is this concept simply taken as read, or are there any studies on
  it?

  Any help appreciated.

  Thanks

  Jo


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

  ----

  Jo Donkin
  Department of Computer Science
  Durham University, Durham
  DH1 3LE
  0191 374 2075
  j.m.donkin@dur.ac.uk
  www.dur.ac.uk/j.m.donkin/


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

  ----




--
Charles McCathieNevile    http://www.w3.org/People/Charles  phone: +61 409
134 136
W3C Web Accessibility Initiative     http://www.w3.org/WAI    fax: +1 617
258 5999
Location: 21 Mitchell street FOOTSCRAY Vic 3011, Australia
(or W3C INRIA, Route des Lucioles, BP 93, 06902 Sophia Antipolis Cedex,
France)

Received on Thursday, 17 May 2001 12:06:23 UTC