RE: PROPOSAL: Assistive Technology Checkpoints in the Guidelines

Ian,

I agree that we can't keep someone from doing things wrong.  But a broad
guideline that says that the user interface should be accessible via
standard AT devices would at least allow us to say that a developer *has*
done it wrong.  If we ignore the user interface, or say that that is not our
mandate, then it is possible to have a completely compliant browser that is
also completely inaccessible to one or more groups with disabilities,
because they have no access to the control structure of the browser.

I don't suggest that we get into the minutia of the user interface.  I do
suggest that we require standard system calls and AT interfaces where they
exist.

Denis Anson, MS, OTR
Assistant Professor
Computer Access Specialist
College Misericordia
301 Lake Street
Dallas, PA 18612

RESNA
The International Organization of Assistive Technology Professionals

Member since 1989



-----Original Message-----
From: ian@panix.com [mailto:ian@panix.com]On Behalf Of Ian Jacobs
Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 1999 9:54 AM
To: Denis Anson
Cc: Jon Gunderson; w3c-wai-ua@w3.org
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL: Assistive Technology Checkpoints in the
Guidelines

...
It's always possible to do something wrong. We should try
our best to promote what's right and indicate what's
the wrong way to do something, but we cannot prevent someone
somewhere from doing the wrong thing.

 - Ian

--
Ian Jacobs (jacobs@w3.org)
Tel/Fax: (212) 684-1814
http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs

Received on Tuesday, 9 February 1999 10:17:52 UTC