Re: WAI Easy Check Document Not Useful

Dear Tom,

Thanks very much for your comments about the Easy Checks document developed
by the WAI Education and Outreach Working Group. Several of us have
reviewed your comments and greatly appreciate your perspective. I am
writing to request clarification of a few points and to be sure we are
referencing the most current draft (not some of the earlier working
documents). I am looking now at the version here:
http://www.w3.org/WAI/eval/preliminary.We have a few questions for you. For
example, you said:

   - The document is intended to help assess the accessibility of a web
   page. However it uses concepts which a non-expert will not be familiar
   with.

We made a concerted effort to use plain language and to explain any
concepts that might be unfamiliar to non-technical readers. In addition to
the explanations throughout the document, there is the Background section
at <http://www.w3.org/WAI/eval/preliminary#background>. Could you expand a
bit on this observation to let us know which concepts are unfamiliar and/or
were not adequately explained for non-expert readers?

and...


   - I suggest encouraging the use of automated checkers, which give the
   user a quick automated check...

Generally we find that the results of automated checkers are too
overwhelming and complex for non-experts. We would be interested in other
experiences where the results of specific automated checkers were useful
for non-experts — outside of a training or consulting environment, as this
document is intended to be stand-alone.


   - ...explain how to do additional manual checks ...

I am confused by this suggestion since the document is, in fact, a series
of explanations of how to do additional manual checks. Is that purpose
unclear in the organization of the document and what specific changes might
you suggest we implement to improve the usefulness of the document?


   - and provide links to detailed information.

Each subject closes with an expandable/collapsible section called "Learn
More About..." with links to more information. Are you suggesting that more
links are needed or that the purpose is not clear, or what is your
suggestion for providing more useful resources?

I hope I have addressed your comments and once again, greatly appreciate
your interest and dedication to web accessibility. Thank you for writing
and please stay in touch with further suggestions. We encourage your
continued feedback.

Sincerely,

Sharron

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Sharron Rush, Invited Expert on behalf of Education and Outreach Working
Group (EOWG) WAI/W3C