Re: accessibility supported questions

A few points to consider in this discussion.

- plug-ins are considered user agents by WCAG. In fact AT is also  
considered part of the user's user agent.

- plug-ins should be distributed in an accessible manner especially  
when they may be required to be added in the middle of a browsing  
session in order to complete it.

- WCAG should be thought of as a ruler.   It is a way to measure  
accessibility.   As pointed out, it is up to policy level decisions  
(not the ruler) to determine what measure should be required where.

- Note that "technologies" are not what is required to be  
accessibility supported.    (this was an early error on our working  
group's part in describing this)    It is  "uses of a  
technology" (i.e. techniques) that need to be accessibility  
supported.    Even HTML can be used in ways that are not accessibility  
supported.     The rule is   ---  the way you use the technologies on  
your page must be accessibility supported if you are depending on them  
to conform to WCAG.

- as to the level or extent that a "use of a technology" must be  
'accessibility supported' -  that also is matter of policy and not  
specified within WCAG (remember the ruler role).   We would hope that  
the use would be widely supported by AT that is in use by people with  
disabilities.


Gregg
-----------------------
Gregg Vanderheiden Ph.D.
Director Trace R&D Center
Professor Ind and Biomed Engr
University of Wisconsin-Madison



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