Re: Capabilities vs Outcomes

Thanks for the draft para, Lionel. It reads well to me. I'll look for a
spot to insert it later this weekend. I'll also look to see whether we
can drop another of our WCAG notes onto it, i.e. followup on the Google
search I mentioned.

Lionel Wolberger writes:
> +1 to having a paragraph, in the intro section, explicitly connecting the concept of CAPABILITY to OUTCOME.
> 
> STRAWMAN:
> 
> Our focus is user-centered and outcome-driven. We refer to each potential remediation as a capability in order to  highlight the technical intervention, but we keep in mind that such post-source remediations are done to serve the user???s success???which is the true outcome. Wherever a capability is described, it should be understood as a means of delivering a concrete, successful accessibility outcome, especially in cases where the source experience would otherwise fail.
> 
> 
> From: Jason Taylor <jason@usablenet.com>
> Date: Thursday, 3 July 2025 at 17:38
> To: Janina Sajka <janina@rednote.net>
> Cc: Michael Paciello <michael.paciello@audioeye.com>, Lionel Wolberger <lionel.wolberger@levelaccess.com>, Accessibility at the Edge <public-a11yedge@w3.org>
> Subject: Re: Capabilities vs Outcomes
> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
> 
> I would suggest that the introduction of the document describes that sections 2,3 and 4 document the outcomes that can be achieved. The title of each sub section is already worded as an outcome.
> 
> 
> 
> J
> 
> 
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> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> 
> On Jul 3, 2025, at 4:07???PM, Janina Sajka <janina@rednote.net> wrote:
> ???Something in the Introduction, if we really believe it's important to
> emphasize "outcomes" more than we already do, is OK by me.
> 
> Please be aware that "outcomes" is a key term in WCAG 3.0 development.
> Just do this search on Google:
> 
> +outcomes +wcag site:w3.org
> 
> And you'll see what I mean. Aligninf ourselves with those google search
> results is, I would argue, our goal in publishing this document and
> taking the next steps that result.
> 
> Changing our text to use that term prematurely may just be borrowing
> trouble.
> 
> Mike Paciello writes:
> 
> I am leaning towards Janina's reasoning. However, perhaps the adjustment
> can be introduced in the introduction/preface of the document. Drive home
> both the meaning and objective.
> 
> -Mike
> 
> Mike Paciello
> Chief Accessibility Officer
> michael.paciello@audioeye.com
> +1.603.484.1938
> 
> [image: AudioEye Registered Trademark Logo]
> [image: Follow us on LinkedIn for more accessibility tips!]
> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/audioeye-inc/>
> 
> 
> On Thu, Jul 3, 2025 at 8:56???AM Janina Sajka <janina@rednote.net> wrote:
> 
> Hi Lionel, All:
> 
> My quick, off the top of my head, initial response is "No" because:
> 
> *       It is very late in the process and every occurance would need to
> *       be hand reviewed for skewed meaning. Think another multiweek
> *       delay when I'm getting ready to be on vacation for two weeks
> *       late July.
> 
> *       WCAG uses the same term but with arguably a different meaning.
> *       Even if we align that we're using "outcome" with the same
> *       meaning as WCAG, we'd forever be explaining ourselves about
> *       that.
> 
> *       The syntactical/grammatical meaning shifts with this edit in
> *       ways that give me pause. I can't take the time to explain this
> *       just now as I have a call, but it's significant and should be
> *       very carefully considered. This is actually my biggest reason
> *       for no. Short version is meaning shifts to a result we claim
> *       rather than a technology we supply.
> 
> Best,
> Janina
> 
> Lionel Wolberger writes:
> Hi Community Group,
> 
> During our last telecon, we discussed a potentially meaningful shift:
> replacing the term ?capabilities? with ?outcomes? throughout the document.
> 
> This adjustment would align us more closely with current accessibility
> frameworks?particularly WCAG?which emphasize user-centered design and
> real-world results. While ?capabilities? suggests potential, ?outcomes?
> speaks directly to what is achieved and experienced by users. This framing
> may better support our goals and the practical needs of the market.
> 
> That said, this would be a significant terminological change at a late
> stage in the publishing cycle.
> 
> I'd like a quick temperature check: are folks open to even considering
> making this shift?
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Lionel Wolberger, Ph.D.
> VP Business Operations
> Level Access
> https://levelaccess.com
> https://userway.org
> 
> --
> 
> Janina Sajka (she/her/hers)
> Accessibility Consultant https://linkedin.com/in/jsajka
> 
> The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
> Co-Chair, Accessible Platform Architectures     http://www.w3.org/wai/apa
> 
> Linux Foundation Fellow
> https://www.linuxfoundation.org/board-of-directors-2/
> 
> 
> 
> 
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> --
> 
> Janina Sajka (she/her/hers)
> Accessibility Consultant https://linkedin.com/in/jsajka
> 
> The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
> Co-Chair, Accessible Platform Architectures    http://www.w3.org/wai/apa
> 
> Linux Foundation Fellow
> https://www.linuxfoundation.org/board-of-directors-2/
> 

-- 

Janina Sajka (she/her/hers)
Accessibility Consultant https://linkedin.com/in/jsajka

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
Co-Chair, Accessible Platform Architectures	http://www.w3.org/wai/apa

Linux Foundation Fellow
https://www.linuxfoundation.org/board-of-directors-2/

Received on Thursday, 3 July 2025 15:27:13 UTC