Re: WCAG 2: Checkpoint 2.1.1 and 2.1.3

On Sat, May 17, 2008 at 8:29 PM, Sailesh Panchang <spanchang02@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> There is no difference between 2.1.1 and 2.1.3 if a
> Web page does not contain content that uses analogue
> input (i.e. the underlying function requires input
> that depends on the path of the user's movement and
> not just the endpoints).
> Question:
> a. If all functionality on such a Web page is
> keyboard-accessible, does it automatically meet AAA SC
> 2.1.3?
> b. Conversely,  can one argue that making such a Web
> page keyboard-accessible is only a "AAA"
> requirement and disregard it as a "A" level
> requirement?
>
> If the answer to (a) is "Yes" and (b) above is "No", I
> feel that The reason for repeating the requirement at
> 2.1.3 is unclear or even futile.
>  In that event I reiterate that 2.1.3 be dropped and
> 2.1.1 be re-stated as:
> SC2.1.1: All  functionality  of the content is
> operable through a  keyboard interface  without
> requiring specific timings for individual keystrokes.
> This does not apply to content that uses analogue
> input (i.e.  the underlying function requires input
> that depends on the path of the user's movement and
> not just the endpoints).
> (I recall I had made this suggestion to TIETAC too).
>
>
> Sailesh Panchang
> Email spanchang02@yahoo.com
> Tel 571-344-1765
>
>
---------------------------------------------
Response from Working Group:
---------------------------------------------
The answer to (a) is "yes". If a Web page does not contain content
that uses analogue input, then if it meets 2.1.1, it will also meet
2.1.3.

The answer to (b) is "no". The Level A success criterion must be
satisfied to conform at Level A. That it also satisfies a Level AAA
success criterion is immaterial for Level A conformance.

Note, of course, that your questions were limited to Web pages that do
not contain analogue input. For pages which do contain analogue input,
satisfying 2.1.1 does not also satisfy 2.1.3.

Your proposed restatement of 2.1.1 is equivalent to the current
success criterion 2.1.1. If 2.1.3 were dropped, then Web pages that
contain analogue input would conform at Level AAA. The purpose of
2.1.3 is to ensure that all content is keyboard operable.

At level A, it is permissible to have content that requires
time-dependant analog input without providing a keyboard accessible
alternative. This is not permissible at Level AAA because of success
criterion 2.1.3.

Loretta Guarino Reid, WCAG WG Co-Chair
Gregg Vanderheiden, WCAG WG Co-Chair
Michael Cooper, WCAG WG Staff Contact

On behalf of the WCAG Working Group

Received on Tuesday, 17 June 2008 18:19:23 UTC