- From: Ian Hickson <ian@hixie.ch>
- Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:39:08 +0000 (UTC)
- To: Laura Carlson <laura.lee.carlson@gmail.com>
- Cc: Sam Ruby <rubys@intertwingly.net>, Chris Wilson <Chris.Wilson@microsoft.com>, HTML WG <public-html@w3.org>, W3C WAI-XTECH <wai-xtech@w3.org>, wai-liaison@w3.org, Janina Sajka <janina@rednote.net>, "Michael(tm) Smith" <mike@w3.org>, Dan Connolly <connolly@w3.org>, Michael Cooper <cooper@w3.org>, Gez Lemon <gez.lemon@gmail.com>, Robert J Burns <rob@robburns.com>
On Sun, 19 Jul 2009, Laura Carlson wrote: > > To that end, we propose that the HTML working group adopt the following > statement as an official procedure and publish it in HTML working group > Web space. > > Procedure to Promote Progress With Accessibility Issues in HTML5 > > Procedure Overview: > > The HTML WG will look to the W3C WAI groups for guidance, listen to > their advice, and collaborate with them to reach mutually agreeable > accessibility solutions. Furthermore, collaboration will be promoted in > a pro-active manner, i.e., whenever possible, design features known or > foreseen to have an impact on accessibility will be explored and > discussed with the Protocols and Formats Working Group (PFWG) [2] prior > to decisions in order to ensure mutually beneficial resolution of > issues. Laura, in the interests of the collaboration you espouse, could you reply to the e-mail I wrote to you last month? http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2009Jun/0669.html > Collaboration Framework: > > 1. Approach issues on the basis of the shared goal of making HTML 5 > the best solution for everyone, including people with disabilities. This should mean working for accessibility as a whole, not working for specific features. For example, in the context of tables, it should mean focusing on making tables accessible, not focusing on the summary="" attribute to the exclusion of discussion of other solutions. (I have been informed that in fact the WAI groups are more interested in voting on whether summary="" is in or out than on voting on what accessibility solutions should be used to make tables accessible, for instance.) Can we get a commitment from members of the WAI to approach issues on the basis of the shared goal of making HTML 5 the best solution for everyone, including people with disabilities and people without disabilities? > 2. Work from concrete issues as to what in HTML 5 needs to be improved > by asking PFWG to clearly identify accessibility functional requirements > and provide rationale. I most recently tried to approach the WAI on the topic of <canvas>: http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/wai-xtech/2009Jun/0093.html I've yet to receive any concrete functional requirements suggestions for changes to the specification on this topic from the WAI (although I have received several suggestions from members of the HTMLWG who are not members of the WAI). I am still hopeful that the WAI will clearly identify accessibility functional requirements and provide rationale. Is there any chance the WAI could provide an ETA for such advice on this topic? > 3. Listen to their input, ask for clarification, and work together to > devise solutions to satisfy accessibility requirements. I have asked for clarifications, for example in June, regarding tables: http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2009Jun/0173.html I received an official reply to the effect that my questions were not welcome because they were not from a group: http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2009Jul/0260.html ...and my reply to that, asking about which groups would qualify to get a reply, received no replies at all: http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2009Jul/0262.html > 4. Ask PFWG if proposed solutions meet accessibility requirements. > * If they say no, ask what functionality is still needed and > continue the collaboration. As noted above, I did this with <canvas>, and received no concrete replies. (I received many thanks, but no technical replies.) I look forward to further collaborations with the WAI, and hope that concrete advice such as the advice you suggest that we ask for will be forthcoming. Cheers, -- Ian Hickson U+1047E )\._.,--....,'``. fL http://ln.hixie.ch/ U+263A /, _.. \ _\ ;`._ ,. Things that are impossible just take longer. `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.'
Received on Sunday, 19 July 2009 11:41:52 UTC