Re: Accessibility in HTML 5?

I am not a part of the WHAT WG, and I don't want to be quoting things
out of context, but I wish to reply so I am replying here as the
comments involve accessibility in HTML 5.

>  # [01:16] <Hixie> i don't understand why AT software hasn't improved much over the years

It has.

> # # [01:16] <Hixie> i'm also confused as to why most accessibility advocates seem to defend accessibility software

Why? It's what people with disabilities use. As far as defending it
goes, most of 'our' stance is informed by the reality of using
technology and the web for people with disabilities. It is not some kind
of Pavlovian response, it just trying to deal with the reality of the
situation.

> # # [01:16] <heycam> it seems unfortunate to be speccing various accessibility related stuff that may not get implemented for many years in ATs (or at all)

That is a possibility. Hence the importance of backwards compatibility.

> # # [01:17] <Hixie> yeah, well, that's one reason i want to drop the more useless stuff, so that AT vendors don't waste their time on that and instead focus on the big bang for the buck features
> # # [01:17] <heycam> do the AT vendors participate in the WAI groups?
> # # [01:18] <tantek> Hixie, the defending may be coming from thinking something is better than nothing.
> 
> # # [01:19] <Hixie> you'd think they'd be campaigning for quality
> # # [01:19] <Hixie> rather than being thankful for dirt
> # # [01:19] <Hixie> as it were
> # # [01:19] <Hixie> but maybe you're right

Can we stop this /they/ bit? It's tiring.

As far as being thankful for dirt goes, that is not my position. I am
interested in quality, in particular improving the quality of the user
experience for people with disabilities. That is my position.

Josh

Received on Wednesday, 11 March 2009 10:17:08 UTC