For Review: WCAG 3 Working Draft - example guidelines and conformance

Dear WAI Interest Group,

/Important:/ WCAG 3 is an incomplete draft that will change substantially. Do not reference it as other than an in-progress draft that will change.
For background, timeline, and up-to-date information, please see:
WCAG 3 Introduction <https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/wcag3-intro/> (short URI w3.org/WAI/wcag3 <https://www.w3.org/WAI/wcag3> )

Today W3C published updated drafts:

  * Explainer for W3C Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 3.0 Draft <https://www.w3.org/TR/wcag-3.0-explainer/>
  * W3C Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 3.0 Working Draft <https://www.w3.org/TR/wcag-3.0/>

*Summary of changes*

  * Explanatory content is moved to the Explainer. *We suggest reading the Explainer <https://www.w3.org/TR/wcag-3.0-explainer/> first.*
  * The term 'outcome' is changed. The current draft has 'guidelines' that are written as user-centered outcomes and 'requirements' that support each guideline.
  * Requirements are indicated as 'foundational' or 'supplemental', as described in the Explainer <https://www.w3.org/TR/wcag-3.0-explainer/>.
  * Accessibility support is added in 3.1.1 Only accessibility-supported ways of using technologies <https://www.w3.org/TR/2024/WD-wcag-3.0-20241212/#accessibility-supported>.

*For review*

In this draft, there are four updated sections that we would particularly like feedback on. The first three sections are guidelines:

  * Image alternatives guideline <https://www.w3.org/TR/2024/WD-wcag-3.0-20241212/#image-alternatives>
  * Keyboard focus appearance guideline <https://www.w3.org/TR/2024/WD-wcag-3.0-20241212/#keyboard-focus-appearance>
  * Clear meaning guideline <https://www.w3.org/TR/2024/WD-wcag-3.0-20241212/#clear-meaning>

Does the information under 'Which foundational requirements apply?' make the guidelines easier to understand and use?

The other section we would like feedback on is:

  * Conformance <https://www.w3.org/TR/2024/WD-wcag-3.0-20241212/#conformance>

This section explains the conformance approach we are considering for WCAG 3. There are still many details to be worked out. Do you have constructive comments about this proposed conformance approach for WCAG 3?

*Research needed*

Some of the guidelines and requirements are marked with "Needs additional research". We are particularly interested in assistance identifying or conducting research to support or refute them.

*Comments*

To provide input, please open an issue in the WCAG 3 GitHub repository <https://github.com/w3c/wcag3/issues/new>.
Or, if you are unable to use GitHub, email public-agwg-comments@w3.org

*Please create separate GitHub issues or email messages for each topic*, rather than putting multiple topics in a single issue or email.

Thank you in advance for your contributions to WCAG 3.

*Contact*
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Accessibility Guidelines Working Group Chairs via email to: group-ag-chairs@w3.org

Regards,
Shawn Lawton Henry, as Accessibility Communications Lead, for:
Rachael Bradley Montgomery, Alastair Campbell, Chuck Adams – AG WG Co-Chairs
Kevin White – W3C Staff Contact for AG WG


-- 
Shawn Lawton Henry
W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Program Lead
W3C Accessibility Education and Communications Lead
www.w3.org/People/Shawn