Bug#1116 "2.1: no techniques doc = no ATAG conformance": Proposed Response

 > From HTML WG comments:
 > - Guideline 2.1
 >
 > This would indicate we (HTML working group) need to publish a WCAG 2.0
 > conformance techniques document for XHTML 2. This means any existing
 > content recommendation which does not have a WCAG conformance
 > techniques document does not comply with ATAG 2.0.

Action 1: Proposed response:

It is correct that a WCAG Techniques document is needed for any format 
(defined by a content recommendation) that an authoring tool is 
including in its conformance profile. This document codifies the 
evaluators understanding of the generally stated requirements of WCAG 
with respect to the particular format.

However, it is not the case that the WCAG Techniques document must be 
published by WCAG-GL or any other W3C working group. For the purposes of 
ATAG 2.0, the WCAG Techniques document that is referenced can be created 
by any person, company, etc., as long as it is published on-line. The 
intent is to ensure public scrutiny of the WCAG standard that any 
particular evaluator has set for themselves.

The WCAG-GL and W3C working groups may of course choose to publish 
techniques documents, but this is not necessary.

We do intend to clarify this concept by including a definition of "WCAG 
techniques document".

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Action 2: Rewording of 2.1 Success Criteria for clarity:

FROM:
- Any authoring tool that chooses the format of content for the author 
(i.e. a default format) must always choose formats for which there are 
published WCAG techniques documents for meeting each WCAG checkpoint.
- Any authoring tool that allows authors to choose the format of content 
must always support at least one format for which there is a published 
WCAG techniques documents for meeting each WCAG checkpoint and always 
give prominence to those formats.

TO (*'s are links to new term below):
- Any authoring tool that chooses the format of content for the author 
(i.e. a default format) must always choose formats for which there are 
*WCAG techniques documents* published on-line.
- Any authoring tool that allows authors to choose the format of content 
must always support at least one format for which there is a *WCAG 
techniques document* published on-line and always give prominence to 
those formats.

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Action 3: Proposed new definition in the normative glossary:

"WCAG techniques document":
A document that defines the precise meaning of each *WCAG* checkpoint 
for a particular format. The document must:
- specify the format
- specify the maximum WCAG conformance level for this set of techniques 
(single-"A", double-"A", or triple-"A").
- for each success criteria in *WCAG* (that is required by the maximum 
WCAG conformance level), provide at least one technique for meeting it 
or an explanation of why that success criteria is not applicable to the 
format in question.

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Cheers,
Jan



-- 
Jan Richards, M.Sc.
User Interface Design Specialist
Adaptive Technology Resource Centre (ATRC), University of Toronto

   Email: jan.richards@utoronto.ca
   Web:   http://jan.atrc.utoronto.ca
   Phone: 416-946-7060
   Fax:   416-971-2896

Received on Monday, 28 March 2005 17:39:04 UTC