Proposal on authoring tools

Apparently there is a W3C team that is proposing input to a revised 
Section 508 guideline set.  They are proposing authoring tools 
accessibility guidelines to include (see below).  I would expect the AUWG 
would be doing this work, but I don't think we are involved. Jan any 
comments?   I am very concerned that the 508 criteria consists of only the 
few rules listed below.  I am also concerned as to the role of ATAG if 
Section 508 address ATAG issues itself. 




From: Judy Brewer
Date: Wed, Jun 27 2007 08:05:00 AM 
Subject: Proposal (updated 27 June) on authoring tools 
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This proposal incorporates additional suggestions and combines some 
provisions.

(Specific notes: #1 combines 1 & previous 3 using Allen's language 
following list discussion; #2 already received provisional approval; #3 
combines previous 4 & a version of 5 that allowed meeting evaluation goals 

by interoperability; #4 updates previous 6 with suggestions received; 
"giving prominence to" is dropped in this set; "Web" is dropped in this 
version of the definition of authoring tools as there has been no negative 

feedback on that question.)

#1. For each accessible content format supported, authoring tools must 
allow the author to produce content, including content derived from 
programmatic sources, that meets applicable electronic content 
accessibility standards.

#2. Authoring tools must preserve accessibility information necessary for 
meeting the electronic content provisions, unless the user explicitly 
indicates otherwise.

#3. For authoring tools with a user interface, authoring tools must 
provide 
a mode which prompts authors to create accessible content; and either a 
mode which assists authors in checking for accessibility problems, or 
interoperability with evaluation tools that provide that function.

#4. Authoring tools which provide pre-authored content, or templates to 
facilitate production of content, must provide at least one version that 
meets applicable electronic content accessibility standards.

[DEFINITION] "Authoring Tool" means "...any software, or collection of 
software components, that authors use to create or modify content for 
publication."

Regards,

- Judy

Barry A. Feigenbaum, Ph. D.
Tool Architect
Human Ability and Accessibility Center - IBM Research
www.ibm.com/able, w3.ibm.com/able 
voice 512-838-4763/tl678-4763
fax 512-838-9367/0330
cell 512-799-9182
feigenba@us.ibm.com
Mailstop 904/5F-021
11400 Burnet Rd., Austin TX 78758

Accessibility ARB Representative on SWG ARB
W3C AUWG Representative
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