Hi, all. I've been thinking more about the gallery idea since our discussion on
Friday, and here are some thoughts.


When I think about what we are trying to deliver with a gallery, and the goals
we outlined at our meeting, two things jump out. One is that we want to have a
way to showcase organizations or individuals who are making significant efforts.
Second is that we want to include interest and implementation, and discuss
processes. Alan mentioned the idea that we might not focus on implementation,
but instead process and initiative. And Doyle mentioned creating a showcase,
which to me feels different from a gallery.


What if the WAI Gallery was place you visit to see what people are doing to make
their sites accessible, not where you go to view accessible Web sites? I don't
think anyone is really prepared to say their site is fully accessible (it is
impossible to predict all needs and design to accommodate them). But many
individuals and organizations are more than ready to say that they are working
to make their sites accessible. Why not do as Alan suggests, and focus on intent
and process instead of the finished work (to use our favorite baking analogy,
focus on the ingredients and the steps instead of the tasty result).


This approach has the benefit of allowing groups into the gallery that have
excellent accessibility initiatives and processes. Alan mentioned using a
questionnaire to collect information about process. We could showcase the
efforts, provide details about the implementation process, and link to the Web
site. And with this link, WAI is not then saying, here is an accessible Web
site. Instead, WAI is saying, here is an individual or organization that is
attempting to develop an accessible site, and here is how they are doing it.


Also, I thought of another thing we need to consider in our goals discussion. We
covered WAI goals and gallery nominee goals, but we need to think about user
goals: what do users visiting the gallery want? One thing I'm sure one audience
wants is accessible code, but we discussed that and I understand that that will
go with templates. What can we offer our disperate audiences in the WAI gallery
that will be useful and applicable to their work? I cannot think that links
loaded with disclaimers is of much use to the general user. That is useful to us
to have somewhere to point when someone asks for an example of an accessible
site, and it is useful for the individual or organization that is included.


Many evaluation tools promote the notion that there is a lovely moment that you
can say, Voila! An accessible Web site! But making a site accessible is an
ongoing and interative process that requires resources and personnel to monitor
and update and refine. The WAI Gallery could reinforce that message by shifting
our focus from a gallery of accessible sites to a gallery of accessibility
initiatives.


That's all for now! Thanks for listening!


Best,

Sarah