- From: Liam McGee <liam.mcgee@communis.co.uk>
- Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 11:21:50 +0000
- To: William Loughborough <love26@gorge.net>, EOWG <w3c-wai-eo@w3.org>
William Loughborough wrote: > When I get my FTP back, I'll be able to use the style sheet. > Love. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > From Section 902 Definition of the Term Disability > <http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/902cm.html>: > "In addition, age, by itself, is not an impairment." > > This document seeks to rescind that concept. > > > Ageing: the Inevitable Disability > > A near universal goal/purpose of human life is the pursuit of survival. > > As we age our physical/mental processes seem to wax until maturity, > thenceforward they begin a decay often characterized as "disability". > > Traditionally disabilities have been variously categorized; e.g., > sensory, mobility, mental, etc. Ageing was not a separate category from > various sensory/memory diminutions but merely the vehicle for their onset. > > One prominent differentiation among disabilities is along the > "visible/hidden" axis. Often we say "but she doesn't /look/ disabled". > Ageing is usually (absent surgical/cosmetic intervention) a visible > disability carrying levels of stigma/stereotyping that vary among cultures. > > The person experiencing ageing (practically everybody!) becomes the > recipient of positive ("I hope when I'm your age I'm as sharp as you") > and negative ("don't you think you should quit driving?") cliches as > well as offers of assistance ("let me get that for you"). > > Because of such factors, we experience the stigma of disability and its > attendant exclusions - even without apparent physical handicaps. > Hi William I think that there is a useful distinction to be made between user requirements - modes of use, if you like - and the reasons for those requirements. Accessibility as a technical discipline deals with the user needs for particular modes of use. The reasons that users may have those needs can be explained to include various requirements whether device-based (Arty uses a PDA), physical-sensory (Bob has limited visual acuity), physical/motor (Carol has shaky hands), or simply preferential (Dorian finds using a mouse too slow). Everyone is an individual and perhaps categories such as 'old' or 'vision impaired' are unhelpful in terms of user personas as it is an insufficient definition of a users needs, an improper shorthand that can lead to designers making very bad assumptions (a blind person can hear). Just thought I'd throw this into the debate :) Warm regards Liam www.communis.co.uk
Received on Thursday, 22 February 2007 11:22:17 UTC