- From: Charles McCathieNevile <charlesn@srl.rmit.EDU.AU>
- Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 17:38:42 +1100 (EST)
- To: WAI GL <w3c-wai-gl@w3.org>
This is in reference to the issue of providing a set of links around a navbar, but applies more generally. In the page authoring guidelines we have a number of guidelines which specify in abstract terms things which must, should or may be done to improve accessibility of documents. We also have, gathered in a sepereate non-normative document, a number of suggested techniques to achieve these desirable outcomes. It seems to me that where there is a guideline it is incumbent on us to find at least one technique by which it can be satisfied. Usually there will be more than one, and often the best technique will take some time to implement. If we can provide a technique which works already, and is fesaible, then the guideline moves off the wish-list and into the 'here is a problem and sample solution' mode. This, as Chuck Oppermann says, is important. It may be that people will not use guidelines which they perceive as having marginal value. Amongst those guidelines some people will place anything which caters solely to users with specific disabilities - 'some blind users' IS a very small market share, and that argument will be used by people to abrogate their moral responsibility to those users. If we fail to make known techniques which can easily satisfy the needs of a particular group then we are ignoring our basic constituency. While the 'curb cut' effect is an important means of gaining wider acceptance for Universal Design, we must not ignore the fact that our brief is to produce guidelines which explain how to create web material which is accessible to people with disabilities. Whether those guidelines are followed is not up to us - in some cases it is up to people's own judgement, and in some cases it can be forced by law. Where it can be required by law, it is even more important that we identify potential solutions. The world's judiciary, erudite and intelligent as they may be, are by and large not experts in web design, and rely on documents such as the guidelines, as well as the opinions of experts, which we claim to be, to determine whether a particular problem can be solved, and how feasible that solution is. (end rant) Charles McCathieNevile
Received on Thursday, 12 November 1998 01:42:32 UTC