- From: Jason White <jasonw@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au>
- Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1999 19:31:08 +1000 (AEST)
- To: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines <w3c-wai-gl@w3.org>
On Sun, 1 Aug 1999, jonathan chetwynd wrote: > 6. Checkpoints relevant to cognitive disabilities should be reviewed and, > where possible, improved, on the basis of well founded research in this > field. > > I am not sure what you intend, however could you please advise me what 'well > founded research' you are referring to? I am referring to the kind of research in psychology, cognition, comprehension and education, the importance of which Chuck Hitchcock has been repeatedly emphasizing in these discussions. If improvements are to be made, as I believe they ought to be, then they must be based on well established research findings, ideally a consensus of opinion within the community of researchers and educators that is concerned with the needs of people with cognitive disabilities. In most of the other areas addressed by the guidelines, there has been widespread agreement among researchers and people with disabilities themselves as to what the problems and preferred solution strategies are. Cognitive issues, as they are related to questions of comprehension, are substantially more complex than the problems which arise in making documents accessible in a multiplicity of media, or user interfaces operable with a range of input devices. Since people with cognitive disabilities may be less well placed to represent their own needs and advocate their own preferred approaches within the context of guideline development, than are other relevant parties, the opinions of specialists are likely to assume greater significance in this area. As a consequence, it is especially important to ensure that whatever solutions are included in the guidelines, have broad support among those who have expertise in cognition, psychology, the education of individuals with cognitive disabilities, etc. As my knowledge of these issues is somewhat limited, as this aspect of the discussion moves forward I will be persuaded not only by the most compelling arguments but also by those which are best supported within the research community.
Received on Sunday, 1 August 1999 05:31:17 UTC