WCAG 1.0 - checkpoint 11.4, policy and parallel web sites

Hi to all the group.
I hope this message isn't off topic.

This regards the WCAG 1.0 Reccomandation [1] and expecially the
checkpoint 11.4:

11.4 If, after best efforts, you cannot create an accessible page,
provide a link to an alternative page that uses W3C technologies, is
accessible, has equivalent information (or functionality), and is
updated as often as the inaccessible (original) page. [Priority 1]

The document contains a note for "after best efforts" [2]:

---

"Note. Content developers should only resort to alternative pages when
other solutions fail because alternative pages are generally updated
less often than "primary" pages. An out-of-date page may be as
frustrating as one that is inaccessible since, in both cases, the
information presented on the original page is unavailable. Automatically
generating alternative pages may lead to more frequent updates, but
content developers must still be careful to ensure that generated pages
always make sense, and that users are able to navigate a site by
following links on primary pages, alternative pages, or both. Before
resorting to an alternative page, reconsider the design of the original
page; making it accessible is likely to improve it for all users."

---

Right. As all we know, WCAG checklist is applied to every single page.
This checkpoint is also always referred to policy that refer to WCAG,
like here in Italy where the governament is developing the guidelines
based to WCAG checkpoints.
Discussing in web accessibility mailing lists, also with the
partecipation of some lawyers, as explained the checkpoint *could*
authorize - after best efforts - to create parallel web sites that is a
group of "alternative page for every page".

This is one of the problems for the real application inside policy for
some checkpoints, like the "until user agents..." issue that I've also
posted some months ago, on 22th dec. 2003 [3] - after the italian law
approval.

Some months ago in an agenda there was the idea to issue WCAG 1.0 Second
Edition with the creation of a group inside the working group to follow
this. I think that to this clarification (and for "until user
agents...") must be given the first priority for let the countries that
are developing national policy to have a clear application for these
checkpoints.

I wouldn't personally that also european countries and other worldwide
countries will do the same error of USA government with Section 508 at §
1194.22 (k) [4], where are authorized also the text-only version of web
sites... Accessibility must be for all, not only for a few.


Roberto Scano (rscano@iwa-italy.org)
IWA/HWG International Project Manager and EMEA Coordinator
International Webmasters Association / HTML Writers Guild
W3C Advisory Commitee Representative for IWA/HWG
W3C WCAG Working Group Member - W3C ATAG Working Group Member
http://www.iwanet.org - http://www.hwg.org
E-Mail: emea@iwanet.org - w3c-rep@iwanet.org
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[1] http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/WAI-WEBCONTENT-19990505
[2] http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10/wai-pageauth.html#alt-page-note
[3] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-gl/2003OctDec/0616.html
[4] http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.22.htm#(k)

Received on Monday, 30 August 2004 08:07:24 UTC