Rapid Response Team

Hi WG members,

We are getting a number of emails in on the public comment list asking  
for clarification on this or that thing regarding WCAG.

These seem to fall into three general categories:

1) people wanting advice on how to design something on their web site  
(or wanting pages evaluated).
2) people wondering if some piece of their site conforms.  (Does this  
pass SC xxxx?)
3) people asking a question about a concept and if it satisfies a  
technique or SC
4) people asking questions about wording in one of the documents.

For #1 and #2 we are generally asking them to talk to professionals in  
the field.

But
  -  for questions that uncover places where we need to be clearer in  
the wording in our documents - or add wording

  - And for new techniques or approaches that may meet our SC but we  
do not have documented

We want to be able to respond as we can and add to our documentation.

Sometimes we need to take something to the group and discuss.  But  
often we know the answer even if it isn't clear in our documentation.

For this latter group - we would like to turn the questions around  
sooner than putting them through the whole group review process (log  
them in, have them wait til turn comes up, prepare response, put on  
schedule for discussion at WG meeting etc.)

The idea is to have a Rapid Response Team  that would pre-screen the  
items coming in.  Separate out the Type #1 and #2 and send a note  
referring them off to someplace (that can handle their questions on a  
more timely basis).

Then id which #3 or #4 items are straightforward enough that an answer  
can be just drafted and sent back to the person - and also either  
added in the Understanding doc or listed in a CaseBook (a kind of  
technical FAQ).    The WG can review these later to catch any errors  
but they can be done as a block.

The #3 and #4 items needed WG review would be logged in, a note sent  
to the commenter telling them they are queued up and will be answered  
in turn,  and then the comment go through the longer process.



So now we need volunteers for the Rapid Response Team.   (if we get  
enough volunteers we will rotate members to spread the load)

remember this team will just    1) sort   2) answer quick easy ones  
and 3) pass the rest on for logging or sending of referral letters.

thanks


Gregg
-----------------------
Gregg Vanderheiden Ph.D.
Director Trace R&D Center
Professor Industrial & Systems Engineering
and Biomedical Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Madison