FW: For Discussion: "Essential Accessibility"

I read this in their user manual
http://www.essentialaccessibility.com//user-guide-en/
<http://www.essentialaccessibility.com/user-guide-en/> :

 

"eSSENTIAL AccessibilityT allows any user to overcome any physical
limitation to access a web site. However, the Web Page-Reading functions do
not work with Flash and may not function on websites that are not designed
in accordance with W3C/WAI guidelines."

 

Sounds like this is no replacement for conformance whatsoever.

 

 

 

From: w3c-wai-gl-request@w3.org [mailto:w3c-wai-gl-request@w3.org] On Behalf
Of Bailey, Bruce
Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 6:14 PM
To: GLWAI Guidelines WG org
Cc: 508
Subject: RE: For Discussion: "Essential Accessibility"

 

Thanks for posting this Gregg.  This is different than the after-the-fact
plain text filtering algorithms I am more immediately worried about.

 

I am confident that we can all agree that this sort of approach is not
necessary for WCAG 2.0 conformance.  I am personally skeptical that this
approach is sufficient for conformance, so I am glad you raise the issue for
discussion!  I am not sure if there is an action item for the working group
either.

 

Here is the link for the product in question:

http://www.essentialaccessibility.com/

 

Here is a product that I think is similar, and for which similar claims are
made:

http://www.browsealoud.com/

 

-- 
Bruce Bailey
Accessibility IT Specialist
U.S. Access Board
1331 F Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC  20004-1111
202-272-0024 (voice)
202-272-0070 (TTY)
202-272-0081 (Fax)
 <mailto:bailey@access-board.gov> bailey@access-board.gov

 

Thank you for your questions concerning section 508 of the Rehabilitation
Act Amendments of 1998.  Section 508 authorizes the Access Board to provide
technical assistance to individuals and Federal departments and agencies
concerning the requirements of this section.  This technical assistance is
intended solely as informal guidance and is not a determination of the legal
rights or responsibilities of entities subject to section 508.

 

 

From: w3c-wai-gl-request@w3.org [mailto:w3c-wai-gl-request@w3.org] On Behalf
Of Gregg Vanderheiden
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 6:22 PM
To: GLWAI Guidelines WG org
Subject: For Discussion: "Essential Accessibility"

 

It has been said that many organizations think that if they link to
"Essential Accessibility" they have dealt with accessibility.

 It is Windows only. 

It was covered by the New York Post and is promoted by the some in
accessibility.
There is also a critique at: http://www.aoda.ca/?p=1098

 

I was asked to post this to the list to start up discussion

 

Gregg

--------------------------------------------------------
Gregg Vanderheiden Ph.D.

Co-Chair WCAG WG


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


Co-Director, Raising the Floor - International
and the Global Public Inclusive Infrastructure Project
 <http://Raisingthefloor.org> http://Raisingthefloor.org   ---
<http://GPII.net> http://GPII.net