RE: Proposal to get out of the techniques business on WCAG.NEXT

From: Andrew Kirkpatrick [mailto:akirkpat@adobe.com]

I do believe that the techniques and understanding documents are vital and need to be available and updated, so I think that we are all in agreement there.

I do also think that this work could happen outside of the WCAG group, perhaps by EO.  I’m sure that EO would be in agreement that they would need more resources (read: people willing to do the work) to deliver on this.  I believe that the same is true for WCAG.  At some point we will be handling final details on extensions or other normative updates, and perhaps even a major update some day, and the current focus on techniques will need to take a back seat.  I’m not flying to Portugal for TPAC so we can debate whether icon text is covered by WCAG 2.0 techniques or not…

I think EO would be the wrong group to work on techniques. There is an advantage in having the development carried out by people who are most active in, and familiar with, WCAG 2.0 and its application. These people are in the WCAG working group.

I agree, however, that more resources will be required as normative changes to WCAG enter into focus. Perhaps it’s time for a recruitment effort.

In short, this is worth thinking about, not so we can stop doing techniques, but in terms of overall WAI deliverable planning and resourcing.

Agreed, except for the idea of doing the techniques outside of the WCAG working group, which I don’t regard as advantageous.


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