RE: One of those pesky questions

I agree with Judy Brewer.  It has been my experience that the universal
design argument has opened the door to forums not available to me in the
past.  For example, this past year I have been able to give
presentations on web accessibility and the WAI effort at local, state,
federal and international conferences.  It is true that the ADA requires
accessibility whenever the public comes into contact with government and
business, and I have had to implement systemic changes Citywide in
policy and procedures.  But the benefits for universal design have
broader appeal to the community and world at large, and make good
business sense. Not to mention that it makes my job easier!

Cynthia D. Waddell
ADA Coordinator
City of San Jose
801 North First Street, Room 460
San Jose, California 95110-1704 USA
(408) 277-4034
(408) 971-0134 TTY
(408) 277-3885 FAX

> ----------
> From: 	Judy Brewer
> Sent: 	Tuesday, March 3, 1998 8:05 AM
> To: 	w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
> Cc: 	Mike Burks
> Subject: 	Re: One of those pesky questions
> 
> Yes, essentially the "universal design" argument, couched in a strong
> business case.  This has been going over well in presentations to
> date, is
> part of the reason for the recent new interest in WAI I've mentioned
> in a
> parallel posting, and so is one of the earlier pieces we will formally
> write up as education & outreach materials.
> 
> - Judy
> 
> At 10:49 AM 3/3/98 -0500, Mike Burks wrote:
> >I would like to add my voice in support of this idea.  One of the
> things
> >that the WAI could do is help Industry see what they have to gain in
> real
> >terms by making things accessible.  For example, cell phones that
> access the
> >web or e-mail via sound use essentially the same technology as screen
> >readers.  These will be used by mainstream users.  I have been
> thinking that
> >a great deal of other "assistive technology" will also be used in the
> >mainstream.  If we can point out this advantage to these companies I
> believe
> >it will go a long way towards gaining support for this initiative.
> >
> >Sincerely,
> >
> >Mike Burks
> >
> >The opinions expressed above are mine and do not necessarily reflect
> those
> >of my employer.
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Mike Paciello <paciello@yuri.org>
> >To: Scott Luebking <phoenixl@netcom.com>; w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
> ><w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
> >Cc: paciello@yuri.org <paciello@yuri.org>
> >Date: Tuesday, March 03, 1998 10:33 AM
> >Subject: Re: One of those pesky questions
> >
> >
> >>I'd second Scott's thought with an additional note. Browsing as we
> know it
> >>today is changing rapidly, particularly in the area of display
> interfaces.
> >>Kiosks, TV's, cell phones, cars, watches, consumer electronic
> products,
> >>etc..etc... all are being equipped with web based, wireless display
> >>interfaces. Sun, SpyGlass, Netscape, IBM, Adobe and a host of telco
> and
> >>cable manufacturers already have made the investment. Without their
> >>"buy-in", the WAI battle becomes much more difficult and, perhaps,
> somewhat
> >>futile.
> >>
> >>I am of the humble opinion that our "battle" would be much easier if
> more
> >>emphasis was placed on education, awareness, and outreach (with a
> subtle,
> >>but powerful PR strategy) geared at helping industry and,
> ultimately,
> >>resulting in gaining their support.
> >>
> >>After all the hard work that the Guidelines WG has put in over the
> past
> >>several months, I haven't had any inkling that the W3C is gaining
> >>membership support for the WAI. I really wonder what's going on in
> the
> >>minds of those 200+ members. Since the release of the guidelines,
> are W3C
> >>members eager to implement and "advertise" their support? Clearly
> IBM and
> >>Microsoft have been there right from the start (thank
> goodness)...But I
> >>really would like to see "new kids on the block", demonstrating
> similar
> >>support and zeal.
> >>
> >>Sorry for getting off on a tangent...and I am in no way trying to
> >>dishearten the outstanding work already accomplished...but it comes
> right
> >>back to what Scott indicated below -- development without
> participation =
> >>zero integration.
> >>
> >>- Mike
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>At 06:40 AM 3/3/98 -0800, Scott Luebking wrote:
> >>>Hi,
> >>>Both the au and ui groups are meeting via phone this week.  I'm
> afraid
> >>>I keep having one of those pesky questions cropping up for me.
> >>>
> >>>Basically, how many browser companies have shown a willingness to
> >>>modify their browser software.  Various browser companies may show
> >>>something like moral support.  However, this type of support can
> >>>be fairly cheap.  What happens when they need to expend resources
> >>>for changing their software to include accessibility?  For example,
> >>>as near as I can tell, Netscape has not shown any interest in
> taking
> >>>on the chore of modifying their browser software to include
> >>>aceesibility aspects.  If the WAI decides what is needed in
> browsers
> >>>without participation of browser companies, the browser companies
> >>>will have less a sense of ownership of the issues and will be more
> >>>reluctant to make changes to their software.
> >>>
> >>>Scott
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Judy Brewer   jbrewer@w3.org     617-258-9741
> Director, Web Accessibility Initiative International Program Office
> World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
> MIT/LCS Room NE43-355
> 545 Technology Square, Cambridge MA 02139 USA
> http://www.w3.org/WAI
>

Received on Tuesday, 3 March 1998 14:46:24 UTC