- From: Suzan Dolloff <averil@concentric.net>
- Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 23:24:32 -0600
- To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
- Cc: Kynn Bartlett <kynn-hwg@idyllmtn.com>
Kynn Bartlett said: >I think there's value in noting a desire to make a page accessible, >beyond simply proclaiming them for the sake of disabled people >who might read them. >One of the biggest benefits is _awareness_. This is the same >reason you'd put a 'Valid HTML' button your page -- not because >you're patting yourself on the back, but because you want to >represent something you think is important. To which I'm adding: Sounds to me like you and I agree more than we differ, Kynn, and are even headed in the same direction. Let someone design an icon that's as elegant and easy to integrate into any design as the HWG icon, and I'm all for plastering that puppy on the opening page (at least) of every accessible site on the Web, with a link to the WAI site. (Ahem...let's hope the quality of accessibility is significantly higher than the quality of design we see on some sites touting the HWG icon, however. Even so: free advertising!) I don't know of a more successful marketing technique on the WWW than the Netscape and MSIE icons, so I'm VERY much in favor of a universal symbol pointing to the cause of accessibility. Consider this, if you will. Ever encountered a web site where the designer's tone seemed rather snooty as the text informed you what browser you needed, or plugins required for viewing the site? Almost made you mad sometimes, didn't it, as if some faceless designer somewhere was telling you you couldn't possibly have software and hardware as good as his if you didn't already have the same things he'd used to build his site? If you'd had a really bad hair-day, your emotions might have leapt to the assumption this designer was questioning your personal character as well. (Okay, that's an exaggeration, but I'm trying to make a point. <sheepish grin>) "Feel-good" or "Hey, listen up, this is important!" text about accessibility can have the same effect. Consider my reaction to what I read on Ms. Taylor's site, after all, and this from someone who had more reason than a casual web surfer to understand her motives and intent! Conclusion? Linked icon: yes. It's simple, succinct and non-judgmental. "Look what I did!" text: no. Far too many opportunities for misinterpretation or even misrepresentation in what someone might say, left to his or her own devices. Now, let's tackle the issue of all the corporations listed as members/supporters of the WAI whose own sites aren't accessible... Best regards, Ree' Dolloff mailto:averil@concentric.net designs by dolloff - http://dbdweb.com/ Avenue Averil - http://www.concentric.net/~Averil/ Fade to Black - http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/7757/
Received on Wednesday, 25 March 1998 00:24:01 UTC