RE: Section 508

Joe

I too was initially a little confused/concerned as to why Cynthia felt the need
to address these matters via email rather than publicly through a discussion
forum. However, I was pleased that she made the offer to respond to individual
concerns privately as I respect her opinion.

I gave Cynthia's response some thought after receiving the email and it
occurred to me that she may be concerned about exposing an individual
organisation to potential litigation by going into detail about specific cases
in a public forum. Any such discussion would have to be vague and full of
hypotheticals to protect the individuals seeking advice. Whereas people who are
genuinely in need of specific advice would be able to get down to detail via
private email with Cynthia.

I agree with your point about these issues being of wider concern to many
members of the group and we should certainly continue to engage in that level
of discussion.

Denise

Dr Denise L Wood
Lecturer: Professional Development (online teaching and learning)
University of South Australia
CE Campus, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Ph:    (61 8) 8302 2172 / (61 8) 8302 4472 (Tuesdays & Thursdays)
Fax:  (61 8) 8302 2363 / (61 8) 8302 4390
Mob: (0413 648 260)

Email:	Denise.Wood@unisa.edu.au
WWW:	http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/staff/homepage.asp?Name=Denise.Wood



-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Clark [mailto:joeclark@joeclark.org]
Sent: Tuesday, 23 October 2001 1:00 AM
To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
Subject: Section 508


>Since the W3C list is an international list and many members would 
>not appreciate a legal discussion on how Section 508 indirectly 
>impacts American State Universities,

Since Section 508 requirements (including to whom it applies) are 
difficult to understand, since many WAI-IG listmembers work for 
American universities, and since Section 508 will obviously be a 
model for legislation in other parts of the world, a discussion of 
how 508 directly or directly *applies to* or *affects* American state 
universities is clearly germane to this list.

>However, for those who have commented that Section 508 applies only 
>to federal agencies, I must say that this is not true. An 
>understanding of U.S. disability rights law and how other federal 
>and state laws cause Section 508 to be applicable is a discussion 
>that will need to be held off-list.

Having told us there is much to learn and you are the keeper of the 
knowledge, you also tell us you will not impart that knowledge.

Mailing lists, particularly general ones like WAI-IG, are here to 
discuss their actual topics. Section 508 applicability is clearly 
relevent to a WAI "interest group," as this list is named.
-- 
         Joe Clark | joeclark@joeclark.org | <http://joeclark.org/access/>
         Accessibility articles, resources, and critiques ||
           "I do not pretend to understand the mind of Joe Clark"
           -- Larry Goldberg