Re: Disability statistics

Well, in Australia the distinction between government and private providers
in terms  of requiring accesssibility is only that governments do not have
the defence that it is too expensive - they have to do it anyway. Private
companies can claim a defence if it can be demonstrated that it is too
difficult, but in practice (the Sydney Olympics case, and other cases not
about the Web) it is often very difficult to show that, and the burden is on
the person making the claim to prove it is too hard - just  saying so carries
no weight.

So the Australian case is "you and your client can avoid breaking the law".
Which can also be applied to things like online learning software.

cheers

Charles McCN

On Sat, 15 Dec 2001, Denise Wood wrote:

  >A better business case is "hey, web design companies! if you write
  accessible HTML you might get government contracts easier!" -- but
  that is a 508 business case, not a general web accessibility business
  case.

  I agree in principle with everything you have said here Kynn but wouldn't it
  strengthen the business case as well as the Section 508 compliance pitch if we
  edited your response to read:

  "Hey, web design companies - if you write accessible HTML you can extend your
  client market to include xxxxxx people with disabilities as well as increase
  your prospects for securing government contracts !"


  Denise

  -------------------------------------------
  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


-- 
Charles McCathieNevile    http://www.w3.org/People/Charles  phone: +61 409 134 136
W3C Web Accessibility Initiative     http://www.w3.org/WAI    fax: +1 617 258 5999
Location: 21 Mitchell street FOOTSCRAY Vic 3011, Australia
(or W3C INRIA, Route des Lucioles, BP 93, 06902 Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France)

Received on Saturday, 15 December 2001 23:20:02 UTC