- From: Charles McCathieNevile <charles@w3.org>
- Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 23:20:02 -0500 (EST)
- To: Denise Wood <Denise_Wood@operamail.com>
- cc: <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
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