RE: Legal requirements RE: statistics

Yes, but they are both *accessibility* issues, so let's not lose site of that. I wouldn't want to reiterate my previous posts on this subject, but surely accessibility is the key here, and promoting it whether there is a legal requirement or not should be high on the agenda.

I know for a fact that the UK government takes this issue very seriously and will shortly be producing legislation that includes websites in a more explicit nature. But, we shouldn't need to think of the legal aspects, we should be thinking: who will use this service? Well, I bet as many pounds/dollars/euros that you want that a disabled person would be interested in pretty much any service that was available on the Web, because they are no different to me in any aspect - i.e. they listen to music, they surf the Web, they buy grocieries, they need medical advice, etc, etc, etc, etc...

Am I wrong?

I just feel that it is a shame that we have the need for this kind of legislation when we are all human beings, not something to be labelled. *grin*

Kind regards and a happy weekend to all
Simon White

-----Original Message-----
From: David Poehlman [mailto:poehlman1@home.com]
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 17:36
To: Charles McCathieNevile; SHARPE, Ian
Cc: WAI (E-mail)
Subject: Re: Legal requirements RE: statistics 


the aol issue was not a web issue but a software issue.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles McCathieNevile" <charles@w3.org>
To: "SHARPE, Ian" <Ian.SHARPE@cambridge.sema.slb.com>
Cc: "WAI (E-mail)" <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 12:13 PM
Subject: Legal requirements RE: statistics


Ian,

Actually I believe that the Americans with Disabilities act would also
apply
to the Web (it was the law under which an American blindness
organisation
sued AOL over accessibility of their service), and to more organisations
thatn are covered by section 508.

Definitely the equivalent Australian legislation applies, as shown by
the
case of Maguire v SOCOG - the "Sydney Olympics case". There are other
countries with similar legislation - the UK and Portugal are two that I
know
of.

I think the big issue is, as you say, awareness - not just of the fact
that
it has to be done, but also how it can be done.

The Education and Outreach group of WAI - http://www.w3.org/WAI/EO works
on
promoting this information, and they have a page on policies that are
known
to cover Web accessibility in various countries.

(I am not a lawyer - if you want real legal facts you need a skilled
lawyer
with experience of the particular area, or a very skilled one who can
learn
it)

cheers

Charles McCN

On Fri, 11 Jan 2002, SHARPE, Ian wrote:

  Simon, couldn't agree more with your sentiment but sadly am not so
confident
  that legislation will ensure sites are made accessible. As far as I'm
aware
  only 508 in the US ensure sites/software purchased by US government be
  accessible. (That's my understanding anyway, maybe I'm wrong?) Even
this
  limited legislation isn't even true in the UK. It should be!! And the
rest!!

  The other big problem we have is simply awareness of accissiblity
issues.




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Received on Friday, 11 January 2002 12:53:19 UTC