Re: Accessible content management system

> This is what I agree with - standards are a tool, just as validators
> are. I think the mistake is thinking accessibility can be achieved by
> throwing tech or checklists at the site/app/etc. and think either are
> the last word. Ultimately "accessibility" can only be determined by
> successful use by the target audience and evaluation requires a human
> element that neither validators or standards can cover.

Well said.

Of course there is still much more we can do in standards and improving 
tools and technologies to support that aim.

andy
>
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> -----Original Message----- From: deborah.kaplan@suberic.net
> [mailto:deborah.kaplan@suberic.net] Sent: Friday, August 05, 2011
> 10:36 AM To: Terry Dean Cc: Ian Sharpe; w3c-wai-ig@w3.org Subject:
> Re: Accessible content management system
>
> Terry said:
>
>> I'm afraid this where we disagree. I think web standards are very
>> important
>
> But Terry, Ian did not say  standards are unimportant. He said he
> does not view accessibility "solely in terms of conformance." I've
> gone to countless websites which technically passed validators for
> their conformance but were ultimately unusable or inaccessible.
>
> Terry also said:
>
>> Why bother waving the "accessibility" flag, if you choose to ignore
>> standards?
>
> Perhaps because you care about "accessibility". That is, the ability
> for people with disabilities to use the websites, whether they are
> standards conforming or not.
>
> Standards are an amazing tool in the Web developer's toolbox, and we
> should all use them. But if they are the be-all and end-all -- if we
> ignore accessible but non-conforming sites, or if we praise
> conforming sites which  are purported as unusable by users with
> disabilities -- then we are not using them correctly.
>
> -Deborah
>
>
>

Received on Friday, 5 August 2011 16:26:27 UTC