- From: Richards, Jan <jrichards@ocadu.ca>
- Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:21:29 +0000
- To: Karen Lewellen <klewellen@shellworld.net>
- CC: "w3c-wai-ig@w3.org" <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
(Using the subject Chaals suggests) Hi all, Here's a relevant economic report that was put together a couple years ago at the University of Toronto: http://martinprosperity.org/2010/06/14/releasing-constraints-projecting-the-economic-impacts-of-increased-accessibility-in-ontario/ The report was released as the Canadian province of Ontario began rolling out standards for its "Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)". Re: Marketing of accessibility: I think the Ontario government does a reasonable job of keeping things upbeat yet informative (http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/accessibility/index.aspx). I'm sure other governments are also taking this approach as well, for example this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEM9Fn9aOG8) by the Australian Government. Cheers, Jan (Mr) Jan Richards, M.Sc. jrichards@ocadu.ca | 416-977-6000 ext. 3957 | fax: 416-977-9844 Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC) | http://idrc.ocad.ca/ Faculty of Design | OCAD University > -----Original Message----- > From: Karen Lewellen [mailto:klewellen@shellworld.net] > Sent: July-28-12 2:18 PM > To: David Woolley > Cc: Bryan Garaventa; w3c-wai-ig@w3.org > Subject: Re: WCAG 2.0 and JAWS > > David is in my view straight on here. > When decisions are made the question is first asked, what will we gain? > That may mean how much profit, how much pr etc. > The marketing people are not getting the numbers that reflect how > beneficial on many levels access is. > Given the vast academic outfits involved, I am frankly surprised someone has > not done this by now. > The sort of market research that demonstrates how much individuals > experiencing disabilities actually put into the economy sort of research. > My guess has always been that the research is not done because of the > typical focus, be accessible because the law requires it, or because it is the > kind thing to do...not because you tap into revenue that way. > > The engineers may want to do it, because making things accessible can be > fun if presented like that. > the marketing department may veto it though because they think it plays to > a knish with no benefit resulting. > Again its these sorts of people who should learn more about the positive > aspects of access. > > Karen > > On Sat, 28 Jul 2012, David Woolley wrote: > > > Bryan Garaventa wrote: > >> > >> The only way to implement true web accessibility in the future is to > >> involve engineers at the corporate, organizational, and academic > >> levels. > >> Otherwise, > >> more and more policies will be created, and relatively few will have > >> the knowledge or desire to understand them. > >> > > > > In my view, the failure is much more likely to arise from marketing > > people than engineers. Whilst most engineers may not realise, even > > those who do, and may even raise an issue report, are likely to get > overruled by marketing. > > Some may self censor, because they know they will be rejected, and > > most may just have learned to think like marketing people as the best > > way of being appreciated in the organisation. > > > > > >
Received on Monday, 30 July 2012 15:21:53 UTC