Re: Accessible app requirements

I've heard variations of this question over the years: Most or all of the
same features are present in a native software application (desktop or
mobile) as in a web application, so can we claim the software is the
accessible alternative to the website or vice versa?

Quick answer: almost certainly not.

From a US Section 508 perspective, if you claim "yes" you are promising two
things: (1) all functionality <https://www.access-board.gov/ict/#E203.1>
present in the first platform is accessible to and usable by individuals
with disabilities in the alternate platform, and (2) supposing the first
platform had met all technical requirements of Section 508, then the
alternate platform would nevertheless provide substantially equivalent or
greater accessibility and usability
<https://www.access-board.gov/ict/#E101.2> by people with disabilities. As
a consultant who has written a lot of VPAT ACRs, I've never seen these
conditions met. Keep in mind that performance and privileged access to the
operating system are typical functions of software, and compatibility with
many operating systems is a typical function of web applications; these
functions are unlikely to be present in the alternate platform.

WCAG allows the possibility of a conforming alternate version
<https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG/#dfn-conforming-alternate-version>, likewise
requiring all functionality and full conformance, and adding requirements
on how users can reach the conforming and non-conforming versions. Whether
native software could be a "page" for such purposes is not defined. Even if
done perfectly, alternate versions are not preferred
<https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/conformance#uc-conforming-alt-versions-head>
—
but this remains theoretical because I've never seen these conditions met
either.

For EN 301 549 the answer is no. It includes by reference WCAG's allowance
for a conforming alternate version, but only within Chapter 9 (Web), not
between chapters.

Mitchell Evan, CPWA
linkedin.com/in/mitchellrevan <https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchellrevan>
+49 1525 8950540
+1 510 375 6104

On Thu, May 25, 2023 at 3:45 PM Linda Noble <lindaanoble@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
>
> I can’t find this information in the W3C site or elsewhere.  If a public
> company has a 508-compliant desktop site, and an app that isn’t, are they
> out of compliance? The app doesn’t have all the features of the desktop
> site.
>
> Regards,
>
> Linda
>