RE: Invitation UAWG - ARIA implementer's guide review discussion

Hi Jim et al,

I can participate in a conference call on 4/17 at 2pm.

From: Jim Allan [mailto:jimallan@tsbvi.edu]
Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 1:01 PM
To: 'Aaron M Leventhal'
Cc: Marc Silbey; simonp@opera.com; 'WAI-UA list'; 'Judy Brewer'; 'Jan Richards'
Subject: Invitation UAWG - ARIA implementer's guide review discussion

UAWG would like to have a conference call with you on April 17 at 2 pm eastern time (USA) if you are available.

Also, please go to

         http://www.w3.org/WAI/UA/participation.html

and follow the steps for

         "if you work for a W3C Member organization"?



Even if you are just coming into the group for one or more topics, you need to get signed in under the W3C Process in order to have any discussion about specific approaches on that topic.

Jim Allan, Chair
From: w3c-wai-ua-request@w3.org [mailto:w3c-wai-ua-request@w3.org] On Behalf Of Aaron M Leventhal
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:37 PM
To: Jim Allan
Cc: 'Aaron Leventhal'; hsivonen@iki.fi; marcsil@windows.microsoft.com; mjs@apple.com; simonp@opera.com; w3c-wai-pf@w3.org; w3c-wai-pf-request@w3.org; 'WAI-UA list'
Subject: RE: Request for implementer's Guide for ARIA & acid tests


Hi Jim,

Sounds good. I will participate in a call discussing that, but I would like if either Marc Silbey (IE) or Simon Pieters (Opera) could be there as well.
Marc? Simon? Would you participate in a call on that?

We need to discuss how HTML and ARIA exposed to each platform accessibility API that's used widely today. I'm not sure how far we can get in one call, so we should also spend some time on how UAWG will help lead the effort to provide this information and harmonize it across environments as much as possible.

- Aaron


"Jim Allan" <jimallan@tsbvi.edu>
Sent by: w3c-wai-pf-request@w3.org

03/27/2008 12:35 PM

To

"'Aaron Leventhal'" <aaronlev@moonset.net>, "'WAI-UA list'" <w3c-wai-ua@w3.org>

cc

<simonp@opera.com>, <hsivonen@iki.fi>, <marcsil@windows.microsoft.com>, <mjs@apple.com>, <w3c-wai-pf@w3.org>

Subject

RE: Request for implementer's Guide for ARIA & acid tests








Aaron,
This is an important issue. UAWG was already planning on reviewing the
document when it is complete.
UAWG is have a meeting today and will discuss the remaining items.

I think there will need to be some coordination as UAAG is in transition
from version 1.0 to 2.0. We need to ensure that the guidelines and the
implementation guide are in harmony. One of the area that is under review is
Principal 2 Facilitate access by assistive technologies -
http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/WD-UAAG20-20080312/#principle-AT-access which has
guideline that cover ARIA.

It would be useful if you or some other developer of the guide could attend
a future UAWG call before the end of April to discuss the guide. I would be
happy to coordinate with you. UAWG meets every Thursday at 2 pm Eastern
time.

Jim
-----Original Message-----
From: w3c-wai-ua-request@w3.org [mailto:w3c-wai-ua-request@w3.org] On Behalf
Of Aaron Leventhal
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:21 AM
To: WAI-UA list
Cc: simonp@opera.com; hsivonen@iki.fi; marcsil@windows.microsoft.com;
mjs@apple.com; w3c-wai-pf@w3.org
Subject: Request for iimplementor's Guide for ARIA & acid tests


Jan & Jim,

The creation and widespread adoption of ARIA have raised questions as to
how ARIA and the browser, together, provide for interoperability with
assistive technologies. To web application developers and assistive
technology vendors this come down to how ARIA is mapped to platform
accessibility APIs by the browser.

Customer demand for accessible rich internet applications has brought
the major browser manufacturers, Mozilla, Opera, Microsoft, and Apple
together to define how we will map WAI-ARIA to platform accessibility
API. To get the effort jump-started I've created a first WAI-ARIA User
agent implementers guide
(http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/ARIA_User_Agent_Implementors_Guide)
which
is based on the Firefox Accessibility API mapping. This document is a
starting point for us browser manufacturers and it is still undergoing
major revisions. Many of these revisions have to do with varying API
support. Ultimately, the document should belong to the UAWG working
group, however after lengthy discussion among us we would ask that you
allow us to produce a first draft before turning it over to UAWG for
participation. We feel this could be done by early to mid May.

In creating the first draft we will:

- Work to synchronize accessibility API mapping wherever possible
- Make use of the latest platform accessibility APIs to expose the
richness of today's web. This was not possible even two years ago.
- Ensure we explain how ARIA relates back to HTML and this will be in
line with the HTML WG's agenda to clarify HTML.

I would even go further and say that once these mappings are ready, that
something like the "acid tests" should be implemented for each platform,
to keep browser implementations of a11y in sync. Getting the API
mappings right is the hardest part of getting accessibility right in
browsers, and the most useful information for us. To me, this is what
UAWG should be working on, if the W3C permits you to deal directly with
platform-specific technologies. IMO it should, because in the end that
will produce the biggest benefits for a11y.

We would like to ask that the UAWG take on:
1) Review of
http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/ARIA_User_Agent_Implementors_Guide
2) Development of a similar guide for HTML
3) Development of a11y API acid tests to check for errors

Is this acceptable to UAWG?

Aaron