WebAIM Blog

Updated WCAG 2.0 Draft

May 17, 2007

As was noted in last week’s interview with Judy Brewer, the Web Accessibility Initiative has been making significant changes to WCAG 2.0. An updated draft of WCAG 2.0 has just been published and is open for review and comment. Many people were critical of the previous draft published over a year ago. I believe this update addresses many of the concerns that were brought at that time and since. It’s certainly not yet perfect, so I encourage everyone that is passionate about web accessibility to take some time and review these documents and submit comments if you see problems. If you don’t, at least do us all the favor of not complaining about the guidelines when they are published. Comments are due by 29 June 2007.

Linkage:

The Great Accessibility Blog Roundup

May 14, 2007

I’ve become an RSS junkie. I’m amazed by the power that blogging and RSS feeds have brought to the accessibility field. I have Google Reader chock full of accessibility blogs and feeds. I have learned so much in the last year or so due to the vast contributions of the accessibility bloggers I have stumbled upon. I’m sure there are many more out there that I have yet to discover.

Here are the best of the accessibility blogs that I’m currently subscribed to (not to mention our own blog). The RSS icons link directly to the RSS feed (RSS 2.0 when multiple options are available). If you’d like to subscribe to all of these feeds in your RSS reader (I recommend Google Reader), you can download an OPML file containing all of these feeds. Your feed reader should import the OPML file and subscribe you en masse.

My “Must Read” accessibility blogs

456 Berea Street RSS for 456 Berea Street
Roger Johansson is one of the most active and knowledgeable accessibility bloggers. He’s an accessibility superstar in my book!
A List Apart RSS for A List Apart
If you can get past their very broken RSS feed which repeats entries every few days, then you’ll find great, peer-reviewed articles here on a range of topics.
Accessibility in the News RSS for Accessibility in the News
With almost 1800 entries, this feed is a very active and comprehensive aggregator of accessibility news from all over the web and beyond.
Accessify RSS for Accessify
Ian Lloyd and the folks at Accessify post many accessibility items, particularly ones relevant to the UK crowd.
Accessites.org RSS for Accessites.org
The goal of Mike Cherim and his “Team Access” is to prove that accessible web sites can function well and look beautiful.
AlastairC RSS for AlastairC
Alastair Campbell provides a nice combination of practical and insanely technical.
box of chocolates RSS for box of chocolates
“You never know what you’re going to get” is the tagline, but with Derek Featherstone you get a true Accessibility Ninja.
Blind Access Journal RSS for Blind Access Journal
As a blind information technology professional, Darrell Shandrow actively blogs “about the blind and our quest for the greatest possible access to all the information available.”
Bruce Lawson’s personal site RSS for Bruce Lawson's personal site
Fellow ATFer Bruce Lawson’s blog offers a mix of very interesting humor (you’ve been warned), personal experiences, and in-depth accessibility info. Bruce knows his stuff and if you disagree, you may regret it.
Joe Clark RSS for Joe Clark
If you don’t know of Joe, then you probably don’t really know accessibility. Joe blogs on a wide variety of topics - his favorites range from typography to lambasting the W3C to the accessibility of everything from web sites to train subway-station signage. The RSS feed above is for his accessibility-related posts only.
Joe Dolson Accessible Web Design RSS for Joe Dolson Accessible Web Design
Joe is an accessible site designer that shares his immense knowledge powerfully though his blog and many articles.
Juicy Studio RSS for Juicy Studio
Gez Lemon’s personal site. Gez provides some of the most influential research and writing in the accessibility field, particularly on the technical aspects of accessibility and assistive technologies
splintered RSS for splintered
Patrick H. Lauke is one of the more vocal and active accessibiliters you’ll find. He’s active on about every accessibility project and mailing list there is, yet still finds time to work as web editor for the University of Salford.
The Web Standards Project RSS for The Web Standards Project
WaSP is perhaps the most influential group of standards advocates on the planet. The Accessibility Task Force of WaSP is comprised of the brightest minds in web accessibility. The news feed represents just a small portion of the work that goes on behind the scenes at WaSP.
Web Axe - Accessibility Tips RSS for Web Axe - Accessibility Tips
Web Axe is a podcast and blog featuring practical web design accessibility tips. There are currently 47 podcasts available for download and every one of them provides useful accessibility information. Dennis Lembree’s site provides loads of useful information and interviews with the who’s who of web accessibility.

Other fantastic accessibility blogs and news aggregators

AccessibleNet.org RSS for AccessibleNet.org
An active aggregator of accessibility news and tips.
Adobe Accessibility Blog RSS for Adobe Accessibility Blog
Andrew Kirkpatrick and the Adobe accessibility team keep us apprised of accessibility in Adobe products.
bestkungfu weblog RSS for bestkungfu weblog
The blog of Matt May, former WAI/WCAG point person.
E-Access Blog RSS for E-Access Blog
Run by the team behind E-Access Bulletin on all issues relating to access to all new technologies by people with disabilities
Guild of Accessible Web Designers RSS for Guild of Accessible Web Designers
The Guild of Accessible Web Designers is a large, members-only group of many of the best accessible experts out there.
Beast-Blog.com RSS for Beast-Blog.com
Mike Cherim’s professional and personal blog
Blether RSS for Blether
The online playground of Dan Champion, local government web manager, smallholder and technology bootstrapper.
fadtastic RSS for fadtastic
A multi-author web design trends journal spearheaded by Andrew Faulkner.
Isolani RSS for Isolani
Mike Davies’ personal and accessibility blog
Shayna Productions - Sandy Clark RSS for Shayna Productions - Sandy Clark
Sandy, besides being a Coldfusion (my first real web scripting language) wonder woman, also blogs extensively on accessibility and other standards related topics.
Spider Trax RSS for Spider Trax
Besides running Black Widow Web Design, her design firm that focuses on standards compliant accessible site design, Mel Pedley is a prolific blogger on many accessibility topics.
Standards for Life RSS for Standards for Life
Natalie Jost’s blog topics include color schemes, her strong Christian faith, photography, and site design. In a field where stuffiness prevails, Natalie’s writings and design work are refreshing and inspiring.
Standards-schmandards RSS for Standards-schmandards
Started by Peter Krantz, the man behind the Fangs Firefox extension, Standards-schmandards truly does take a pragmatic approach to web accessibility.
The Desert Skies RSS for The Desert Skies
Jeff Bishop’s blog on technology with a twist toward accessibility.
ThePickards RSS for ThePickards
The tagline of “standards, accessibility and ranting (and general stuff) by the web chemist” pretty well sums up what you’ll find on Jack Pickard’s blog.
Wait till I come! RSS for Wait till I come!
Blog of Chris Heilmann - web standards nut and web developer for Yahoo! Be sure to check out his articles also.
Web Access Centre Blog RSS for Web Access Centre Blog
A very active blog by the web accessibility folks at the Royal National Institute of the Blind.
Web Site Accessibility Blog RSS for Web Site Accessibility Blog
Matt Bailey is, by trade, an expert in the field of search engine and website marketing, thus making his insights into accessibility all the more relevant to today’s web.

What have I missed?

If you write or are familiar with an accessibility-related blog that’s not listed above, please post the URL in a comment below.

What’s happening with WCAG 2.0?

May 11, 2007

Over the last several weeks, I had the great opportunity to interview Judy Brewer from the W3C about what is currently happening with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0. Because of the involvement of others on the Accessibility Task Force at the Web Standards Project, I decided to have the interview published there.

Read the interview on the Web Standards Project web site

There has been much discussion and controversy surrounding WCAG 2.0 over the several years it has been in development. Conducting this interview helped me understand more about the W3C guideline development process and helped allay many of my concerns about the future of these guidelines. The W3C is doing much to make the standards better and to address the concerns that the development community has raised. While more needs to be done and we all need to become more involved in WCAG, I am rather optimistic at what these standards will bring.

And a big “Thank You” to Judy Brewer for taking the significant time to answer my questions.

WebAIM is an initiative of:
Center for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) Utah State University