Thread Subject: The "mission" (was "authoring tool proposals")
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From: love26@gorge.net
Date: Thu, Jun 07 2007 10:00 AM
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------- Original Message -------
>From : Sailesh Panchang[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
>2. Authoring tools must, except by explicit user action, preserve
>accessibility information necessary for meeting the electronic content
>provisions.
On reading the statement I am not sure I understand "except by explicit
user action, ". Does it mean:
2. Authoring tools must preserve accessibility information necessary for
meeting the electronic content provisions unless the user explicitly
indicates otherwise.
It would be helpful for the goals of universal-design/inclusion if we make our
language in these matters (as well as the priorities expressed through
defaullts) more pro-active in basing it all on having "accessibility" as an
integrated part of the workings of authoring tools and not as an out-front
option. It often seems that the accessibility of the tools and their output is
treated as some kind of bothersome add-on rather than the same kind of woven-in
participant in the authoring process.
It should be as tedious to NOT use "accessibility features" as it is to ignore
other common programming errors like forgetting to put a subject line in email,
etc. I.e. one can work around such things as inclusion of alt-text but only
with some annoyance penalty.
These are not mere recommendations by some consortium of vendors but rather the
"law of the land" and are our last best hope for achieving the often-touted,
seldom-achieved goal of "leveling the playing field."
The government has become an "employer of last resort" for PWD and it must be
very activist in requiring, not merely recommending inclusive/accessible tools
for its employees with disabilities as well as ensuring that all outputs
destined for the public be accessible.
Love.
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