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Re: Javascript - Compliance Issue

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From: Jared Smith
Date: Oct 28, 2010 8:24AM

On Thu, Oct 28, 2010 at 7:51 AM, Steve Green < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> Our interpretation of WCAG 2.0 is that a website is compliant even if it
> does not work without JavaScript.

This is correct. WCAG 2.0 allows you to require JavaScript so long as
the content and functionality generated with JavaScript also is
conformant with the guidelines.

It is not clear, however, what WCAG 2.0 would require if the user
comes to the site without JavaScript. In such instances, we always
recommend that the site be built to fail gracefully. At a minimum, a
message that indicates that they need JavaScript should be presented.
While WCAG 2.0 does not clarify this, a site would be very difficult
if it presented a broken or partially functional interface to those
with JavaScript disabled (e.g., maybe a form is presented and can be
completed, but it will not submit without JavaScript). The point,
however, is that this would be equally inaccessible to everyone with
JavaScript disabled, regardless of whether they have a disability. As
such, it's not really an accessibility issue or a compliance issue,
but more of a general usability issue.

Jared Smith
WebAIM.org