WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: thoughts from Jim Thatcher re the DoJ ANPRM

for

From: Pratik Patel
Date: Jan 21, 2011 2:45PM

Jared Smith wrote:

Now I'm not saying they shouldn't be considered for the ADA
requirements. Not meeting these Level AA success criteria can
certainly impact the user experience. But the DOJ has asked for
feedback regarding the impact these requirements might have - and
requiring Level AA by law would have a significantly higher impact
than Level A alone.

PP: yes. But, what about the negative impact of not making content
accessible? What about the years that covered entities have had to become
accessible? Let's remember that the DOJ is clarifying its rules and not
making new rules. As a consultant, I sympathize with entities who are
spending lots of money. But that doesn't mean that the floor shouldn't be
high. As I said in my previous message, entities have the undue burden
defense as they have always had. The ultimate goal should be "effective
communication" as defined by the DOJ in their latest regulations and not a
standard. Standards are the means of achiving this large goal.

Pratik