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Re: W3C-WAI Low Vision Accessibility Task Force - Seeking Participation

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From: Jared Smith
Date: Aug 20, 2015 12:51PM

Laura Carlson wrote:

> From what I have gathered going the extension route is expected to be
> faster than a WCAG 2.1 or 3.0.

There's no doubt that WCAG extensions will be "faster" and "easier".
But will that approach result in "better" guidelines?

Most of the discussions on this topic have been focused on standards
harmonization and process and making things better for W3C
contributors and government policy makers, yet there's virtually no
conversation about whether this will result in optimal guidelines for
web authors and people with disabilities in the long run.

We trust the W3C to take on difficult things, like updating WCAG. But
if they won't, I think web authors, AT and browser vendors, and policy
makers will naturally begin to look elsewhere for up-to-date guidance
(as they did when WCAG 1 became antiquated and when HTML5 became mired
in lengthy delays and bureaucracy).

Jared