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Re: Accessible Mega Menu and Safari

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From: Moore,Michael (Accessibility) (HHSC)
Date: Apr 4, 2016 3:11PM

The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) at the W3C has developed guidelines that if followed would result in better support for accessibility.

The User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) define how the browsers and assistive technology are expected to handle content that is developed to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. I could certainly argue that if a browser fails to provide support for accessibility features built to meet the guidelines that they could be liable under the ADA for not making their software accessible.

The second set of guidelines is the Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines. These guidelines establish criteria for ensuring that the tools that we use to create content are both accessible to use for people with disabilities and support the development of accessible content. Again I could see that making the software itself accessible would be covered by the ADA and similar laws in other countries. However the output is another matter since that responsibility rests with the authors. But here is where we can make a difference. If we ask for tools that are ATAG compliant and reward companies that create tools that make it easier to create accessible content by preferring to purchase those tools over the tools that make it hard to create accessible content we can move the market.

Mike Moore
Accessibility Coordinator
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Civil Rights Office
(512) 438-3431 (Office)