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RE: Section 508 Question and Scripting languages

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From: John E. Brandt
Date: Jan 7, 2006 11:00AM


<<<clip>>>Should you use JS or other non-supported scripting languages for
core functionality at all?.

>JS has a "do-not-touch " status in the world of accessibility that I think
is unwarranted.

>This may change in the future when support for scripting languages improves
(if). JS is a potent and powerful client side scripting language and has
much promise for powerful Web based applications via the DOM. <<clip>>

Joshue makes an interesting point and one that I am struggling with
regarding a client who recently has asks me to review their site which uses
a significant amount of Flash objects for the navigation. I also routinely
review sites with large amounts of JavaScript and then have to engage in the
same type of questioning the other writers comment on; "is this functional?"


My general philosophy in web design is that of "universal design" and I
generally adhere to a prescription to keep content and presentation
separate. In addition to the accessibility issues, it is fairly clear that
the movement to alternative user agents dictates the need to separate the
two. Coupled with this is the phenomenal growth of Web 2.0 elements like RSS
Feeds which show us that the content, and the ability to manage and control
it is more important to the user than the presentation.

BTW, I would revise Joshue's last sentence above to read, "...has much
promise for powerful BROWSER based applications via the DOM." I have to
wonder if the days of browsers might not be numbered.

Perhaps as the alternative user agents flourish these scripts will be
expanded to cover additional agents. However, we need to recognize that the
"web of the future" may be engaged on the side of a toaster or microwave
oven or on devices that haven't been invented yet.

Devotees talk about JavaScripting providing functionality to web sites but
generally these are only for those users who are not blind or visually
impaired. And they only, for the moment work on traditional web browsers.

So, for now, I vote to use scripts sparingly and continue to evaluate on a
case-by-case basis. And, I look forward to what others have to say on this
matter.


John E. Brandt
Augusta, ME USA
www.jebswebs.com
<EMAIL REMOVED>