Did the DRC report help promote accessible web design?
Added on Sunday 25 Apr 2004
Pat Byrne of ScotConnect has published a response to the Disability Rights Commission Web Accessibility Report.
The DRC report emphasizes the need to include disabled people at every level in the development of websites. Though this is a good approach, Pat questions whether it will be possible for all web developers,
- the logistics of identifying and recruiting disabled people with a range of impairments.
- the perception that such evaluators are a resource?
- would they be seen as altruistic volunteers or would they be paid workers or consultants?
- would their usefulness cease or would it increase when they become 'experts', with perhaps more informed responses?
There is a danger that the report will be interpreted as undermining the value of the World Wide Web Consortiums Web Accessibility Guidelines, and the experience and skills of existing web accessibility experts.