Ultimately, javascript is no more and no less accessible than anything
else. It's a tool that lets you do certain things. You have the
option of doing things in an accessible way, or in an inaccessible way.
HTML is also neither accessible nor inaccessible. If you follow the
content guidelines, you can make highly accessible pages. If you
flaunt the guidelines ("click here" for all of your links, for
example), you can create inaccessible pages.
The big difference, I think, is that, with HTML, there has been a lot
of work to define accessible practices. Javascript is like a two year
old child. You *can* do anything, and no one can tell you not to. So,
page designers "innovate" in ways that are completely inaccessible and
confusing.
Denis Anson
David Poehlman wrote:
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "James Craig" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "Aaron Smith" <[log in to unmask]>; "W3c-Wai-Ig" <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 11:35 AM
>Subject: Re: Web site accessibility
>
>
>
>Amen, brother. I wholeheartedly agree. Used correctly, JavaScript can
>tremendously add to the user experience. It only becomes a problem when
the
>developer relies on client-side scripting to complete essential
>functionality.
>
>For example: Client-side form modification and validation can save a
user an
>enormous amount of time and headaches, but it should be supplemented
with
>server-side control should the client-side behavior not be available.
>
>James
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Aaron Smith" <[log in to unmask]>
>>
>>I have to disagree that this exemplifies how JavaScript is in itself a
"bad
>>technology." Used in a coherent manner, JavaScript can be quite useful.
You
>>can make an inaccessible environment in any programming language, so I
>>would conclude that this example demonstrates the developers narrow
scope
>>of various JavaScript coding practices. I do, however, agree with the
>>phrase "As long as people have to do extra work for accessibility, it
>>'ain't gonna' happen.'" But I don't believe that this is a reflection on
>>the language itself.
>>
>
--------------------
Denis Anson, MS, OTR
Assistant Professor
College Misericordia
301 Lake St.
Dallas, PA 18612
Phone: 570-674-6413
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