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From: Judy Brewer <[log in to unmask]>
Date: June 18, 2010 7:05:41 PM EDT
To: WAI Interest Group <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: US Sec 508/255 ANPRM and Web Accessibility
Dear WAI Interest Group Participants:
If you are interested in the issue of harmonization of requirements for web accessibility, there is still time to comment on the US Section 508 and 255 Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM). The comments process for this stage is open to the public; comments can be submitted through Monday June 21, 2010. Section 508 affects accessibility of information and communications technologies (ICT) that can be "procured" (purchased, acquired, etc.) by the US federal government. US Section 508 standards have sometimes also influenced policies in some other countries and within US states.
Information on the draft regulations and how to comment [1] is available from the US Access Board. In addition, the Trace Research and Development Center has developed a public resource with additional information and analysis [2], including a side-by-side comparison of web accessibility provisions, and a place to exchange different perspectives.
One of the key questions, Question 7, in this ANPRM [3] concerns how effectively the draft regulations address harmonization with W3C/WAI's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. Comments already offered by WAI in Santa Clara [4] and more recently in Washington DC [5] describe the importance of harmonizing portions of 508 that relate to web content and web applications with WCAG 2.0.
We feel that a simpler direct reference to WCAG 2 would clarify expectations for web content and web application accessibility, and better enable securing the benefits of harmonization. We welcome others to look at this question and take the opportunity to comment.
Regards,
- Judy
[1] US Access Board 508/255 Refresh site
http://www.access-board.gov/508.htm
[2] Trace 508/255 Refresh site
http://508-255-refresh.trace.wisc.edu/
[3] ANPRM Preamble, search "Question 7" in:
http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/refresh/notice.htm
[4] WAI comments (March 25, 2010)
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-archive/2010Jun/0035.html
[5] WAI comments (May 12, 2010)
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-archive/2010Jun/0036.html
--
Judy Brewer +1.617.258.9741 http://www.w3.org/WAI
Director, Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
MIT/CSAIL Building 32-G526
32 Vassar Street
Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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