Forcing Standardization or Accommodating Diversity? A Framework for Applying the WCAG in the Real World

This page contains access to a paper on "Forcing Standardization or Accommodating Diversity? A Framework for Applying the WCAG in the Real World" which was accepted by the International Cross-Disciplinary Workshop on Web Accessibility held in Chiba, near Tokyo, Japan on 20^th May 2005.

Materials

Paper

This paper is available from the University of Bath institutional repository.

Paper

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Slides

Accompanying Presentation

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Citation Details

Forcing Standardization or Accommodating Diversity? A Framework for Applying the WCAG in the Real World, Kelly, B., Sloan, D., Phipps, L., Petrie, H. and Hamilton, F. Proceedings of the 2005 International Cross-Disciplinary Workshop on Web Accessibility (W4A). ISBN: 1-59593-036-1. <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/papers/w4a-2005/>

See also the ACM citation details.

Paper Details

Title

Forcing Standardization or Accommodating Diversity? A Framework for Applying the WCAG in the Real World

Keywords

 

Authors names, complete affiliations, addresses

Mr Brian Kelly UKOLN University of Bath BATH UK	David Sloan Digital Media Access Group University of Dundee DUNDEE UK	Lawrie Phipps The Network Centre York Science Park YORK UK
Helen Petrie School of Informatics City University LONDON UK	Fraser Hamilton School of Informatics City University LONDON UK

Name and contact details of author to be contacted for correspondence

Brian Kelly
Email: b.kelly@ukoln.ac.uk
Phone: +44 1225 383943
FAX: +44 1225 386838

Short abstract

Since 1999 the W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have provided a solid basis for implementation of accessible Web design. However it is argued that in the context of evaluation and policymaking, inappropriate reference to the WCAG may lead to serious practical difficulties in implementation and monitoring of an effective accessibility policy. There is a pressing need for a framework that guides appropriate application of the WCAG in a holistic way, taking into account the diversity - or homogeneity - of factors such as context of use, audience and audience capability, and access environment. In particular, the current promotion of W3C technologies at the expense of widely used and accessible proprietary technologies may be problematic, as is the apparent reliance of the WCAG on compliant browsing technology.
In this paper, a holistic application of the WCAG is proposed by the authors, whereby the context of the Web resource in question and other factors surrounding its use are used to shape an approach to accessible design. Its potential application in a real world environment is discussed.

Name and contact details of author to be contacted for correspondence

Brian Kelly
Email: b.kelly@ukoln.ac.uk
Phone: +44 1225 383943
FAX: +44 1225 386838

Categories and Subject Descriptors

H.5.2 [User Interfaces - Evaluation];
K.4.2 [Social Issues - Assistive technologies for persons with disabilities]

Citations Of The Paper

On 27 November 2012 95 citations were found for this paper using Googlar Scholar.

Comments On The Paper

The following comments on the paper have been found.

• More from our dear British friends, Joe Clark, Blog entry, May 2005
• Excellent paper by Brian Kelly ... , Accessifyforum.com, Patrick Lauke, 20 May 2005
• An interesting and very useful paper... it's reassuring to see this debate widening and a realistic/rational approach to accessibility being expressed. Personal communication, 18 May 2005
• I just wanted to drop you all a note to say how much I enjoyed and appreciate your paper 'forcing standardization or accommodating diversity?'. It is perhaps the most encouraging text that I have read in a long time and was a joy to read. ... It felt good to read about the importance of context and the user's circumstances. So thank you. Personal communication, 11 Oct 2005
• I agree wholeheartedly with all of this, and even better, as a non-web access expert I even think I understood it all. Personal communication, 12 Oct 2005
• Excellent and (we reckon) hugely important paper addressing the challenge of current guidance and standards on Web accessibility, their compatibility with real world Web browsing situations and real world Web development environments. Posting sent to the publicsectorforums.co.uk maling list, 20 Oct 2005
• One of my many summer projects is going to be a literature and practices review of current online accessibility, prior to a wholesale audit of the College's electronic assets. And here's a great place to start: 2Forcing Standardization or Accommodating Diversity? A Framework for Applying the WCAG in the Real World2, a paper by Brian Kelly (UKOLN), David Sloan (Digital Media Access Group, University of Dundee), Lawrie Phipps (The Network Centre), Helen Petrie and Fraser Hamilton EdTechUK, Josie Fraser's Adventures in Information Learning Technology, 24 May 2005.