Saying They Are Accessible But Not
Hi,
LSW's post (about Texas) got me thinking about an issue I wanted to bring up, please let me know what you think.
I live in New Orleans where we had a very bad hurricane a couple of years ago. This month the state introduced a new website (http://www.emergency.louisiana.gov/),
that is supposed to keep people informed, become a basis of communication, etc in case a hurricane comes toward the city again.
I said to myself "Boy I sure hope that site is accessible". So I went to there website just to take a look and I noticed that it really is NOT accessible. They also have an Accessibility policy which mostly has links to other 508 sites, etc. Doesn't talk about what they do to make the site accessible, like an accessibility statement.
Now being in the US, I know that they have to at least adhere to 508 standards and only a handful of there pages are complaint.
I thought about writing a letter or sending an e-mail. Thoughts?? Because it's really bugging me.
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Well after years in Germany I know more about the German BITV and UK's DDA then Section 508, but I just dove in today so am in the learning curve.
A) Section 508 only covers Fed sites... unless the state has agreed to abide to it. Most seem to have and I guess yours would be one if the mention it.
B) Considering WCAG is 66 points, Section 508 for the web is a joke with 16 points. It mostly deals with heardware and software as well a sphysical word stuff.
If you read the link above you may find that they do indeed meet Sec. 508... just not the level of accessibility that we expect based on WCAG. I have a list of things I do not like on the Alaska state site template, but in fact it more or less is 508 compatible as a whole (some pages I have not seen may have issues, I mean generally).
I will try to get the state to improve the site templates and guidlines, allot can be improved, but It is not a major flop.
As an IT perosn told me, you have to get their attention. The bosses with power all have Blackberrys so show them how hard the site is to use with that cause that means something to them rather than some theory about disabled people they do not see or see statistics about.
Same goes fopr you, aside from trhose with disabilities remind them that accessibility is about prefference. Someone out and about alot may not heare about a hurricane as they are underway, so a blackberry friendly site would be important to travelers as well.
But in Alaska a former Governor simply decided on the look with no feedback from our people years ago and I/we have to get the current governor to overturn it as it is an executive order. Untill that happens nothing happens. Being that I have been in the job now 2 days, I am a nobody and need powerfull people to agree with me.
A law suite against Texas for basic web accessibility would open a whole front and every state would have to take a look as well as local county or city sites... then the commercial people would have to reconsider as well.
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[size=9]Kyle J. Lamson
Analyst/Programmer III, State of Alaska
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| Section 508 only covers Fed sites... unless the state has agreed to abide to it. |
Yes, the have statements about how they adhere to 508 plastered on the Accessibility Policy. But you are right, it does only apply to Federal sites. But why? So on a state level, there is no rules/guidelines that they have to abide to?
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| If you read the link above you may find that they do indeed meet Sec. 508 |
True, some of the pages to, but not all of them. Take the homepage for example.
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| just not the level of accessibility that we expect based on WCAG |
I understand that each country has there own policy on accessibly for software, web content, etc. But (and correct me if I'm wrong), if different countries have similar standards for accessibility, (some even taken from the WCAG text), then why can't everyone just agree on one set of guidelines (for example the WCAG guidelines)?
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I at least have to give the European Union a little credit for attempting some level of Europe-wide standardization with its Web Accessibility Benchmarking Cluster. They're adhering fairly closely to WCAG, but I think the biggest obstacle is education. There are a few language issues to contend with in Europe, so information dissemination is not as easy to manage.
I've thought about approaching this issue in terms of social and corporate responsibility, and finding ways to help companies and organizations understand not only the legal aspects of accessibility, but also the social and financial ones. There isn't really a company on earth who wants to be made to look socially irresponsible.
Pointing out their website discrepancies to them can be delicate work, perhaps, but it is, I feel, very important.
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| So on a state level, there is no rules/guidelines that they have to abide to? |
Well they do in the form of 508, but it depends on if it is Law or a guidline. The way you said the reference 508 suggests they are told to use it as a guideline possibly.
In Alaska it was put forth per Executive Order meaning it is a lawfull requirement.
If the two really differ much I cannot say, to new in state and do not know specifics for your area.
I am gearing up to at some point in the hopefully near future to go asgainst the windmill and try to convice those with the power to go beyond 508 (which I am beginning to see as a lawfull minimum) and look beyond to a social maximum or AA - as close to AAA as possible. To decide not just to meet 508 but go beyond and meet as much of WCAG as possible.
I will use WCAG and common sence be the benchmark.
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[size=9]Kyle J. Lamson
Analyst/Programmer III, State of Alaska
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| The way you said the reference 508 suggests they are told to use it as a guideline possibly. |
Yes, they do seem to be using it as a guideline.
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| I am gearing up to at some point in the hopefully near future to go asgainst the windmill and try to convice those with the power to go beyond 508 |
Sounds like a good idea, good luck in your quest...
Thank you all for your feedback, it's greatly appreciated.
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