Re: Accessible tables

Just a point of clarification that Pam is alluding to (is she?) in this 
discussion.

The 508 standards are mandatory for US federal government sites as a way to 
make the web more accessible to the masses, especially for those with 
disabilities.  (Section 508 is actually much broader than just web 
accessibility for those who have not read the standard.)  For all other 
sites they are currently seen as 100 lb. gorilla "suggestions."  I'm sure 
in time that gorilla will grow to 800 lbs., but we'll monkey around with 
that when we come to it.  :)

Like most any other federal government initiative, common sense, 
practicality and real-world implementation do not always enter the picture 
when developing such standards.  This behooves the web expert to use their 
common sense, practicality and real-world experience in developing sites 
which meet the standard.  Sacrificing a quality web experience for the 
majority of users just to meet the 508 standards for a relative few in need 
of it is not the intention, even though the standards are written that 
way.  There are several ways a site may accommodate both sets of users for 
the benefit of each, without being detrimental to the other.  It is just up 
to the developer and site owner to weigh the implementation and maintenance 
costs of which method(s) to pursue.

We can all debate and argue the finer points of the standard and still all 
be fairly accurate in our opinions.   That is because US federal standards 
eventually promote litigation when some individual finally says, "I'm mad 
as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore."  Somewhere down the road a 
lawsuit will either clear the waters of 508 accessibility, or muddy them up 
even more.  Until then, we must be the be all and end all for all users all 
the time with the 508 standards.


Kukla

At 06:02 AM 2/27/02 -0500, Pamela Shorey wrote:
>Now Pam asks:

-- snip --

>Not to allow experienced readers to move quickly through a page is like
>saying everyone must drive a tricycle.
>
>Regards,
>Pam Shorey


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