Accessibility services definition

A new note, that explains what EN 301 549 means by "documented platform accessibility services", to clause 11.5.2.1 was agreed (in Issue#239) and added to the latest draft. This reads:

NOTE 2 "Documented platform accessibility services" are a subset of the platform's application programming interface (API) that allows application developers to create software that is compatible with assistive technologies. Depending on the platform, these services may be referred to by different names, such as accessibility services or accessibility API. Alternatively, compatibility with assistive technologies may be achieved by using "other documented services" that are not part of the accessibility API, but are part of the platform's user interface services.

The W3C WCAG2ICT Task Force has proposed a definition for "accessibility services of platform software (as used in WCAG2ICT)". This reads:

services provided by an operating system, user agent, or other platform software that enable non-web documents or software to expose information about the user interface and events to assistive technologies and accessibility features of software

NOTE These services are commonly provided in the form of accessibility APIs (application programming interfaces), and they provide two-way communication with assistive technologies, including exposing information about objects and events.

As we will be making use of the output from the WCAG2ICT Task Force in trying to align EN 301 549 with the WCAG2ICT advice, it is important to:

• identify any discrepancies between these two "definitions",
• consider including a definition of "accessibility services ..." as an entry in the EN 301 549 "Terms" clause, and updating the above Note 2 accordingly.

added Definition WCAG 2.2 SC labels

I support adding such a definition in clause 3.1 Terms. Using the one from WCAG2ICT would be good for harmonisation with that specification, and I think it would work fine.

Also in clause 3.1 Terms, I think "accessibility features" should be defined - with examples. Especially, the difference between the various kinds of accessibility features need to be explained:

• "documented accessibility features" (mentioned in clause 5.2 and 11.6.2)
• "platform accessibility features" (mentioned in 11.6.1)
• "accessibility and compatibility features" (mentioned in 12.1.1, 12.2.2)
• "accessibility features of software" (mentioned in 11.1.3.1.1 and 11.4.1.2.1 )

The latest comment, about "documented accessibility features" overlaps with issue #274 (closed) and might be merged with that issue.

mentioned in issue #274 (closed)

This has been fully resolved in Issue #274 (closed) and the closure of that issue means that this issue should also be closed.

closed

added Included in EN label