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Documents and Software sections do not reflect WCAG2ICT for SCs and terms

Issue observed in working draft version 2024-12.

This issue pertains to a number of subclauses of 10.1-10.4 (Non-web documents) and 11.1-11.4 (Software).

Currently

Good:

  • Alignment with WCAG2ICT guidance on SCs — For some WCAG success criteria (SCs), mainly those dating from WCAG 2.0, the working draft is already closely aligned with WCAG2ICT's word substitutions and notes for the SCs. Examples include (partial list):
    • 10.1.4.2 and 11.1.4.2 Audio control: These already include WCAG2ICT's word substitutions for the SC.
    • 11.1.3.1 Info and relationships: This already includes WCAG2ICT's added Note for the SC. (WCAG2ICT's added Note for this SC is relevant to software, not documents, so it is correctly omitted in 10.1.3.1.)
  • SCs using no defined terms — Example:
    • 10.1.3.3 and 11.1.3.3 Sensory characteristics: These include WCAG SC 1.3.3 by reference, and the SC uses no defined terms.
  • WCAG SCs included by reference, using WCAG terms without WCAG2ICT guidance — Example:
    • 10.1.2.5 and 11.1.25 Audio description (pre-recorded): These include WCAG SC 1.2.5 by reference. The SC directly or indirectly uses these terms, defined in the WCAG Glossary: audio; audio description; extended audio description; video. None of these terms have WCAG2ICT guidance. One of these terms, audio description, also has a definition in EN 301 549, 3.1 Terms; the definitions are slightly different but not contradictory.

Problems:

  • Lack of alignment with WCAG2ICT guidance on SCs — Many subclauses of 10.1-10.4 and 11.1-11.4 do not yet include WCAG2ICT's word substitutions and added Notes for the WCAG SCs. Examples include (partial list):
  • Missing WCAG2ICT guidance on defined terms — Many subclauses of 10.1-10.4 and 11.1-11.4 directly or indirectly use terms, defined in the WCAG Glossary, which have additional guidance in WCAG2ICT Glossary Guidance.
    • Examples of WCAG2ICT glossary guidance not currently included in EN 301 549 (partial list):
    • Terms with WCAG2ICT guidance are used directly or indirectly in SCs where the SC itself has WCAG2ICT guidance. Example:
      • SC 2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap — uses the defined term keyboard interface. WCAG2ICT adds two Notes for this term, and those added Notes in turn link to WCAG2ICT guidance for the terms platform software and virtual keyboard.
    • Terms with WCAG2ICT guidance are also used directly or indirectly in SCs where the SC itself does not have WCAG2ICT guidance. Example:
      • SC 1.4.3 Contrast (minimum) — directly or indirectly uses the defined terms: text; images of text; programmatically determined; human language; user agents; assistive technologies; contrast ratio; relative luminance; large scale; user interface component; pure decoration. Many of these terms have additional guidance in WCAG2ICT.
  • WCAG SCs not included by reference, using WCAG terms without WCAG2ICT guidance — Where EN 301 549 has copied an SC and modified it, the SC has lost its links to terms defined in WCAG. Examples (partial list):
    • 10.1.4.2 and 11.1.4.2 Audio control: These clauses have lost their links to WCAG defined terms, which the SC uses directly or indirectly: mechanism; process; paused.
    • 10.2.2.1 and 11.2.2.1 Timing adjustable: These clauses have lost their links to WCAG defined terms real-time event and essential.

Proposed

  • For all WCAG A and AA criteria:
    • Review in WCAG2ICT for word substitutions and added Notes
    • Apply the WCAG2ICT guidance to the relevant sub-clauses in 10.1-10.4 and 11.1-11.4.
    • When an SC uses defined terms directly or indirectly, make the definitions available
  • For all defined terms used in WCAG A and AA criteria:
    • Review in WCAG2ICT for word substitutions and added Notes
    • Incorporate the WCAG2ICT guidance for terms in some way into EN 301 549

Or, if the standards editors intend to incorporate only some parts of the WCAG2ICT guidance, it would be helpful to know which parts are intentionally omitted.

Edited by mitchell_evan