"Lois" <auto-newsgroups.RemoveThis@wordsweave.com> wrote in message
news:0vbic.3803$hk6.522@fe03.usenetserver.com...
> "Websites fail to meet needs of disabled people"
>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/328/7446/976-b?e" target="_blank">http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/328/7446/976-b?e</a>
coll
For gods sake, where is all this PC crapola going to end?
Web sites (like many other things in life) are there
primarily to meet the needs of the owner. If that involves
meeting the needs of one particular visitor, or all
visitors, fine.
Like all things in life, some things are accessable to some
people, and some are not accessable to others - so what???
Should we require wheelchair access to Mt Everest?
No one, regardless their condition, origin or thoughts has
any 'right' to gain access to any web site. Access to a web
site is conditional on accepting the terms of that web site.
Yes, it is good to try and provide for the needs of those
who cannot provide for themselves but I think it is time the
powers that be had a good look at the way they try to
achieve this.
1. Instead of (attempting ) to compel site owners to provide
for all - the powers that be should be looking at providing
those who cant with the tools to be able to
2. Instead of punishing those who do not comply they should
be rewarding those who come up with a solution to building a
universal U/A
This approach has already been tried sucessfully in other
arenas.
E.g. Car makers and road makers are not compeled to make
their products 'usable' for disabled people.
But, inovators are encouraged to make systems that can be
put in any car to enable disabled drivers.
When it comes to traveling on the highway (in a car) it is
not the responsibility or the requirement of the maker of
the U/A (car) or the highway (network) maintainer or the
owner of the destination (website) to ensure accessability.
It is the task of the inovator - often supported by
government - to design and build a modification in the U/A
used by the disabled person to meet their needs.
Much better to take that approach than to try and 'compel'
After all, such draconian laws only apply in the country of
origin and this means that while they apply to some - they
do not apply to all.
> "Bert Massie, the commission's chairman, said:
"Organisations that offer
> goods and services on the web already have a legal duty to
make their sites
> accessible to disabled people. But where the response is
inadequate, the
> industry should be prepared for disabled people to use the
law to make the
> web a less hostile place.""
>
Well here is a news flash for mr Bert. most organisations in
the world outside of Europe, USA and GB do not have a legal
duty to do so.
So either those who are outside those places will have a
'publishing' advantage or, what is more likely, Businesses
in those places who require a web presence but do not wish
to comply - or face the possible penalties - will simply
relocate.
</rant_end>
<flame_coat_begin><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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