This forum seems to do a pretty adequate job of covering all aspects of web ownership (e.g., hosting, domain names, promotion, seo, design, etc.) ... but it seems to be missing one -- Web Standards.

There might be a sub-forum here for it and maybe I missed it? If not, would it make sense to have one?

Most people are really confused about the best approach to making their sites web accessible and if they're already a member at a forum they feel comfortable in, they're really not going to go looking around for an accessibility forum to join.

Just a friendly suggestion.

I don't know if that would fly or not. I can see an argument either way.

I tend to lean against it just because a lot of the basic tenets of accessibility are covered in design (alt attributes, resizable fonts, etc.) There may be too much overlap between the two. But I don't say that with full certainty either. It might fly.

There's more to accessibility than just resizable fonts, and alt attributes, though. For example, tabindex, skiplinks, long description (d-link), placeholder text in forms, form labels, legends, fieldset, and so on and so forth.

It'd be nice to have an area where people could find all of the relevant information in one centralized location Vs having to find threads scattered between several different sub-forums (e.g., design, html code, etc.)

I can't tell you what a pain it was to have to search all over the Internet for forums that had active discussions regarding web standards. I managed to find a few, but it's their only focus. It's more useful to me to participate in a forum where there's focus on all aspects of site ownership Vs just one aspect of it.

Also, if your time is limited (as mine always is) it's very sensible to actively participate in a few select forums where you're able to get access to all the information you require Vs having to hit 20 different forums for 20 different bits of information.

Yeah, I guess that's true. I thought of all of that, but those are aspects that don't necessarily get discussed simply because most people don't know about them. That's not necessarily a good thing either...that's just the reality of the situation.

Exactly. If something isn't being discussed, how is anyone supposed to find out about it? If there's a place to discuss it, people will find out about it.

By having a sub-forum for web standards, it would allow more people to become educated about the best approach to creating a site that's web accessible. Most people that have asked me about it said they were reluctant to join an accessibility forum because their knowledge wasn't on par with most of the membership there.

If someone feels comfortable in the forum environment, they will ask, contribute, and learn. I like this forum, and I like IHY forum. It'd be nice to have a web standards forum here too because not everyone here reads and participates at IHY.

It's nice to get more than one opinion on something, and nice to get the experience of other members as well.

I'd go for it. Never a reason not to learn more about accessibility.
Well if they are not being discussed then someone that knows something about them just needs to make a sticky, like basics of accessibility. I use tabindex and accesskey, but then again no idea about skiplinks (you mean skip to contents?)

Yes, skiplinks are skip navigation, skip menu, skip content, skip search, skip footer, etc. They're just called skiplinks. Yes, I use accesskey and tabindex also.

Unfortunately, we have far, far too many people who are still throwing up web sites full of tables for layout and little or no CSS. They have no clue about web standards (except for me harping on it ..lol) and it appears that far too many of them don't care. When you say 'accessibility' all they hear is 'blind people' .. when the issue goes far beyond just the blind.

I've posted stickies on Web Standards in the HTML forum, but not a lot specifically on accessibility, although I have a ton of links to sources on the subject. I don't think a sub-forum would get a lot of traffic but I could be wrong, we might try it and see.

Given that accessibility is now the law in the UK, I would think that at least that portion of members definitely need to know more. I think it will come in the US too, with the Federation for the Blind suing companies, AND the Federal Govt, and winning, it's an issue that should be addressed NOW, by everybody.

I agree, I mean for the own little private site it's not an issue, but when your working on a professional website it becomes one. Currently I've not done much more than local clubs etc, which usually means some dynamic contents and a few pages. Largest I've done is 35 pages and that was some council. Yet I'd still like to integrate accessibility. Since if they get sued it is going to come back to me, for sure.

Originally Posted by LadynRed

Given that accessibility is now the law in the UK, I would think that at least that portion of members definitely need to know more. I think it will come in the US too, with the Federation for the Blind suing companies, AND the Federal Govt, and winning, it's an issue that should be addressed NOW, by everybody.

"Section 508" is the US equivalent to the UK DDA legislation isn't it?

Section 508 requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. IT Accessibility & Workforce Division, in the U.S. General Services Administration's Office of Governmentwide Policy, has been charged with the task of educating Federal employees and building the infrastructure necessary to support Section 508 implementation. Using this web site, Federal employees and the public can access resources for understanding and implementing the requirements of Section 508.

I thinks the UK's DDA legislation on the other hand concerns more than just the government, but also business, etc.

Yep, you're right actually - I didn't realise that Section 508 was only applicable to Federal agencies.

With regards to the UK DDA legislation - according to the RNIB:

Websites may be covered under the employment provisions, as they may be a means of advertising jobs; or there may be an intranet which staff need to use. Websites will most commonly be covered when they constitute the provision of a service, or they are related to education.

Yes, Section 508 is extremely limited in comparison to the UK DDA legislation. I think eventually the US will follow.

I think eventually the US will follow

It's to be hoped not for your sakes

The DDA is a complete dogs breakfast of stupid rules and regulations. There is no definitions of what is acceptable as minimum specifications for User Agents and the whole thing is wide open to frivolous or malicious complaints.

I agree ther should be a forum on standards!
it would be fantastic to have it, and yes i agree it wont be the most popular but i think everyone will agree that there are already forums on here which they would probally use/visit less than a standards forum...

anyway, i agree there is loads more than the simple stuff, i am making a site which will hopefully be used for a charity site and i have already put the W3C conformace icon on the site and i am/will try to make it as complient and accessable as possible, for one reason it would mean i can say hey its compatible!

and hey make the forum if its not used just delete it! its quite simple but i really think it will be used enought o justify it...

Dan.