Edit comment LC-741 for Accessibility Guidelines Working Group

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Comment LC-741: Comment Shortname:; Commenter: Eric Hansen <ehansen@ets.org> on behalf of Educational Testing Service; Message-id:; Section of the document concerned:

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Comment Type: TE
Comment (including rationale for proposed change):

1.2.5 Sign language interpretation is provided for multimedia.

Why apparent bias towards sign language instead of other forms of manual communication?

Proposed Change:; Related issues: (space separated ids); WG Notes: [EDITORZ] Discussed 06 July 2006 resolution: accept LC-741 as proposed http://www.w3.org/2006/07/06-wai-wcag-minutes.html SEVERAL EMAILS BACK AND FORTH. HERE ARE THE MOST RECENT How's this? We suggest (actually, it's your suggestion, Eric) that "sign language" be defined separately from "interpretation." Current wording: sign language interpretation translation of spoken words and other audible information into a language that uses a simultaneous combination of handshapes, facial expressions, and orientation and movement of the hands, arms, or body to convey meaning Note: Although some languages have a signed counterpart, most sign languages are independent languages that are unrelated to the spoken language of the same country or culture. Suggested wording: Sign language -- a visual language using combinations of movements of the hands and arms, facial expressions, and body positions to convey meaning. Interpretation into a sign language -- the translation of one language, generally a spoken language, into a sign language. Note: Most sign languages are independent languages that are unrelated to the spoken language(s) of the same country or region. Gregg, We apologize for the delay in getting back to you. We have been caught up in travel, proposal, and other things and have not gotten back to this. Within the next day or two we expect to provide to you our suggestions for: 1. A revised definition of sign language interpretation 2. A definition of sign language Thanks! - Eric -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Gregg Vanderheiden [mailto:gv@trace.wisc.edu] Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 1:03 PM To: Loew, Ruth; Hansen, Eric Subject: RE: WCAG 2.0 - manual communication Thanks Ruth, That is exactly where we ended up too. Thanks much for your time on this. Eric, Ruth, is the language ok then as it is? Does this close your issue/question Eric? Thanks Gregg -- ------------------------------ Gregg C Vanderheiden Ph.D. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Loew, Ruth [mailto:rloew@ETS.ORG] Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:15 AM To: Gregg Vanderheiden; Hansen, Eric Subject: RE: WCAG 2.0 - manual communication Well, you're unlikely to be dealing with people who CAN'T read a written language at all. The issue may be people for whom the written language is less than fully mastered, for which a SL could be helpful. But as you are clearly aware, SLs are hardly universal -- e.g., British and American SL are largely mutually unintelligible, so written English is more of a lingua franca than either SL. But if this is intended as an extra, above & beyond level of accessibility, which not all sites have to meet but which could be implemented where appropriate, then there's nothing wrong with offering translation into a sign language (and calling it a sign language). Ruth C. Loew Office of Disability Policy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Gregg Vanderheiden [mailto:gv@trace.wisc.edu] Sent: Tue 7/18/2006 10:37 PM To: Loew, Ruth; Hansen, Eric Cc: GVAN Subject: RE: WCAG 2.0 - manual communication Hi Ruth, Here is the link to the context. http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/WCAG20/guidelines.html in particular â€“ click on guideline 1.2 http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/WCAG20/guidelines.html#media-equiv Level 3 is for people who want to go above and beyond. The goal is to make thing accessible for people who cannot read the spoken language so there is no need for, nor intent to use, a sign system. The media is already captioned before you get to L3 Only sign languages are intended. You need to talk to Eric to see what the concern he had was. It was to determine what his concern was that we sent the query to him. (Eric can you tell her what your concern is and what you would like to see changed?) Thanks Gregg -- ------------------------------ Gregg C Vanderheiden Ph.D. Discussed in the 22 February 2007 telecon: Accepted by unanimous consent. http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/2007/02/22-wai-wcag-minutes.html {accept} DONE change def of sign language interpretation into TWO definitions: Sign language - a visual language using combinations of movements of the hands and arms, facial expressions, and body positions to convey meaning sign language interpretation - translation of one language, generally a spoken language, into a sign language Note: Most sign languages are independent languages that are unrelated to the spoken language(s) of the same country or region. XML source update 02 March 2007 Response: http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-comments-wcag20/2007Jun/0054.html; Resolution: Thank you for your new proposed definitions. We have revised the definitions to read: sign language a visual language using combinations of movements of the hands and arms, facial expressions, and body positions to convey meaning sign language interpretation translation of one language, generally a spoken language, into a sign language Note: Most sign languages are independent languages that are unrelated to the spoken language(s) of the same country or region.; (Please make sure the resolution is adapted for public consumption)