WCAG 2.x timeline options
This page is to collect various options for what to do with WCAG 2.x updates. It is quite possible that all SC proposed for WCAG 2.1 will not be completed in time for the WCAG 2.1 release. It is the intention of the group that these SC are not lost, but can be integrated into WCAG normative documents.
It is also possible that the work of the Silver project will result in a specification that is ready to accept these success criteria, but it isn't known whether Silver will be complete in 2020 or later, so it is worth considering what the WG should do if there are SC that are ready to integrate after the release of WCAG 2.1.
Model 1 ("Agile WCAG")
June 2018: WCAG 2.1 released Releases are targeted for every two years following WCAG 2.1 until Silver is ready to be released.
Pro
- W3C is strongly encouraging shorter release cycles and rapid cycles (some AC/AB reps feels that 2 years is the absolute longest a development process for a standard should last).
- WCAG stays more current with new developments in technology to better serve end-users.
- Requirements that do not make it into one version can be addressed in a normative release in a shorter period of time.
- Gov't policy makers and standards groups (Japan, US, Canada) do not feel that regular and rapid releases will disrupt their work.
- Australia is a bit more critical (email correspondence)
- Legal experts do not believe that regular and rapid releases will disrupt their work Correspondence with Lainey Feingold and Dan Goldstein.
- Entities seeking to adopt accessibility standards will be more likely to have a current accessibility standard to use.
Con
- Timeline is aggressive, requirements will be more likely to be cut from a given release.
- Proliferation of versions over time will require the development of resources to help implementers keep versions straight.
- Legal indicates the following: (Dan) I think announcing a plan for biennial updates would undercut our ability to negotiate, because companies would always want to see the next one before agreeing to changes. I think the announcement (as opposed to an internal goal) reduces the value of your standard in its use.
Model 2
June 2018: WCAG 2.1 released Future releases are not determined. Silver work proceeds.
Pro
- Reduces pressure of delivering new versions.
Con
- Entities seeking to adopt accessibility standards will be less likely to have a current accessibility standard to use.
Model 3 ("Complete releases")
June 2018: WCAG 2.1 released, only if all Success Criteria submitted are approved or explicitly rejected