Comments on: PAS 78 To Become Full Standard http://blackwidows.co.uk/blog/2008/02/19/pas-78-to-become-full-standard/ The meanderings of a black widow... Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:59:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Black Widow http://blackwidows.co.uk/blog/2008/02/19/pas-78-to-become-full-standard/comment-page-1/#comment-50827 Black Widow Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:43:23 +0000 http://blackwidows.co.uk/blog/2008/02/19/pas-78-to-become-full-standard/#comment-50827 <blockquote cite="Chris M">Is this coming from tax money?</blockquote> As I understand it, BSI is a self-funded commercial organisation in its own right, so, no, I don't think that any funding from taxes will be involved. <blockquote cite="Chris M">with regards to “the associated price tag is not expected to be a major issue”, how much are we looking at</blockquote> No idea. But, like <abbr title="International Organization for Standardization">ISO</abbr> accreditation, I expect the "price tag" referred to will be the cost of a given web site applying for certification. BSI will, I assume, carry out the necessary audit before granting certification, so consequently, will expect to be paid for it like any other commercial organisation would. However, it is hoped that additional documentation relating to the standard will be freely available, so presumable sites could use the new standard as a guideline to aim for without necessarily paying for full certification. We also need to bear in mind that PAS 78 was not, and is not, free. BSI does charge for it. What has helped here was that the former Disability Rights Commission paid for a license to distribute the document freely. If significant costs are involved in obtaining documentation for the new standard, perhaps a similar arrangement might be forthcoming if it helps to promote the standard and might reasonably be seen to improve web accessibility generally?

Is this coming from tax money?

As I understand it, BSI is a self-funded commercial organisation in its own right, so, no, I don’t think that any funding from taxes will be involved.

with regards to “the associated price tag is not expected to be a major issue”, how much are we looking at

No idea. But, like ISO accreditation, I expect the “price tag” referred to will be the cost of a given web site applying for certification. BSI will, I assume, carry out the necessary audit before granting certification, so consequently, will expect to be paid for it like any other commercial organisation would. However, it is hoped that additional documentation relating to the standard will be freely available, so presumable sites could use the new standard as a guideline to aim for without necessarily paying for full certification.

We also need to bear in mind that PAS 78 was not, and is not, free. BSI does charge for it. What has helped here was that the former Disability Rights Commission paid for a license to distribute the document freely. If significant costs are involved in obtaining documentation for the new standard, perhaps a similar arrangement might be forthcoming if it helps to promote the standard and might reasonably be seen to improve web accessibility generally?

]]> By: ChrisM http://blackwidows.co.uk/blog/2008/02/19/pas-78-to-become-full-standard/comment-page-1/#comment-50825 ChrisM Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:11:11 +0000 http://blackwidows.co.uk/blog/2008/02/19/pas-78-to-become-full-standard/#comment-50825 Is this coming from tax money? I'm amazed we haven't created another quango to handle this, and three to do the work on its behalf... Any how, with regards to "the associated price tag is not expected to be a major issue", how much are we looking at, as I generally draw a line at paying to see a web standard, hence W3C is a paid membership that helps provide its information free of charge. Is this coming from tax money?
I’m amazed we haven’t created another quango to handle this, and three to do the work on its behalf…

Any how, with regards to “the associated price tag is not expected to be a major issue”, how much are we looking at, as I generally draw a line at paying to see a web standard, hence W3C is a paid membership that helps provide its information free of charge.

]]> By: Black Widow http://blackwidows.co.uk/blog/2008/02/19/pas-78-to-become-full-standard/comment-page-1/#comment-49670 Black Widow Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:51:33 +0000 http://blackwidows.co.uk/blog/2008/02/19/pas-78-to-become-full-standard/#comment-49670 Sorry about that, Julie. Dutifully noted and corrected :-) Sorry about that, Julie. Dutifully noted and corrected :-)

]]> By: New British Standard For Web Accessibility Announced - Accessites.org http://blackwidows.co.uk/blog/2008/02/19/pas-78-to-become-full-standard/comment-page-1/#comment-49669 New British Standard For Web Accessibility Announced - Accessites.org Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:44:32 +0000 http://blackwidows.co.uk/blog/2008/02/19/pas-78-to-become-full-standard/#comment-49669 [...] of standards, and coverage of Web 2.0 and RIA issues will naturally be key…” — Julie Howell Chair elect of the IST/45 [...] [...] of standards, and coverage of Web 2.0 and RIA issues will naturally be key…” — Julie Howell Chair elect of the IST/45 [...]

]]> By: Julie Howell http://blackwidows.co.uk/blog/2008/02/19/pas-78-to-become-full-standard/comment-page-1/#comment-49667 Julie Howell Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:53:55 +0000 http://blackwidows.co.uk/blog/2008/02/19/pas-78-to-become-full-standard/#comment-49667 p.s. Please note the correct spelling of my name Best regards Julie Howell Director of Accessibility, Fortune Cookie p.s. Please note the correct spelling of my name

Best regards
Julie Howell
Director of Accessibility, Fortune Cookie

]]> By: Julie Howell http://blackwidows.co.uk/blog/2008/02/19/pas-78-to-become-full-standard/comment-page-1/#comment-49377 Julie Howell Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:47:36 +0000 http://blackwidows.co.uk/blog/2008/02/19/pas-78-to-become-full-standard/#comment-49377 Thanks so much for flagging this up. I'm chair elect of the IST/45 committee that will be drafting the British Standard on web accessibility and am really excited about the task before us. Regarding WCAG 2.0, the BSi process is quite different so the timescale we're working to will be different (though it is true that I do want to see change quickly!). It is our intention to produce the standard within 12 months (first quarter of 2009). The IST/45 committee will decide what the new standard will contain, but it is likely that we'll actually produce a family of standards, and coverage of Web 2.0 and RIA issues will naturally be key. Many thanks for mentioning this on your blog and for the opportunity to respond to it. I'll be glad to keep you posted as the work progresses. Julie Howell Chair-Elect, IST/45 Director of Accessibility at Fortune Cookie Thanks so much for flagging this up. I’m chair elect of the IST/45 committee that will be drafting the British Standard on web accessibility and am really excited about the task before us.

Regarding WCAG 2.0, the BSi process is quite different so the timescale we’re working to will be different (though it is true that I do want to see change quickly!). It is our intention to produce the standard within 12 months (first quarter of 2009). The IST/45 committee will decide what the new standard will contain, but it is likely that we’ll actually produce a family of standards, and coverage of Web 2.0 and RIA issues will naturally be key.

Many thanks for mentioning this on your blog and for the opportunity to respond to it. I’ll be glad to keep you posted as the work progresses.

Julie Howell
Chair-Elect, IST/45

Director of Accessibility at Fortune Cookie

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