Do "sign language" and "symbols" belong under "Presentation" vs "Perception"?

[nitedog]

The current "Presentations" page includes the concept of "Providing alternative presentations of the content, such as sign-language". Later on in the document there are also mentions of "symbols" and "easy-to-read text". I must admit, I can't recall anymore why we decided to put these aspects in the "Presentations" page rather than in the "Perception" page, where I now think it might fit better. I can see the argument that these aspects make existing content easier to use (e.g. sign language might be considered as an addition to captions) but the rationale is not clear from the text. Any thoughts on this?

[MicheleAWilliams-A11y]

I don't feel it belongs in either place because it's not an "accessibility feature" -- only if you're talking about being able to see sign language communication as a system feature, not the language itself. Perhaps that distinction then goes into "Presentations" as something like being able to pin video or overlay an interpreter on recorded video??

[haltersweb]

I don't think you could go wrong in either place. Nothing will fit perfectly, and as long as all bases are covered, I'd say fit it where you think best and trust the reader to take in the entire document and all info with it.

[nitedog]

I don't feel it belongs in either place because it's not an "accessibility feature" -- only if you're talking about being able to see sign language communication as a system feature, not the language itself. Perhaps that distinction then goes into "Presentations" as something like being able to pin video or overlay an interpreter on recorded video??

I like that idea -- providing sign language as an alternative for audio could be under "Perception" (seeing instead of hearing), and adjusting the size of the video, pinning it, and such features could be under "Presentation" (making it easier to see).

@iadawn what do you and your subgroup think of this idea/thread? We need to know for the videos :-)

[daniel-montalvo]

I am struggling with the idea of "sign language" as a "presentation" aspect. I think in the context of how people with disabilities use the web, it does make sense to think of it as "sign language is how some Deaf people perceive content".

For the other examples mentioned, the line is even finer and I would not have a strong opinion.

[iadawn]

Based on the content of the two sections I would say that sign-language more readily lives in 'perception'

[MicheleAWilliams-A11y]

FYI, I missed that "symbols" was part of this. The way "symbols" is described in the current documentation, I feel "symbols" should stay under Presentation -- but note that we're having discussion now on EOWG that will help resolve this....

[shawna-slh]

29 July 2022 EOWG Minutes

[iadawn]

Moved sign language into Perception and copied symbols into Perception. Symbols has also been left in Presentation for the time being. If this becomes an issue, please reopen this issue or raise a separate one.

[nitedog]

See discussion in 28 October 2022 EOWG minutes -- also changed in the videos but will not repeat symbols in both places.