WCAG 3 Topics for Discussion

These discussion topics need to be addressed and resolved before WCAG 3 can be published.

Topics that have been resolved can be reopened with sufficient technical justification.

Accessibility Supported

Accessibility Supported Topic	History	Status	Next Steps
How comprehensive (across language, OS, browser, etc) does support need to be before guidance is not needed or before the author can assume passing without further effort?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD		Schedule for AG discussion

Accessibility Supported Topic	History	Status	Next Steps
How comprehensive (across language, OS, browser, etc) does support need to be before guidance is not needed or before the author can assume passing without further effort?	GitHub Discussion Surveys Minutes		Schedule for AG discussion
How do we write WCAG 3 and supporting materials so that as coverage increases or when coverage is universal within a closed ecosystem, the user agent and AT support can be claimed as conforming even if the author did nothing?	GitHub Discussion Surveys Minutes	Resolved: Outcome centered requirements framed as “available” rather than “provided” Finalized in 3 March Draft	Discuss any additional or replacement solutions if they are brought to the group.
How do we evaluate/address situations where the code is correct but the AT it is used with (or user agent AT combo) doesn't work?	GitHub Discussion Surveys Minutes		Schedule for AG discussion
COGA tools have unique needs and barriers regarding accessibility supported that need to be captured (for example not being able to install the tools they need, greater variety in tools, using the library to access content). Capture and address these.	GitHub Discussion Surveys Minutes

Conformance

Conformance Topic	History	Status	Next Steps
What conformance model will we use?	GitHub Discussion - TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD	FPWD model raised concerns about the work to count instances. Current draft includes an initial proposed model but working group is currently exploring alternatives.	Reach consensus on what falls inside and outside of conformance.
Can we require conformance claims be machine readable so that any organization that makes a claim also log it in a machine readable way (APA)?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD
Should user testing be explicitly called out as a way of testing to conform?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD		Schedule for AG discussion
Which terminology to use: “Partial conformance” vs. “Partial nonconformance”	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD		Schedule for AG discussion

Product diversity

Internationalization Topic	History	Status
How can we write WCAG 3 or supplemental documentation to better support larger / fast changing web sites and applications?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD
How can we write WCAG 3 to support small sites?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD
How do we support evolving technologies?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD	Resolved: Writing technology neutral provisions, technology specific methods and tests.

Internationalization

Internationalization Topic	History	Status
How can we support internationalization of WCAG 3?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD	After exploring registries and guardrail languages, the current suggestion is to republish WCAG 3 when enough research is available to add requirements for additional languages. Languages that do not have research to support the provision would pass the provision by default.	Schedule for AG discussion
How do we promote research in non-English language and alphabets?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD	Draft calls out need for research in provisions that are language/alphabet dependent.	Staff/chairs are working to identify partners in various languages and document research needed.
How do we write guidance that depends on certain contexts (e.g., human language, design differences)?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD

User Generated 3rd Party Content

Use Generated Topic	History	Status	Next Steps
How can we best integrate Authoring tool guidance (ATAG) into WCAG 3?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD	ATAG working group is being stood up. Current suggestion is reference it within methods and state in the conformance section that if an application meets the ATAG related methods, then it conforms.

Integrated 3rd Party Content (Not User Generated)

3rd Party Content Topic	History	Status	Next Steps
How do we clearly denote responsibility for third party content, while encouraging its continued improvement? Note: WCAG 2 allows for partial conformance when third party content is used and can’t be tested.	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD

Policy

Policy Topic	History	Status	Next Steps
What considerations are there for uptake in a policy environment?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD	Conformance subgroup has begun collecting content for policy work.	Schedule for AG discussion
How do we bridge the gap between WCAG 2's conformance model on pages and legislators asking for conforming websites?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD

Assertions

Assertion Topic	History	Status	Next Steps
Can assertions be part of the core level (required for conformance?)	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD	Group leaning towards no, they can be supplemental but not core.	Schedule for AG Discussion
If metadata outside the content itself is needed to validate a test, how is that reported?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD

Testing methodology

Testing Methodology Topic	History	Status	Next Steps
How do we improve the equity of the guidance between different disability types, now and in the future, while preserving a reasonable effort bar for conformance?
How do we reduce or avoid dramatically increasing the cost of testing (e.g. encourage automated testing without reducing the accessibility from manual testing?)
How do we increase testability of guidance?		Resolved: Break provisions into more granular and explicit pieces. Work to map requirements to ACT rules.
Make sure that tests do not rely on assumptions of the newest or any specific technology to pass.
How does user testing get incorporated into testing methodology?

Equity (Functional Needs)

Equity Topic	History	Status	Next Steps
How do we make it easier for people with disabilities to learn about the accessibility of web sites and web apps?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD
Can WCAG 3's conformance modal be updated regularly to continually improve equity?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD

Adoption

Adoption Topic	History	Status	Next Steps
How can we best provide an introduction to WCAG 3 in plain language to help policy makers and others understand what WCAG 3 is and is not?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD
How do we design WCAG to encourage continued improvement while recognizing less than perfect accessibility commonly occurs?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD
How do we make WCAG 3 easier for beginners?	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD
How do we ensure a smooth and speedy transition from WCAG 2 to WCAG 3 in areas such as education,	GitHub Discussion TBD Surveys TBD Minutes TBD	Partial decision: Provide a mapping between WCAG 2 and WCAG 3