[chisigmail] Clarification: Is RTF accessible?

[Jessica Enders]

I should clarify that I'm not a Microsoft-basher! The only reason I  
mentioned it is that ownership of a standard might be considered, by  
some, to compromise accessibility.

Also, if it helps, I'm thinking about RTF for /forms/, not general  
text documents. I think this makes the situation a little bit messier.

Finally, I would definitely recommend semantic HTML as a first choice  
- we're just looking at the other options that might be available if  
it isn't.

Thanks again for all your help,


Jessica Enders
Director
Formulate Information Design
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http://formulate.com.au
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Phone: (02) 6116 8765
Fax: (02) 8456 5916
PO Box 5108
Braddon ACT 2612
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Begin forwarded message:


> From: Jessica Enders <jessica at formulate.com.au>

> Date: 27 May 2008 4:08:26 PM

> To: chisigmail at chisig.org, wsg at webstandardsgroup.org,  

> canberra_ia_community at yahoogroups.com.au

> Subject: Is RTF accessible?

>

> Hello

>

> I am trying to work out whether a Rich Text File is considered  

> accessible, to the extent that Australian federal government  

> agencies must provide electronic documents in an accessible format.

>

> RTF is owned by Microsoft, but most word processors can read it.  

> Apparently if styles are used correctly, RTF files can be used well  

> by screen readers. Also, section 2.3 of the World Wide Web Access:  

> Disability Discrimination Act Advisory Notes (from 2002, mind you)  

> on the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission website  

> (http://hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/standards/www_3/www_3.html)  

> suggests that RTF is considered acceptable.

>

> Any views?

>

> Jessica Enders

> Director

> Formulate Information Design

> ----------------------------------------

> http://formulate.com.au

> ----------------------------------------

> Phone: (02) 6116 8765

> Fax: (02) 8456 5916

> PO Box 5108

> Braddon ACT 2612

> ----------------------------------------

>