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Equity

AGWG - August 2022

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Research

Equity Framework - Research and Prototypes

  • Silver research
  • Definitions of equity
  • Laws
  • Research and design principles

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What is Equity?

  • Inequity for people with disabilities is the problem.
  • Equity is the solution that addresses inequity.
  • Inequity as a problem invites an ongoing dialogue about use cases and impacts and harms.

Detailed thoughts and discussion are in the �Equity Framework, in the Definition Description section.

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Equity versus Equal

“Equity” & “Equal” are not the same.

Equity adds “justice, fairness, and impartiality, the principal denotations of equity.” With equity we aim to restore justice. Merriam-Webster 'Equity' & 'Equality'

“Equality is equal access, while ‘equity’ is equal outcomes.”�— Antionette Carroll�Founder, President, and CEO �of Creative Reaction Lab

Illustration credit to The Center for Story-based Strategy. Image is from “Why Multilingual Research Matters”

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Equity Description

Equity in WCAG3 can be seen as:

  • Equity-centered processes developing the Guidelines
  • Along the way to developing WCAG3 there will be states where we can evaluate the level of equity
  • WCAG3 has a journey toward a result of equity

Central definition: �Usability for a site or product at a given conformance level is approximately equivalent across disability groups.

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Equity-centered processes

  • People with disabilities are not marginalized, excluded, or deprived from an equitable outcome.
  • Equity is a lens and filter.
  • No disability groups are “forgotten about.”
  • Equity in the Conformance model
  • Address barriers to participation in the AG

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Equity in WCAG3

Equity is aim of the process AGWG follows to develop guidelines that:

  • Are based on user needs
  • Prioritize user needs over measurability
  • Have a way to add new user needs
  • Do not prioritize one disability need over another
  • Consider the impact of intersectional needs

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Equity as a state

  • Conformance Model: Disability groups have equity via the conformance model, e.g., inequity is that the needs of some groups are only addressed at higher conformance levels.
  • Usability for a site at a given conformance level is approximately equivalent across disability groups.
  • “Perfect is the enemy of good.”
    • Equity is the hypothetical perfect state towards which we strive.
    • Determining what is “equitable enough.”

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Equity as a result

  • All needed guidance is included regardless of measurability.
  • Equity is the result of processes and actions that ensure the spectrum of human reality obtains what is needed to participate, not solely access.
  • In WCAG3, equity is about the impact the standards / guidelines have on people with disabilities — including people with disabilities in the work.
  • Equity is when everyone has the same opportunity and access in spite of differences in how that is achieved.

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Known Challenges 1 of 2

  • Resource Intensive Guidelines such as support for Sign Language, Plain Language, and Good Design.
  • Technical solutions that support one group but make things harder for another group.
  • Lack of expertise in user needs or technical solutions.
  • Differing needs within the same community.

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Known Challenges 2 of 2

  • Complexity in scoring and the conformance model.
  • How to measure that usability is approximately equivalent across disability groups.
  • How to include intersectional needs in guidelines.

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Outstanding Questions 1 of 2

  • Should Equity assist in uptake of WCAG3 by regulators?
  • How do we incorporate guidance for functional needs for which we lack expertise in the group?
  • How can we add guidance for technological solutions that don’t yet exist?
  • How do we make WCAG conformance realistically adoptable for various organization types?
  • How do we address circumstances where user groups have conflicting needs?

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Outstanding Questions 2 of 2

  • Could including more functional categories get a better score and less functional categories would get a poorer score? Would that improve equity or reduce it in practice?
  • How can we make the use of the guidelines equitable across user needs (i.e., a blind person being able to caption or judge color contrast)?
  • In a guideline specification, how far can we go to support socioeconomic impact on people with disabilities?
  • How can we ensure that we are in alignment with various international civil rights legislation?

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Recommendations

Achieve AGWG consensus on:

  • A clear definition of equity scoped for WCAG3.
  • The actions and process needed for WCAG3 to attain equitable results for all disability groups including those who may have been previously marginalized.

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Resources