Authoring tools are software and services that “authors” (web developers, designers, writers, etc.) use to produce web content (static web pages, dynamic web applications, etc.). Examples of authoring tools are listed below under “[Who ATAG is for]”.
The Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) documents explain how to:
make the authoring tools themselves accessible, so that people with disabilities can create web content, and
help authors create more accessible web content — specifically: enable, support, and promote the production of content that conforms to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
ATAG is part of a series of accessibility guidelines, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG). [Essential Components of Web Accessibility] https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/components/) explains the relationship between the different guidelines.
Who ATAG is for
ATAG is primarily for developers of authoring tools, including the following types of authoring tools:
web page authoring tools, for example, what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) HTML editors
software for generating websites, for example, content management systems (CMS) and learning management systems (LMS), courseware tools, content aggregators
software that converts to web content technologies, for example, word processors and other office document applications with Save as HTML or EPUB
multimedia authoring tools
websites that let users add content, such as blogs, wikis, photo sharing sites, online forums, and social networking sites
other types of tools listed in the glossary definition of authoring tools
ATAG and supporting resources are also intended to meet the needs of many different audiences, including policy makers, managers, and others. For example:
People who want to choose authoring tools that are accessible and that produce accessible content can use ATAG to evaluate authoring tools.
People who want to encourage their existing authoring tool developer to improve accessibility in future versions can refer the authoring tool vendor to ATAG.
Part A is about making the authoring tool itself accessible.
Part B is about the authoring tool helping authors produce accessible content.
ATAG 2.0 is organized in layers:
Principles provide high-level organization for the guidelines.
Guidelines provide the framework and objectives for the success criteria.
Success criteria are the accessibility requirements, which are written as testable statements, at three levels: A, AA, AAA.
ATAG at a Glance
This comment provides a paraphrased summary of Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0. For the normative technical specification, see www.w3.org/TR/ATAG20.
To learn about ATAG 2.0, please see the ATAG Overview.
Part A: Make the authoring tool user interface accessible
A1 The authoring tool user interface follows applicable accessibility guidelines
Ensure that web-based functionality is accessible
Ensure that non-web-based functionality is accessible
Authoring Tools and ATAG
Authoring tools are software and services that “authors” (web developers, designers, writers, etc.) use to produce web content (static web pages, dynamic web applications, etc.). Examples of authoring tools are listed below under “[Who ATAG is for]”.
The Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) documents explain how to:
ATAG is part of a series of accessibility guidelines, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG). [Essential Components of Web Accessibility] https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/components/) explains the relationship between the different guidelines.
Who ATAG is for
ATAG is primarily for developers of authoring tools, including the following types of authoring tools:
ATAG and supporting resources are also intended to meet the needs of many different audiences, including policy makers, managers, and others. For example:
What is in ATAG 2.0
ATAG 2.0 has two main parts:
ATAG 2.0 is organized in layers:
ATAG at a Glance
This comment provides a paraphrased summary of Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 2.0. For the normative technical specification, see www.w3.org/TR/ATAG20.
To learn about ATAG 2.0, please see the ATAG Overview.
Part A: Make the authoring tool user interface accessible
A1 The authoring tool user interface follows applicable accessibility guidelines
A2 Editing-views are perceivable
A3 Editing-views are operable
A4 Editing-views are understandable
Part B: Support the production of accessible content
B1 Fully automatic processes produce accessible content
B2 Authors are supported in producing accessible content
B3 Authors are supported in improving the accessibility of existing content
B4 Authoring tools promote and integrate their accessibility features
Accessibility Cluster suggested features:
Accessibility cluster main features: https://accessibilitycluster.com/main-results/presentation-of-the-features Accessibility cluster Technical specifications: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5eglzznzcb8tui1/D1.3%20Technical%20specifications%20for%20the%20prioritised%20list%20of%20agreed%20accessibility%20features.pdf?dl=0
Additional ATAG suggested features: