Does Silverligth 4 comply with the WCAG 2.0 specifications

Question

I need to build a web application which complies with the WCAG 2.0 specification.

One main feature of this application is that some code must be executed on the client. I don't have any way to avoid it (it's the old problem of the electronic sign).

That's why I thought of Silverlight (and because of RIA services, of course). But I haven't found any information about whether an application developed this way would meet the WCAG 2.0 requirements.

Any links or opinions?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Silverlight is not designed to meet the requirements of WCAG 2.0. All text is rendered as a bitmap and not available to text reading software. Full accessibility keyboard support is doable but not built in.

If you must use Silverlight and WCAG 2.0, then you will also need a traditional website, for those who cannot use Silverlight due to visual impairment or other disability. Note a parallel ASP.Net site also helps with SEO requirements.

A good combination would be a Silverlight front end using RIA services, along with an ASP.Net website (which can also use RIA services) to meet the accessibility requirements.

It is an easy matter to detect if Silverlight is not installed, then show the traditional site, or you could give a choice of Silverlight or web from a main Html page.