Why is this important?
Maintenance means keeping standards up to date transparent and this should be done in accessible ways. This includes clearly explaining updates or withdrawals, inviting ongoing feedback, and continuing to involve Disabled and Deaf people in decisions over time.
Actions
Explore actions for maintenance and withdrawal:
Measure the developed standard's impact with affected communities
Long-term Actions
- Check how the standard works in real-life situations, not just on paper.
- Use surveys, community meetings, or one-on-one consultations to hear from people most affected.
- Focus on feedback from D/deaf, D/disabled, and other equity-denied communities.
- Track whether the standard meets its goals and solves the problems it was meant to address.
- Use the findings to decide whether to keep, revise, or retire the standard.
Barriers these actions address
- Publishing standards does not guarantee awareness or access
- No way to track the real-world impact of a standard
- Inaccessible feedback mechanisms
- Lack of public awareness of the standards feedback process
Offer opportunities to request revisions rather than removal
Long-term Actions
- If a standard is outdated but still useful, let affected communities suggest updates or improvements instead of withdrawing it completely.
- Provide clear instructions on how to request revisions for standards and what kind of changes can be made.
- Use multiple accessible channels for submitting revision requests, such as online forms, email, phone, or mail.
- Share outcomes of revision requests publicly to show how input influenced the standard.
- Track and report revisions to show continuous improvement and maintain trust with communities.
Barriers these actions address
- No clear or inclusive process for retiring standards