Bow Tie Kreative Writing System
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Rules / accessibility

ACC-011 Hard constraint layer: document

Respect user dignity

IF language stereotypes, infantilizes, blames, or defines people solely by a condition without contextual reason, THEN replace it with accurate respectful language ELSE retain self-identified terms.

Why the rule exists

Accessibility includes social and cognitive safety, not only mechanical readability.

Condition

The rule fires when this evaluates true. Paths marked below must be present in the fact base; the engine reports the rest rather than guessing them.

  • document.dignity_risk eq true

Facts this rule reads

PathSource
document.dignity_risk You supply it

Then

  1. replace — target document.flagged_language
  2. defer_to — target person_or_community_self_identification

Else

  1. retain — target current_text, No triggering condition is present.

LAKA

Smallest sufficient intervention
Yes
Primary axes

Sources

  • Google Developer Documentation Style Guide — Google link
    Clear, consistent, audience-directed technical documentation.
  • Microsoft Writing Style Guide — Microsoft link
    Warm, clear, concise, helpful technical communication.
  • Writing for Web Accessibility — W3C Web Accessibility Initiative link
    Clear structure, descriptive labels, alternatives, and understandable content.
The raw rule record

Verbatim from 17-accessibility-rules.json. Also available at /v1/rules/ACC-011.

{
  "id": "ACC-011",
  "name": "Respect user dignity",
  "domain": "accessibility",
  "layer": "document",
  "strength": "hard_constraint",
  "human_logic": "IF language stereotypes, infantilizes, blames, or defines people solely by a condition without contextual reason, THEN replace it with accurate respectful language ELSE retain self-identified terms.",
  "when": {
    "path": "document.dignity_risk",
    "operator": "eq",
    "value": true
  },
  "then": [
    {
      "action": "replace",
      "target": "document.flagged_language",
      "with": "accurate_respectful_contextual_language"
    },
    {
      "action": "defer_to",
      "target": "person_or_community_self_identification",
      "when": "known"
    }
  ],
  "else": [
    {
      "action": "retain",
      "target": "current_text",
      "reason": "No triggering condition is present."
    }
  ],
  "unless": [],
  "because": "Accessibility includes social and cognitive safety, not only mechanical readability.",
  "diagnostics": [],
  "examples": {},
  "source_ids": [
    "WEB-003",
    "WEB-004",
    "WEB-005"
  ],
  "laka": {
    "smallest_sufficient_intervention": true,
    "primary_axes": [
      "scope",
      "depth",
      "magnitude",
      "reversibility"
    ]
  }
}

Other accessibility rules

  1. ACC-001 Use clear words for the actual audience IF a simpler word is equally accurate, respectful, and familiar, THEN use it ELSE retain the necessary precise term with support. Context default
  2. ACC-002 Simple tense and voice when possible IF present active construction expresses the real time and actor, THEN prefer it ELSE use the tense and voice accuracy requires. Context default
  3. ACC-003 No nested double negatives IF a double negative or negative inside another condition obscures polarity, THEN rewrite with one explicit positive or negative operation ELSE retain a necessary legal distinction with explanation. Hard constraint
  4. ACC-004 Separate each instruction IF multiple actions appear in one block and can be completed separately, THEN make each a separate step ELSE retain a single compound action. Context default
  5. ACC-005 Explain implied meaning when consequential IF humor, irony, metaphor, convention, or context carries a consequential instruction or conclusion, THEN state the literal meaning too ELSE retain. Hard constraint
  6. ACC-006 Headings and labels are unique and descriptive IF repeated or vague headings prevent out-of-context identification, THEN rename them by topic or task ELSE retain. Hard constraint
  7. ACC-007 Text alternatives convey function or information IF meaningful non-text content appears, THEN provide a concise equivalent of its purpose and relevant information; IF decorative, mark it ignorable ELSE block release. Hard constraint
  8. ACC-008 Do not encode meaning by color alone IF color distinguishes status, category, instruction, or error, THEN add text, shape, icon, pattern, or position with an accessible label ELSE retain. Hard constraint