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WRDS 508 Compliance Statement


Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by Congress in the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, requires that electronic and information technology used by Federal agencies be accessible to people with disabilities.

Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS) is covered under section 1194.22 (Web-based internet information and applications) of Section 508 and supports, with some exceptions, the guidelines set forth in Section 508. This page provides information about WRDS’ compliance, including a complete Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) documenting compliance.

WRDS is committed to providing access to our web pages for individuals with disabilities.

To meet this commitment, we will comply with the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Section 508 requires that individuals with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on us.

If you use assistive technology and the format of any material on our web site interferes with your ability to access the information, please contact wrds-support@wharton.upenn.edu for assistance.




Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT)

Date: April 2, 2009
Summary Table
Voluntary Product Accessibility Template
Criteria Supporting Features Remarks and explanations
Section 1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems Not Applicable  
Section 1194.22 Web-based internet information and applications Supports with Exceptions See section 1194.21 detail table below
Section 1194.23 Telecommunications Products Not Applicable  
Section 1194.24 Video and Multimedia Products Not Applicable  
Section 1194.25 Self-Contained, Closed Products Not Applicable  
Section 1194.26 Desktop and Portable Computers Not Applicable  
Section 1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria Supports with Exceptions See section 1194.31 detail table below
Section 1194.41 Information, documentation, and support Supports See section 1194.41 detail table below
Section 1194.22 Web-based internet information and applications—Detail
Criteria Supporting Features Remarks and explanations
(a) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (e.g., via “alt”, “longdesc”, or in element content). Supported Images have proper descriptive tags.
(b) Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be synchronized with the presentation. Supports with Exceptions Multimedia presentations are currently being transcribed, and the transcriptions will be available as plain text pages.
(c) Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup. Supported Color is not used for any purpose other than design.
(d) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet. Supported All documents are available in pdf format.
(e) Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-side image map. Not Applicable. Server side image maps are not used.
(f) Client-side image maps shall be provided instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape. Supported All image-map based navigation is client-side, along with alt tags describing each tab.
(g) Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables. Supports with Exceptions 70% of tables contain column and or row headers when the table is not used for formatting alone. WRDS is in the process of moving to 100%.
(h) Markup shall be used to associate data cells and header cells for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers. Supports with Exceptions 70% of tables contain column and or row headers when the table is not used for formatting alone. WRDS is in the process of moving to 100%.
(i) Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation. Not Applicable WRDS does not utilize frames.
(j) Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz. Supported No animated images are used in WRDS.
(k) A text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, shall be provided to make a web site comply with the provisions of this part, when compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way.  The content of the text-only page shall be updated whenever the primary page changes. Supported In all places where WRDS does not comply with 508 provisions, a up-to-date text only page has been created.
(l) When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to create interface elements, the information provided by the script shall be identified with functional text that can be read by assistive technology. Supported Content is written to the page by scripts and not provided directly by the script.
(m) When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with §1194.21(a) through (l). Supported WRDS uses only the Adobe Flash plugin.
(n) When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, the form shall allow people using assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues. Supports with Exceptions Not all electronic forms have been enabled to comply with this requirement.
(o) A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links. Supported No repetitive navigation links are used.
(p) When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required. Not Applicable Timed responses are not required in WRDS.
Section 1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria
Criteria Supporting Features Remarks and explanations
(a) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user vision shall be provided, or support for Assistive Technology used by people who are blind or visually impaired shall be provided. Supported All features may be accessed by text input, and all results may be accessed as plain ASCII text. Assistive Technology can allow visually impaired people to submit commands via voice input or other means and can allow plain text results to be presented via speech synthesis or a Braille display.
(b) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require visual acuity greater than 20/70 shall be provided in audio and enlarged print output working together or independently, or support for Assistive Technology used by people who are visually impaired shall be provided. Supported Using standard web browser or operating system features, enlarged print output is available in WRDS.
(c) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user hearing shall be provided, or support for Assistive Technology used by people who are deaf or hard of hearing shall be provided Supported Plain text transcripts are available for all audio information.
(d) Where audio information is important for the use of a product, at least one mode of operation and information retrieval shall be provided in an enhanced auditory fashion, or support for assistive hearing devices shall be provided. Supported Plain text transcripts are available for all audio information.
(e) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user speech shall be provided, or support for Assistive Technology used by people with disabilities shall be provided. Supported All features of WRDS may be accessed via keyboard text or mouse input.
(f) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require fine motor control or simultaneous actions and that is operable with limited reach and strength shall be provided. Not Supported  
Section 1194.41 Information, documentation, and support
Criteria Supporting Features Remarks and explanations
(a) Product support documentation provided to end-users shall be made available in alternate formats upon request, at no additional charge. Supported WRDS will provide support documentation to end-users in alternate formats upon request, within reason, at no additional charge.
(b) End-users shall have access to a description of the accessibility and compatibility features of products in alternate formats or alternate methods upon request, at no additional charge. Supported WRDS will provide a description of the accessibility and compatibility features of products in alternate formats or alternate methods, within reason and upon request, at no additional charge.
(c) Support services for products shall accommodate the communication needs of end-users with disabilities. Supported The primary method of support for WRDS is email. We are reliant on the end-user being able to interact via email.

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