Orbis Accessibility
Ex Libris development has focused on accessibility compliance for Orbis.
The tactics and techniques used for accessibility compliance in Orbis were derived from discussion documents and use of tools including the FAE (Functional Accessibility Evaluator) tool. The FAE tool analyzes web content based on the use of CITES/DRES Html Best Practices (see http://html.cita.uiuc.edu/) for web development.
For example, one of the practices used is to declare a headings level 2 tag, <h2>, within ordered, <ol>, and unordered, <ul>, lists. The <h2> tag describes a descriptive label for a collection of links.
Since JAWS (see http://www.freedomscientific.com/fs_products/software_jaws.asp) allows users to navigate web content via headers, <h1> ... <h6>, this is a good way to break up the web interface into logical components.
Orbis implements the use of <h2> headings within lists purely for accessibility navigation. The header is positioned off-screen using css so that a non-screen-reading user does not see the header.
As you work with Orbis, you will observe other characteristics of accessibility compliance.
Accessibility Statement
Ex Libris is committed to making its Web-based applications accessible to as many users as possible regardless of the challenges that they face. As new technologies emerge, Ex Libris makes every effort to improve the accessibility of its products.
The Voyager 7.0 Orbis user interface was developed to comply with leading international accessibility and industry standards.
- The W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0, level A. See http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10/.
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d). See http://www.section508.gov/.
Accessibility Disclaimer
Institutions can customize the interface of Orbis. Ex Libris cannot guarantee that the resulting user interface will be compliant with accessibility standards after a third party has altered the interface.
Orbis connects to other Web sites maintained by third parties over which Ex Libris has no control. Ex Libris makes no representations as to Web accessibility compliance standards maintained by other Web sites.
Comments and Suggestions
If you have any comments or questions on Web accessibility issues relating to Voyager 7.0 Orbis, please contact accessibility@exlibrisgroup.com.