The purpose of the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template is to assist Federal contracting officials in making preliminary assessments regarding the availability of commercial Electronic and Information Technology products and services with features that support accessibility. It is assumed that offerers will provide additional contact information to facilitate more detailed inquiries.
The first table of the Template provides a summary view of the section 508 Standards. The subsequent tables provide more detailed views of each subsection. There are three columns in each table. Column one of the Summary Table describes the subsections of subparts B and C of the Standards. The second column describes the supporting features of the product or refers you to the corresponding detailed table, "e.g., equivalent facilitation." The third column contains any additional remarks and explanations regarding the product. In the subsequent tables, the first column contains the lettered paragraphs of the subsections. The second column describes the supporting features of the product with regard to that paragraph. The third column contains any additional remarks and explanations regarding the product.
Date: 06/20/2008
Name of product: Adobe® Reader® 9
Contact for more information: access@adobe.com
| Guideline | Applicable | Compliance |
|---|---|---|
§ 1194.21 - Software Applications and Operating Systems |
Applicable |
Supports with Exceptions |
§ 1194.22 Web-Based Intranet and Internet Information and Systems |
Applicable |
Supports |
§ 1194.23 Telecommunications Products |
Not applicable |
— |
§ 1194.24 Video and Multimedia Products |
Applicable |
Supports |
§ 1194.25 Self-Contained, Closed Products |
Not applicable |
— |
§ 1194.26 Desktop and Portable Computers |
Not applicable | — |
§ 1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria |
Applicable |
Supports with Exceptions |
§ 1194.41 Information, Documentation, and Support |
Applicable |
Supports |
| Criteria | Supporting features | Remarks and explanations |
|---|---|---|
(a) When software is designed to run on a system that has a keyboard, product functions shall be executable from a keyboard where the function itself or the result of performing a function can be discerned textually. |
Supports with Exceptions |
All user interface controls and functions in Adobe Reader 9 can be executed via the keyboard with some exceptions including:
|
(b) Applications shall not disrupt or disable activated features of other products that are identified as accessibility features, where those features are developed and documented according to industry standards. Applications also shall not disrupt or disable activated features of any operating system that are identified as accessibility features where the application programming interface for those accessibility features has been documented by the manufacturer of the operating system and is available to the product developer. |
Supports |
Adobe Reader 9 does not disrupt or disable Windows® operating system accessibility features such as filter keys, toggle keys, sticky keys, and the onscreen keyboard. |
(c) A well-defined on-screen indication of the current focus shall be provided that moves among interactive interface elements as the input focus changes. The focus shall be programmatically exposed so that Assistive Technology can track focus and focus changes. |
Supports with Exceptions |
There is a well-defined indication of focus for most of the Adobe Reader 9 interface with some exceptions, including:
|
(d) Sufficient information about a user interface element including the identity, operation and state of the element shall be available to Assistive Technology. When an image represents a program element, the information conveyed by the image must also be available in text. |
Supports with Exceptions |
Adobe Reader 9 provides identity, operation, and state information to assistive technology throughout the interface; however, some elements do not provide identity information, including:
|
(e) When bitmap images are used to identify controls, status indicators, or other programmatic elements, the meaning assigned to those images shall be consistent throughout an application's performance. |
Supports |
|
(f) Textual information shall be provided through operating system functions for displaying text. The minimum information that shall be made available is text content, text input caret location, and text attributes. |
Supports |
Adobe Reader 9 provides text content, caret location, and attributes for textual information throughout the interface. |
(g) Applications shall not override user selected contrast and color selections and other individual display attributes. |
Supports with Exceptions |
Most elements in the Adobe Reader 9 interface inherit user-selected color, contrast, and font settings with some exceptions, including:
|
(h) When animation is displayed, the information shall be displayable in at least one non-animated presentation mode at the option of the user. |
Supports |
Adobe Reader 9 does not use animation. |
(i) Color coding shall not be used as the only means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element. |
Supports |
|
(j) When a product permits a user to adjust color and contrast settings, a variety of color selections capable of producing a range of contrast levels shall be provided. |
Supports |
Adobe Reader 9 allows users to choose from a limited selection of preconfigured color and contrast settings and also to create their own foreground and background color combinations using the operating system color palette. |
(k) Software shall not use flashing or blinking text, objects, or other elements having a flash or blink frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz. |
Supports |
Flashing and blinking text and objects are not used in the Adobe Reader 9 user interface. |
(l) When electronic forms are used, 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 |
Form controls in PDF documents support full access to elements and functionality required for completion of the form with some exceptions, including:
|
| 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). |
Supports |
The PDF format supports the addition of alternative text descriptions for nontext elements such as images, and this alternative text description is available to assistive technology in Adobe Reader 9. |
(b) Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be synchronized with the presentation. |
Supports |
The PDF format is capable of displaying multimedia equivalents that are part of an embedded media player’s accessibility feature set. The PDF format supports captions in embedded movies, using the controls in the movie. |
(c) Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup. |
Supports |
The PDF format supports the use of alternative methods of conveying information, for example, through text as well as color. |
(d) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet. |
Not Applicable |
The PDF format does not use style sheets. |
(e) Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-side image map. |
Not Applicable |
Adobe Reader 9 does not use server-side image maps. |
(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. |
Not Applicable |
Adobe Reader 9 does not use server-side image maps. |
(g) Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables. |
Supports |
The PDF format supports the inclusion of row and column headers in data tables. |
(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 |
The PDF format supports the association of data cells with two or more logical levels of row and column headers. |
(i) Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation |
Not Applicable |
The PDF format does not use 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. |
Supports |
Adobe Reader 9 does not create flickering content. It is up to document authors to ensure compliance with this requirement. |
(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. |
Not Applicable |
|
(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. |
Supports |
The PDF format supports the inclusion of functional text for the information provided by a 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). |
Supports |
A page for downloading the Adobe Reader plug-in is permanently available on the Adobe website. Authors are encouraged to provide a link to this page. |
(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 |
Adobe Reader 9 provides role and state information for form fields, and authors can add “name” values to form controls when creating PDF documents. The PDF format supports full keyboard access to all form controls. |
(o) A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links. |
Supports |
Authors can add links to documents. |
(p) When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required. |
Supports |
The PDF format supports the inclusion of alerts, and the amount of time required to complete an action can be controlled by the document author. |
| Criteria | Supporting Features | Remarks and Explanations |
|---|---|---|
a) All analog television displays 13 inches and larger, and computer equipment that includes analog television receiver or display circuitry, shall be equipped with caption decoder circuitry which appropriately receives, decodes, and displays closed captions from broadcast, cable, videotape, and DVD signals. As soon as practicable, but not later than July 1, 2002, widescreen digital television (DTV) displays measuring at least 7.8 inches vertically, DTV sets with conventional displays measuring at least 13 inches vertically, and stand-alone DTV tuners, whether or not they are marketed with display screens, and computer equipment that includes DTV receiver or display circuitry, shall be equipped with caption decoder circuitry which appropriately receives, decodes, and displays closed captions from broadcast, cable, videotape, and DVD signals. |
Not Applicable |
Adobe Reader 9 does not include any display hardware. |
(b) Television tuners, including tuner cards for use in computers, shall be equipped with secondary audio program playback circuitry. |
Not Applicable |
Adobe Reader 9 does not include any television tuner hardware. |
(c) All training and informational video and multimedia productions which support the agency's mission, regardless of format, that contain speech or other audio information necessary for the comprehension of the content, shall be open or closed captioned. |
Supports |
|
(d) All training and informational video and multimedia productions which support the agency's mission, regardless of format, that contain visual information necessary for the comprehension of the content, shall be audio described. |
Supports |
|
(e) Display or presentation of alternate text presentation or audio descriptions shall be user-selectable unless permanent. |
Supports |
|
| 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. |
Supports with Exceptions |
Adobe Reader 9 provides full support for screen readers and screen magnifier users. However, some interface elements are not keyboard accessible, including:
|
(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. |
Supports |
|
(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 |
Supports |
|
(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. |
Supports |
|
(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. |
Supports |
|
(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. |
Supports with Exceptions |
Keyboard access is supported for the majority of commands and tools in the Adobe Reader 9 interface, but some tools may require fine motor control including:
|
| 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. |
Supports |
Adobe provides electronic versions of all product support documentation. |
(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. |
Supports |
Adobe provides information on accessibility features in the documentation. Electronic versions of all product support documentation are provided. |
(c) Support services for products shall accommodate the communication needs of end-users with disabilities. |
Supports |
Product support for Adobe products is available in a variety of formats and from a number of online sources available from Adobe Systems. |
