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Orbis Online Section 508 Compliance Statement

f. Accessibility Standards

SECTION 508 AND THE NEW FEDERAL ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS FOR ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (E&IT)

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act imposes new standards governing the accessibility of electronic and information technology used by the Federal government. These standards apply to contracts for E&IT awarded on or after June 25, 2001. Orbis Online, Inc. meets applicable accessibility standards at 36 CFR 1194 as demonstrated below:

Technical Standards - Software Applications and Operating Systems 1194.21
Section 21 addresses the needs of the visually impaired. The standards require compatibility with commonly used assistive technology, such as screen readers and alternative keyboards. Specific standards address alternative keyboard navigation, animated displays, color and contrast settings, flash rates, and electronic forms. Orbis Online's product functions comply with section 1194.21. All functions are executable from the keyboard where the function itself or the result of performing a function can be discerned textually. Orbis Online applications do not disrupt activated features of other products that are identified as accessibility features. Within Orbis Online applications, focus determination can be made from onscreen text and linear features. In Orbis Online applications, all information is supplied in, at a minimum, textual form. Orbis Online electronic forms use standard Microsoft Interface technology. The functionality of graphics and bitmap images remain the same throughout all applications.
Orbis Online textual standards are provided through industry standard Microsoft Operating Systems. Orbis Online applications do not override user-selected contrast and color selections or other individual display attributes. When animation is displayed, the information is displayable in at least one non-animated presentation mode at the option of the user. In the Orbis auction environment color-coding is used to identify participants. Orbis has taken steps to make sure that auction participants are also identified by text descriptors. Other measures taken by Orbis Online include not permitting users to make adjustments to key elements of the auction environment. Orbis Online applications use blink frequencies outside the range of 2 Hz to 55 Hz.

1194.22 Orbis Online Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications
This standard facilitates accesses for the visually impaired that rely on assistive devices such as screen readers and refreshable Braille displays. The standards address requirements such as text equivalents for graphics that are necessary for assistive devices to "read" elements of web pages. Graphics and animation must be provided in an accessible format. Specific standards address the accessibility of multimedia presentations, image maps, style sheets, scripting languages, applets and plug-ins, and electronic forms. Orbis Online, Inc. meets applicable accessibility standards at 36 CFR 1194 as demonstrated below:

a) All non-text elements of Orbis web pages also include text equivalents.
b) Orbis Online utilizes no multimedia in its web pages and auction environment.
c) All Orbis Online web pages are designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color.
d) Documents are organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet.
e) Redundant text links are provided for each active region of a server-side image map.
f) All of Orbis Online image maps are browser-based and support this requirement.
g) Row and column headers are identified for data tables.
h) Markup is used to associate data cells and header cells for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers.
i) Frames are titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation.
j) Pages are designed to operate outside the stated frequencies.
k) A text-only page is not required. Orbis Online are in compliance with this part.
l) Orbis Online utilize scripting languages, but they are displayed with Java Server Pages (JSP), which can be read by assistive technology.
m) Orbis Online provides links to plug-ins or applets that comply with 1194.21 (a) through (l).
n) Orbis Online electronic forms 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.
o) Repetitive navigation links are minimized in Orbis Online systems.
p) No timeouts are present, with the exception of the end of a bidding event, and this is identified by an on-screen timing device.

Note to 1194.22:
Orbis Online applications are in compliance with paragraphs (l), (m), (n), (o), and (p).

1194.23 Telecommunications Products
This section is designed to ensure access to people with hearing impairments and address compatibility with hearing aids, cochlear implants, and assistive listening devices. This section does not apply to Orbis Online, as Orbis is not a provider of telecommunications products or services.

1194.24 Video and Multimedia Products
This section relates to multimedia products to include video programs, narrated slide productions, and computer generated programs. Viewers must be given the capability to turn captioning or video description features on or off. This section does not apply to Orbis Online, as Orbis does not provide video and multimedia products.

1194.25 Self Contained or Closed Products
Items in this category include information kiosks, information transaction machines, copiers, printers, calculators, fax machines and similar types of equipment that frequently have embedded software but are designed such that assistive technology cannot be easily attached or installed. The standards require access features to be built into the system so that users do not have to attach an assistive device. Standards address mechanisms for private listening, touch-screens, auditory output and adjustable volume controls, and the placement of controls within accessible reach. This section is non-applicable to Orbis Online, as Orbis products are web-based and are not self-contained or closed.

1194.26 Desktop and Portable Computers
These standards focus on keyboards and other mechanically operated controls, touch-screens, the use of biometric identification, and ports and connectors. This section is non-applicable to Orbis Online, as Orbis is not a provider of desktop or portable computers.

1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria
These standards are designed to ensure that accessible components work together to create an accessible product. They also apply to technologies that are not specifically addressed under the other standards. Orbis Online, Inc. meets applicable accessibility standards at 36 CFR 1194 as demonstrated below:

a) Orbis Online applications support assistive technology used by people who are blind or visually impaired.
b) The text size in Orbis Online applications can be enlarged to accommodate visual acuity less than 20/70.
c) Orbis Online applications do not require user hearing.
d) Although bid alerts are audible, bids are also displayed in text.
e) Orbis Online applications do not require user speech.
f) Orbis Online application functions are executable through a simple keyboard interface.

1194.41 Information Documentation and Support
End-users must be given access to a description of the accessibility and compatibility features of products in alternate formats or alternate methods upon request, at no additional charge. Support services for products must accommodate the communication needs of end-users with disabilities. Orbis Online's web pages and auction environment meets applicable accessibility standards as demonstrated below:

a) Orbis Online product support documentation is available in hard copy, online, in CD-ROM form. Product support documentation is written in common, industry standard electronic formats, at no additional charge.
b) End-users have access to a description of the accessibility and compatibility features in hard copy, online, CD-ROM form and other common, industry standard electronic formats, at no additional charge.
c) Support services accommodate communication needs of end-users with disabilities and are available via hard copy, email, TDD, telephone, fax, etc.