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Section 508

HHS Section 508 Evaluation

Name of Product: DPL 7 Decision Analysis Software, All Versions
Contact for more Information: info@syncopation.com

Summary Table
Criteria Supporting Features Remarks and Explanations
Section 1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems Supports with some exceptions. Please refer to the attached VPAT. Please refer to the attached VPAT.
Section 1194.22 Web-based internet information and applications
DPL is not a Web-based application.
Section 1194.23 Telecommunications Products
DPL is not a telecommunications product.
Section 1194.24 Video and Multi-media Products
DPL is not a video or multi-media product.
Section 1194.25 Self-Contained, Closed Products
DPL is not a self-contained product.
Section 1194.26 Desktop and Portable Computers
DPL is software, not hardware.
** Section 1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria Supports with some exceptions. Please refer to the attached VPAT. Please refer to the attached VPAT.
** Section 1194.41 Information, documentation, and support. Supports. Please refer to the attached VPAT. Please refer to the attached VPAT.


Section 1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems
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 DPL provides keyboard access to actions that can be identified or labeled with text. In addition, shortcut keys and other keyboard commands are provided for many actions typically performed in the GUI, including creating nodes and building decision trees. DPL can be used successfully without a mouse. However, manipulating influence diagrams and decision trees is easier using a mouse. In addition, using a mouse facilitates the interpretation of some of DPL's graphical outputs.
(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 DPL does not disrupt or disable activated features of other products that are identified as accessibility features.
(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 DPL uses standard Windows constructs to indicate focus in text areas and dialog boxes. In other areas the focus is indicated by a distinctive color and can be changed programmatically by sending a Windows message.
(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 DPL's buttons, menus, toolbars and other interface elements have text identifiers associated with them.
(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 The meaning of images used in DPL is consistent throughout the software.
(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 DPL uses standard Windows functions for displaying text.
(g) Applications shall not override user selected contrast and color selections and other individual display attributes. Supports DPL does not override user-selected color, contrast, font or other operating system display settings.
(h) When animation is displayed, the information shall be displayable in at least one non-animated presentation mode at the option of the user. Not Applicable DPL 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 with Exceptions DPL does not rely on color coding for building Influence Diagrams or Decision Trees (nodes, which are the key graphical building blocks, are distinguished by shape as well as color). DPL further does not rely on color coding for data entry or for program execution. Most of DPL's graphical outputs also do not rely on color coding. DPL does have a few graphical outputs that rely partly on color coding to most effectively convey results. However, in these outputs, quantitative results are provided as well.
(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 Colors and contrast settings cannot be changed in DPL directly. DPL uses the system colors for menus and controls.
(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 DPL does not use flashing or blinking text objects or other flashing or blinking elements.
(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 Limited testing has shown that DPL can be used with screen reader software. However, DPL has not been tested with a full range of Assistive Technologies. Some data entry forms within DPL, e.g., forms for entering conditional probabilities, rely on graphics and may be difficult to use with a screen reader.


Section 1194.41 Information, documentation, and support
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 DPL can be used with Assistive Technologies such as screen readers. Users of AT should contact their AT vendor to assess the compatibility of their product with DPL. Some features of the DPL graphical user interface (GUI) do rely on graphical elements that cannot be easily translated to text (e.g., the positioning of arcs between arrows in the Influence Diagram). However, unlike many software products, DPL can be successfully operated with minimal use of the GUI by using the text-based DPL programming language to create and run models.
(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 Settings can be modified in the operating system to enlarge print output. Assistive Technologies can also be used.
(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 Hearing is not required to use DPL.
(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 Audio information is not used in DPL.
(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 User speech is not required.
(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 Nearly all DPL commands can be conducted without using a mouse or simultaneous actions. A few aspects of the GUI, such as positioning and moving nodes and arcs, do require the use of a mouse or keypad. However, DPL can also be operated using only the text-based programming language to create and run DPL models.


Section 1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria
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 DPL documentation is provided in .pdf format, printed manuals, and via online Help (HTML).
(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 These will be provided at no additional charge if needed.
(c) Support services for products shall accommodate the communication needs of end-users with disabilities. Supports Support services for DPL are provided via email, telephone, and/or web-based communication, according to the end-user's needs. Complete information on contacting DPL Support is available at www.syncopation.com/support.html.


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