Accessibility Statement (Status of declaration: 02.11.2023 )

The operator facilities of REFODAT are determined to make this an accessible research data repository for all. The following digital accessiblity statement is required by the currently valid versions of the Accessible Information Technology Ordinance (Barrierefreie-Informationstechnik-Verordnung, BITV 2.0) and the German Act on Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz, BGG). These two standards likewise stipulate the requirements for the technical implementation of digital accessiblity.
This accessiblity statement applies to https://refodat.de.

When was the digital accessibility statement created?

How accessible is this offer?

Which aspects are not fully accessible?

Limited accessibility to embedded PDF documents

Embedded PDF documents may not be fully accessible.
As a result of the great amount of embedded documents it has so far not been possible to convert all of these into an accessible format. This is especially the case for those documents for which the original files are partly missing, which thus makes subsequent processing and conversion excessively laborious according to the standards set out in § 12a Abs. 6 BGG. We strive in the future to only publish fully accessible documents on REFODAT. Should you require a PDF-file which is not yet fully accessible, please do not hesitate to contact us at the address listed towards the bottom of this page.

Audio files without full-text alternatives

Transcriptions or other full-text alternatives of audio data are unavailable.
As a result of the large amount and considerable duration of audio files published on REFODAT the transcription of such files is regarded as excessively laborious according to the standards set out in § 12a Abs. 6 BGG.

Videos without subtitles or full-text alternatives

Videos with sound contain neither subtitles nor any other form of transcription.
As a result of the large amount and considerable duration of video files published on REFODAT the retroactive transcription or subtitling of these files is regarded as excessively laborious according to the standards set out in § 12a Abs. 6 BGG.

Differing language of individual words or sections not marked

Individual words or sections of text written in a language different from the rest of the text are not marked with lang-attributes.
As a result of the large amount and extent of documents published on REFODAT the retroactive distinction of words or sections of text with lang-attributes is regarded as excessively laborious according to the standards set out in § 12a Abs. 6 BGG.

Content neither available in easy- nor sign-language

REFODAT’s content is neither available in easy- nor sign-language.
As a result of the exclusively academic target audience the translation of REFODAT content into easy-language is not necessary.
Resulting from the extent and complexity of REFODAT’s exclusively academic content the retroactive translation into sign-language is regarded as excessively laborious according to the standards set out in § 12a Abs. 6 BGG.

Alternative texts (1.1.1 a-c)

Certain alternative texts are lacking. These are to be added upon the next update.

HTML-structural elements (1.3.1 a-f)

Certain HTML-structural elements are only partly accessible, owing to a lack of corresponding bootstrap-classes. A revision is ongoing.

Input field for user data should convey the purpose (1.3.5a)

Certain embedded forms do not use auto-completion. The lack of the autocomplete attribute complicates the filling-out of forms. A future update shall remedy this problem and improve functionality.

Ensuring sufficient contrast ratio (1.4.3)

As the structural layout of the website was completed prior to appearance of EU policy 2016/2102, the contrast ratio of 4.5 to 1 is not able to be guaranteed in principle. A solution is in the works.

Clarifying the current position of focus (2.4.7a)

The focus is not always recognizable when using the keyboard. The proper adjustment of the focus-management shall be undertaken with the next major overhaul of the website.

Error detection (3.3.1a)

Information provided in forms is not automatically reviewed prior to sending. The functionality of the website will be better assured in the future with the next major overhaul of the website.

Programmatic availability of status messages (4.1.3a)

No indication is provided either visually or via the screen reader to inform one that a document has been placed in the watch list. This function shall be added in a future update.

The aforementioned technical defects are to be gradually remedied.

Who is to be contacted in case of comments or questions pertaining to digital accessibility?

Have you noticed anything inhibiting barrier-free access to REFODAT content?
Please do not hesitate to share this with us – we will be very grateful.

Silvio Hermann
Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena
Bibliotheksplatz 2
07743 Jena

s.hermann [at] uni-jena.de

Contacting the arbitration service

If you believe REFODAT's accessiblity policy to be inadequate, and thus disadvantageous to you, you may – in accordance with § 16 of the German Act on Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (BGG) – reach out to the arbitration service.

The arbitration process is free of charge, and does not require legal counsel.

You can find any and all information pertaining to the arbitration process on the website of the arbitration service. There you will find information concerning the unfolding of the arbitration process and submission of a request. The request can be submitted in easy-language (Leichte Sprache) or in German sign-language.

Please contact the arbitration board via the following address:

E-Mail: info [at] schlichtungsstelle-bgg.de
Internet: www.schlichtungsstelle-bgg.de