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Accessibility Statement

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RefWorks Accessibility Statement

Anyone with reference management needs, regardless of ability, need access to a reference management service. The RefWorks team is committed to providing all our users with a fully accessible experience for collecting, organizing, managing and formatting references.

At ProQuest, Part of Clarivate, we make every effort to ensure that our platforms – including RefWorks – can be used by everyone. RefWorks is continually designed and developed to meet Level AA of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) and Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act for features and functions.

Accessibility features and gaps

This statement applies to the following:

  • Website
    • (new) RefWorks (referred to as "RefWorks" throughout)
  • Add-ons
    • Save to RefWorks browser bookmarklet
    • RefWorks for Google Docs
    • RefWorks Citation Manager (version 2.1.0.1) (referred to as "RCM" throughout), on Windows and Mac, using Word for desktop; when neither is specified, the information applies to both
    • RefWorks Citation Manager-Hangul (version 1.3.11) (referred to as "RCM Hangul" throughout)
    • Write-n-Cite (Windows) (version 4.6.284)
    • Write-n-Cite (Mac) (version 4.6.241)
  • Support Resources

and does not apply to the following:

  • Legacy RefWorks (please see the ‘Disproportionate Burden’ section below for more information)
  • RCM using Word online (behavior is expected to be similar to the desktop version of Word)
  • PDFs uploaded/imported by the user
  • Quarterly RefWorks webinar recordings and RefWorks marketing videos
  • Customer Knowledge Center (global components and non-RefWorks content pages will be covered in a separate VPAT)
  • Word documents available in the Customer Knowledge Center

Users of RefWorks can:

  • Navigate many parts of RefWorks and its add-ons and support resources using just a keyboard
  • Listen to many parts of RefWorks and its add-ons and support resources using a screen reader
  • Access transcripts of videos or read closed captioning
  • Zoom in up to 125% using built-in browser settings without text spilling off-screen

There may be some parts of RefWorks and its add-ons and support resources that are not fully accessible:

  • Some content and functionality may not be accessible using just a keyboard
  • Many pages do not have unique page titles
  • Some information about the name and state of interactive elements, such as accordions, dropdown menus, input fields, etc., may not be available to screen readers
  • At high magnifications, zoom may interfere with access to content and features
  • The layout of the website adjusts to fit comfortably in an iPad view. It is not designed for a mobile device, therefore the text will not reflow in a single column when you minimize the size of the browser window

If you have a disability and need to make your computer, tablet, or another device easier to use, AbilityNet is a recommended resource. We also recommend browsing free add-ons offered for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. See the RefWorks Accessibility Guide for more resources.

Technical Information about this product’s accessibility

RefWorks is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with:

  • Level A and Level AA of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1)
  • Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act for features and functions
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No.2) Accessibility Regulations 2018

Compliance level and report

RefWorks and its add-ons and support resources are partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines v2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Access the full Accessibility Conformance Report (VPAT 2.4 and WCAG) for RefWorks.

Accessibility of RefWorks

This section provides additional details about the accessible RefWorks features.

Keyboard navigation

Features related to key tasks in RefWorks and its add-ons and support resources are navigable with just a keyboard. The Tab, Enter/Return, and the arrow keys can be used to:

RefWorks

  • Navigate the utility toolbar and Reference Actions
  • Upload PDFs
  • Import references directly from a third-party database
  • Edit a reference while in viewing references in the Full View layout
  • Assign references to a folder (from Reference Actions)
    • Currently a bug triggers the Reference Editor overlay. Tip: Press the ESC key to close Reference Editor overlay
  • Change how references are displayed (Normal, Table, Citation, and Full View)
  • Create citations and a bibliography in the­ desired citation style
  • View a PDF and navigate through comments (inserted via RefWorks)

Save to RefWorks bookmarklet

  • Edit reference fields when importing a single reference
  • Select references from a list of containing multiple references

RefWorks for Google Docs

  • Select a folder
  • Invite someone to collaborate on the document with you
  • Search for references

RCM and RCM Hangul (Windows)

  • Insert and edit in-text and footnote citations
  • Change Projects and folders
  • Change the current citation style
  • Note: In RCM Hangul, you must tab through all the main menu options before reaching the main content of the screen

RCM (Mac)

  • Change Projects and folders
  • Change the citation style
  • Insert and edit in-text and footnote citations

Write-n-Cite (Windows)

  • Change Projects. Keyboard tips:
    • Press Option/Alt + Down arrow key to navigate the menu
    • Press Option/Alt + Spacebar to make a selection
  • Navigate folder trees with the Up and Down arrow keys

Write-n-Cite (Mac)

  • Change Projects
  • Insert and edit a citation
  • Select a recently used citation style

If you need to navigate RefWorks add-ons using only a keyboard, we recommend getting familiar with the keyboard shortcuts available in Word and Google Docs.

Please see the Non-accessible Content section for areas where keyboard navigation is incomplete.

Screen readers

In addition to visible content, RefWorks has background data that can support accessibility by being detectable by screen readers. This data includes hidden landmarks, descriptions of state (“this section is collapsed”), and other code.

RefWorks and its add-ons and support resources were tested using the latest screen reader versions. The following reader and browser combinations were tested.

Platform/Browser/Screen Reader combinations:

Product

Testing combination

RefWorks

Windows 10 Pro + Chrome + NVDA

Save to RefWorks

Windows 10 Pro + Chrome + NVDA

RefWorks for Google Docs

Windows 10 Pro + Chrome + NVDA

RCM (Windows)

Windows 10 Pro + Word 365 (desktop app) + NVDA

RCM (Mac)

macOS Mojave + Word 365 (desktop app) + VoiceOver

RCM Hangul (Windows)

Windows 10 Pro + Hangul Word Processing (HWP) 2018 (desktop app) + NVDA

Write-n-Cite (Windows)

Windows 7 Professional 2009 + Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2013 + NVDA

Write-n-Cite (Mac)

macOS Sierra + Microsoft Word 2008 for Mac + VoiceOver

Magnification

The RefWorks interface was developed to be viewed comfortably on a tablet; it was not designed for use on mobile devices. While the website only supports a limited zoom level (125%), the following RefWorks add-ons support higher magnifications (using built-in browser settings, such as CTRL +/- for Windows and Command +/- for Macs) without text spilling off-screen.:

  • With the exception of the login screen, Save to RefWorks bookmarklet supports a zoom up to 300%
  • RefWorks for Google Docs supports a zoom up to 400% unless a smaller window (or pop-up) appears above the main screen. When a pop-up is present, zooming in more than 175% may lead to hidden or overlapping content.
  • When using Word online, RefWorks Citation Manager supports a zoom up to 175%.

Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox offer magnification add-ons.

Colors, Contrasts and Fonts

RefWorks is in the process of improving its stylesheet to meet minimum contrast specifications. Adjusting these aspects can also be changed using the built-in browser settings. Some browser extensions are available to change color and contrast options.

Non-accessible Content

This section provides additional details about the RefWorks content and features that are not fully accessible, and workarounds when available. There are current development efforts and future plans to remediate these items.

Keyboard navigation

The following functionality is not accessible by keyboard-only navigation:

RefWorks

Adding references
  • Upload reference files, such as .ris and .nbib
  • Assign references to folder during import
Managing Folders
  • Create and rename folders
  • Customize the order of folders
Creating and editing references (Reference Editor)
  • Create a new reference
  • Find reference information by title, DOI, ISSN or ISBN and navigate to the results. Workaround:
  1. The Find Matches icon is accessible when using a screen reader, such as NVDA.
  2. Use CTRL + F (or Command + F on a Mac) to find panel title
    • For title match, find ‘Did you mean one of these?’
    • For ISSN match, find ‘ISSN Lookup’
    • For DOI match, ‘DOI Lookup’
  3. Press the Enter/Return key until focus moves to the Lookup Results pane. Press the ESC key to exit Find mode.
Viewing references
  • Change the sorting order of references (by date added, date accessed, etc.)
Navigating references and reference details
  • Navigate to the Reference Details pane or the Reference Editor of a selected reference in Table view. Workaround:
    • Full view: Access the Reference Editor while viewing references in Full View
    • Search: Use a search query that results in the desired reference being the only search result (for example, the Ref ID).
    • Find Mode:
  1. Move focus to the desired reference in the reference list
  2. Use CTRL + F (or Command + F on a Mac) to find a word that appears in the Reference Details pane (for example, the Ref ID).
  3. Press the Enter/Return key until focus moves to the Reference Details pane. Press the ESC key to exit Find mode.
  4. Press Tab or Shift + Tab to navigate to the desired clickable component in the Reference Details pane.

Citation view: Edit a reference containing a ‘missing data’ alert.

  1. Navigate to a ‘missing data’ alert in the desired reference.
  2. Press Enter/Return to open the Reference Editor pane. Focus will be placed on the input field missing data.
Create bibliography

Differentiate authors with the same surname

PDF Viewer
  • Zoom in/out, print, download, highlight, or add comments to the PDF. Workaround:
    • Use a screen reader to access the PDF Viewer toolbar with arrow keys
Tools
  • Install the Save to RefWorks bookmarklet in your browser
    • Unable to close modal after clicking the Save to RefWorks button in tools.

Save to RefWorks

  • Export references to RefWorks. Workaround:
  • Save to RefWorks, Import, and Close button are accessible by keyboard when using a screen reader and arrow keys
  • Assign references to a folder
  • Edit the metadata of an individual reference (when a list of multiple references are displayed)

RefWorks for Google Docs

  • Navigate through the reference list or search results
  • Insert and edit citations
  • Change citation styles
  • Clear a search query

RCM (Windows)

  • Insert/Remove bibliography
  • Add references to an existing citation
  • If using a screen reader, accordions may become locked when editing a citation containing multiple references
  • In Word 365 v16.0.13127.21668 and earlier, active focus automatically moves from the citation (content control in the document) to the RCM pane.

RCM Hangul (Windows)

  • Insert/Remove bibliography
  • Add references to an existing citation
  • Elements and functionality are not accessible by keyboard when using the NVDA screen reader. Workaround:                
    • The screen reader Windows Narrator is compatible with RCM Hangul

RCM (Mac)

  • Insert/Remove bibliography
  • Add references to an existing citation
  • Navigate through the reference list. Workaround:  
    • Submit a search query and navigate to references included in search results

Write-n-Cite (Windows)

  • Select references to create citations
  • Override the output style bibliography format
  • Add and reorder multiple references in a citation. Workaround:
    • This feature is accessible when using a screen reader, such as NVDA

Write-n-Cite (Mac)

  • Access features in the Write-n-Cite toolbar. Workaround:
    • Use the screen reader VoiceOver to enable keyboard navigation to and from the Write-n-Cite toolbar
  • Sort references
  • Reorder references in a citation
  • Override the output style bibliography format
  • Enter access code in the Login modal window

For more information, visit the keyboard navigation guide for Write-n-Cite (Mac).

We continuously work on improving keyboard accessibility. If you have any feedback, please let us know through our contact details provided in the Support and Feedback section below.

PDF Viewer and Screen Readers

Screen readers do not have access to content in PDFs displayed in the RefWorks PDF viewer. Workaround:

  • Activate the print icon in the PDF toolbar to open the PDF in the browser's PDF viewer
  • If the PDF content is accessible, a screen reader will now be able to read its contents
    • Note: Highlights and comments created in the RefWorks PDF viewer will not be visible the browser PDF viewer

General Issues

  • Color contrast issues, specifically hint text in input fields
  • Names, roles, and states may not be discernible by a screen reader
  • RefWorks is not mobile-responsive

2022 Accessibility Roadmap

RefWorks

Issue Description

Status

Remediation Timeline

WCAG 2.1 Criteria

When naming/renaming a folder, keyboard focus can be moved to the name input field through a keyboard interface, but focus cannot be moved away from the input field through a keyboard interface.

Fixed (February 8, 2022 Release)

Q1 2022

·         2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap (A)

None of the elements or functionality in the Reference Organization pane can be accessed through a keyboard interface.

Fixed (February 8, 2022 Release)

Q1 2022

·         2.1.1 Keyboard (A)

 

The accessible names for Reference Actions do not match the text that is presented visually (which may cause issues for screen reader and speech-input users).

Fixed (March 2022 Release)

H1 2022

·         2.5.3 Label in Name (A)

 

In the Reference Editor, key functionality cannot be accessed through a keyboard interface:

·         Adding/editing/removing author names and tags

·         Saving, Canceling, or Undoing changes

·         Adding an attachment

·         Finding matches based on title, DOI, ISSN, or ISBN

Fixed (May 2022 Release)

H1 2022

·         2.1.1 Keyboard (A)

Reducing the width of the browser window and/or increasing the text-size causes the content in the Utility toolbar to overflow, partially obscuring the content underneath. 

Open

Scheduled for 2023

·         1.4.4 Resize text (AA)

·         1.4.10 Reflow (AA)

 

RCM

Issue Description

Status

Remediation Timeline

WCAG 2.1 Criteria

In RCM (Windows/Mac/Hangul), the Insert Bibliography toggle is not operable through a keyboard interface.

Open

Scheduled for 2023

·         2.1.1 Keyboard (A)

 

The 2023 accessibility roadmap is currently being defined. 

Save to RefWorks

Issue Description

Status

Remediation Timeline

WCAG 2.1 Criteria

Functionality to export references to RefWorks is blocked because the Save to RefWorks, Import, and Close button are not operable through a keyboard interface.

Fixed (December 2022 Release)

H2 2022

·         2.1.1 Keyboard (A)

 

RefWorks for Google Docs

Accessibility will be addressed as part of the redesign scheduled for 2023.

Write-n-Cite

No accessibility updates are planned for Write-n-Cite, for Windows or Mac. The RCM add-on is continuously enhanced and is the recommended add-on for users of Word 2016 and above.

PDFs

Issue Description

Status

Remediation Timeline

WCAG 2.1 Criteria

RefWorks User Guide 2022 PDF is now available in the Customer Knowledge Center 

Fixed

Q1 2022

·         Non-text Content (A)

·         1.3.1 Info and Relationships (A)

·         1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics (A)

·         1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) (AA)

·         1.4.5 Images of Text (AA)

·         2.4.1 Bypass Blocks (A)

·         2.4.2 Page Titled (A)

·         2.4.5 Multiple Ways (AA)

·         4.1.1 Parsing (A)

Accessibility Testing

The accessibility of RefWorks is a continual effort at ProQuest, Part of Clarivate. Accessibility standards are built into our design and style guides, and are included as part of the requirements in our software development and quality assurance pipeline.

RefWorks code is checked for accessibility using a range of automated and manual checks including but not limited to:

  • NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) screen-reader utility (v2020.4) with Chrome (v91.0.4472.124)
  • VoiceOver with Mac
  • Web Developer Chrome extension
  • Chrome developer tools
  • Accessibility Insights for Web Chrome extension
  • Colour Contrast Analyser (CCA) by TPGi
  • Contrast Checker provided by WebAIM
  • Link Contrast Checker provided by WebAIM
  • High Contrast Chrome extension
  • Dylan Barrell's 1.4.12 Text Spacing Bookmarklet Text
  • Deque aXe accessibility testing tool
  • Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Accessibility Checker
  • PDF Accessibility Checker 2021 (PAC 2021)
  • Keyboard-access manual testing and assessment

Refer to the RefWorks Knowledge Center for a list of all supported browsers and operating systems.

What We’re Doing to Improve Accessibility

Making content accessible is an ongoing effort at Ex Libris. We’re committed to working with the community to ensure we continue to meet our customers’ needs. Our ongoing efforts include:

  • Testing with users of all abilities
  • The Accessibility Council: a team of stakeholders working to increase accessibility resources and capabilities
  • Pursuing partnerships with colleges, universities, and other institutions to assist us in reviewing and updating our accessibility standards
  • Supporting certifications for our employees
  • Consulting with, and performing audits through, accessibility experts such as Deque

Disproportionate Burden

The accessibility of legacy RefWorks was not evaluated. Legacy RefWorks is a version of RefWorks that is no longer for sale and is no longer being developed (other than maintenance) and is used by a continuously shrinking portion of RefWorks customers. Making legacy RefWorks more accessible will place a disproportionate burden on the RefWorks development team and will hinder other development, including accessibility improvements of (new) RefWorks.

Support and Feedback

If you have difficulty accessing specific RefWorks content or features with adaptive technology after trying the workarounds suggested in this statement, you can contact us using the links provided below. Our support services will respond within three days and are available to accommodate the communication needs of end users with disabilities. We will work with you to identify the best option for remediation, subject to content licensing restrictions and technical capability. 

Online and Chat: https://supportcase.exlibrisgroup.com/s/refworks

Email: support@refworks.com

Phone:
United States & Canada (toll-free):
+1 800 889 3358

Outside North America:
+800 4997 4111 or +1 734-707-2513

Preparation of this Accessibility Statement

This accessibility statement was prepared on September 3, 2020. It was last reviewed and updated on November, 2022.

The website was last tested in November 2022. The test was carried out internally.

 

 

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