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Accessibility and Open Source Policy

This section covers our accessibility and open source policies. It also covers certain other policies relevant to the RADFish project, this documentation, and our repos. Review this page to learn how we ensure compliance and user accessibility throughout the project.

1. Accessibility Policy​

At RADFish, we're committed to ensuring that all users can fully engage with our project. We adhere to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Key accessibility features include:

  • Alternative text for images. Make sure all images have descriptive text.
  • **Strong color contrast: Maintain high contrast between foreground and background colors for readability.
  • Text resizing. Allow users to adjust text sizes based on personal preferences.
  • Proper use of headings. Structure pages to ensure clear navigation for screen readers.
  • Descriptive links. Avoid ambiguous text like "Click here" or "More..." and instead using meaningful link descriptions.
  • Accessible tables. Make sure tables have proper headings for structured data.

We aim for WCAG AA compliance and seek to meet AAA compliance where feasible. This helps make our framework accessible to all users. If you encounter any accessibility barriers, please contact us at radfish-accessibility@noaa.gov with details about the issue. Including the URL and a description of any challenges you experienced. We'll make every effort to provide the information you need and improve our accessibility efforts.

2. Open Source Policy​

As an open-source project, RADFish is committed to transparency and collaboration. All software code developed by NOAA Fisheries for RADFish, or by contractors developing software on behalf of NOAA Fisheries, is released under an open-source Apache License, Version 2.0. All source code, documentation, and governance policies will be accessible to NOAA Fisheries and our partners via GitHub. The use of the open-source license and GitHub enables transparent and collaborative development. Updates or improvements made to the core framework can be shared across NOAA regions. This cross-regional collaboration ensures ongoing alignment and innovation.

Contributors to the RADFish project should follow our Open Source Policy:

  • This project is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. Please make sure that any contributions comply with this license. If you are submitting code or other contributions, you are agreeing to license your contributions under this same license.
  • For external libraries or code used in the project, we provide attribution as necessary. If you believe an attribution is missing, please open an issue.
  • We leverage open-source tools and libraries where appropriate to meet NOAA Fisheries' needs for efficient and scalable web applications.
  • Code developed by NOAA Fisheries staff is by default in the public domain. However, modifications of third-party open-source libraries are considered “joint works” and are released under the terms of the original license.

All RADFish source code is hosted on GitHub and is accessible to the public for reuse, modification, and improvement, as long as those contributions comply with our license and open-source governance policies.

3. Linking Policy​

RADFish documentation and repositories may link to other websites and resources. Links must follow the Linking Policy:

  • We may link to publicly-available government websites that are hosted on .gov, .mil, and .fed.us domains. This includes state and local government sites, such as california.gov.
  • We may link to non-government websites if they provide relevant information or services not available on official government platforms. However, we do not endorse these sites or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, or completeness of their content.

When you follow an external link, you are subject to the privacy and security policies of the destination website.

4. Disclaimer of Endorsement​

Links to external websites are provided for informational purposes only. The RADFish project:

  • Does not control or guarantee the accuracy of information on linked websites.
  • Does not endorse the content, products, or services provided by linked websites.
  • Is not responsible for the privacy policies or data transmissions from linked websites.
  • Does not guarantee that external websites comply with Section 508 or other accessibility standards.

5. Privacy and Security Policies​

Your privacy is important to us. RADFish does not collect personal information unless you voluntarily provide it (e.g., by submitting a bug report or feature request). Any personal information shared with us will be used solely to respond to your request or feedback. We do not disclose, sell, or transfer any personal information unless required by law. If you provide personal information related to a specific question, we may share it with another government agency to help respond to your query.

6. System Requirements​

To ensure optimal performance, we recommend using the latest versions of the most popular browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge). Our framework supports all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as mobile browsers on Android and iOS.

7. Community and Contribution Guidelines​

We encourage everyone to participate in RADFish’s development by reviewing our Contribution Guidelines. You can contribute by submitting bug reports, feature requests, or improving documentation. We ask all contributors to follow our Code of Conduct to maintain a respectful and collaborative environment.

8. Contact Us​

If you have any questions or require assistance, feel free to reach out to us at joshua.lee@noaa.gov. We welcome feedback and are committed to improving RADFish for all users.