Accessibility at SAS

We’re enhancing business.

Businesses need inclusive tools that allow all employees to work effectively. SAS is committed to providing accessible software products and documentation through the ongoing evolution of its product lines. Recognizing that accessible software also provides mainstream value and ease of use for everyone, we incorporate universal design into our development process.

The following products exemplify the evolution toward accessible analytics:

• SAS^® Graphics Accelerator. Unleash insights in your charts and graphs with this innovative product that's designed for users with visual impairments. SAS Graphics Accelerator enables those users to access data visualization on their terms by dynamically generating text descriptions, viewing source data in tabular format, and using sound to interactively explore charts and graphs.
  
• SAS^® Studio. Access the power of SAS from anywhere using this web-based development environment. SAS Studio is included with any SAS platform and supports a powerful set of keyboard commands, customizable visual settings and compatibility with assistive technologies, such as screen readers. Combine SAS Studio with SAS Graphics Accelerator to create unparalleled access to data science for users with visual impairments. Learn about the accessibility features in SAS^® Studio.   
• SAS^® Enterprise Guide^®. Analyze data and publish results with this point-and-click, menu- and wizard-driven user interface. SAS Enterprise Guide now includes support for screen readers, magnifiers and refreshable Braille displays within the editor, log and output windows, as well as integration with SAS Graphics Accelerator. Learn about the accessibility features in SAS^® Enterprise Guide^® 
• Base SAS^® Output Delivery System (ODS). Generate accessible reports for web browsers, phones, tablets or printers. Learn how to create accessible reports for the web using SAS^® ODS HTML5 destination. ODS supports the ability to create accessible output using the HTML5, EPUB and PDF destinations. Create reports with headings, accessible tables, scalable vector-based data visualizations and more. Learn how to create accessible reports for your iPhone or iPad using SAS^® ODS EPUB Destination.
• SAS^® Visual Analytics. Democratize your data by empowering employees throughout the organization to find and share insights. SAS Visual Analytics has an approachable self-service user interface that supports a variety of color themes – including a high-contrast theme – customizable visual focus indicator, built-in zoom, and support for keyboard access. Learn about accessibility features in SAS^® Visual Analytics (Video).
• SAS^® Mobile BI for iOS^®. Share insights throughout your organization using SAS Mobile BI for iOS. Reach a broader audience with the new high-contrast report theme and interactive data visualizations that are compatible with the VoiceOver screen reader that is built into every iPhone^® and iPad^®. Learn about accessibility features in SAS^® Mobile BI for iOS (Video).

It starts in the classroom.

Students with disabilities face numerous challenges on their way to achieving their full potential, both in the classroom and the 21^st-century knowledge economy. This especially rings true for visually impaired students in the areas of mathematics and science, which rely heavily on diagrams, charts and pictures to convey concepts and information.

SAS enables unprecedented access to data visualization with the SAS Graphics Accelerator. This innovative product enables students with visual impairments to dynamically generate text descriptions of data visualizations, view source data in tabular format and use sound to interactively explore data visualizations. When students with visual impairments combine SAS Graphics Accelerator with SAS University Edition, they have the tools to build the quantitative skills that employers need.

Our investment in the future starts early with SAS^® Curriculum Pathways^®, a suite of educational software for K-12 that is made accessible to students of varying abilities through structured and guided processes to help them better understand concepts and develop skills.

In addition to making accessible technology the centerpiece of the classroom, we are dedicated to inspiring students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). People with disabilities are drastically underrepresented in STEM fields. We believe assistive technologies can break down barriers to entry, allowing more bright minds to contribute and innovate.

Learn more.

• Learn about SAS^® University Edition
• Check out the SAS^® University Edition Quick Start Guide for Students with Visual Impairments
• Get started with Curriculum Pathways
• Download SAS^® Flash Cards for iPad^®, a mobile learning app for learners of all ages and abilities
• Download Reach for the Stars, an ibook created by SAS and the Space Telescope Science Institute

Addressing human rights.

Governing bodies around the world recognize that equal access to information and services is a human rights issue. There are an estimated 1 billion people – about 15 percent of the population – with disabilities. This is the largest minority group, and a largely marginalized one, with poor health outcomes, lower educational achievement, less economic participation and higher poverty rates. Countries and governing bodies like the European Union and United Nations are passing broad legislation mandating accessibility to communication and information, health care, education, transportation, buildings and sites, and services to better include those with disabilities.

Accessible technology is vital to making this level of equality a reality. SAS is designing software that is accessible to government agencies that use it for data management and analysis, as well as citizens who must understand the information born out of the data – regardless of technical savvy, age or ability. For example, our innovative accessible data visualization technology provides unprecedented access to charts and graphs at scale.

Learn more.

• Learn how to listen to your data using the SAS^® Graphics Accelerator
• Learn about accessibility features in SAS^® Studio
• Learn about accessibility features in SAS^® Enterprise Guide^®
• Learn how to create accessible reports for the web using SAS^® ODS HTML5 destination
• Learn how to create accessible reports for your iPhone or iPad using SAS^® ODS EPUB Destination
• Learn about accessibility features in SAS^® Visual Analytics (Video)
• Learn about accessibility features in SAS^® Mobile BI for iOS (Video)