Website accessibility policy

Other TDI Policies

Purpose

This policy outlines TDI's commitment to make TDI and TDI Web sites and Web applications accessible to the widest possible audience, including people with visual, hearing, mobility and other disabilities.

Scope

Included in TDI's Accessibility Policy is information on both Web site and Web application accessibility and text, telephone and physical access to TDI buildings, facilities and hearings.

A Web Accessibility Coordinator oversees Web site and Web application accessibility, and an ADA Coordinator oversees other agency accessibility concerns covered by Title II of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) (See TDI's ADA Notice and Complaint Procedures.)

This Accessibility Policy was updated June 2009. Portions were adapted from various sources, including accessibility guidelines and policies adopted by the State of Texas. (See Texas Administrative Code (Title 1 TAC) Section 206 and Section 213, including 206.50, 206.51, 206.71, 213.21 and 213.41 – effective September 16, 2008.)

Testing for accessibility

TDI has tested its Web site designs and Web applications with screen readers and other web accessibility tools. As a result, TDI has made changes to improve each TDI Web site's accessibility for users with disabilities.

TDI Electronic & Information Resources (EIR) accessibility compliance

A great portion of TDI electronic and information resources (EIR) can be viewed in HTML via our Web sites or Web applications. A small portion is in Microsoft Word format. Most of the HTML and Word content meets accessibility standards, in general. Some pages with material in tables require additional accessibility remediation work, as do a large percentage of the agency's older "legacy" documents. Those documents are currently offered in the Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF). We are in the process of ensuring that PDF documents produced on or after September 1, 2006 are accessible.

A survey of all electronic information resources will be conducted by the Accessibility Coordinator on an annual basis to provide guidance for Corrective Actions Plans and to comply with requirements to submit annual survey results to the Department of Information Resources.

Corrective Action Plans will be assigned to those resources found to be non-compliant. They will be brought into compliance, as required by Texas Administrative Code (Title 1 TAC) Section 206 and Section 213, including 206.50, 206.51, 206.71, 213.21 and 213.41 – effective September 16, 2008.

Contact web accessibility coordinator

Please contact the Web Accessibility Coordinator if you have a problem accessing our Web sites or Web applications. When you contact us, please include:

The nature of your accessibility problem.
The Web address of the requested material or interactive content.
The format preferred for receiving Web site information or materials.
Your contact information.

TDI web accessibility corrective action plans for electronic or information resources

Non-compliant electronic or information resources, including Web pages and Web applications, require a "corrective action plan" to be developed by the Accessibility Coordinator in cooperation with affected agency staff and Web staff.

Non-compliance will be determined through a formal agency accessibility survey, but may be augmented by information from any of the following:

Informal accessibility surveys.
Reports from automated accessibility checkers.
Emails to Accessibility@tdi.texas.gov.
Public and government reviews and reports.

A Corrective Action Plan or remediation plan shall include the following items:

A proposed timetable for completion of remediation.
A listing of all non-compliant items.
A listing of required corrective steps.
A listing of tools available for making corrections, as well as instructions or references to online instructions for correcting the accessibility problems noted in the plan.
Appropriate signatures to acknowledge that the corrections will be completed as required by Texas Administrative Code (Title 1 TAC) Section 206 and Section 213, including 206.50, 206.51, 206.71, 213.21 and 213.41 – effective September 16, 2008.

TDI EIR (Web) Accessibility Coordinator

TDI has designated the following individual as the agency's acting EIR (Web) Accessibility Coordinator:

Eric Cortez, TDI EIR (Web) Accessibility Coordinator.

TDI's Information Resources Manager (IRM) designates the agency's Web Accessibility Coordinator. The coordinator monitors the agency's compliance with this policy and helps train Web publishers and developers in all areas that involve creating the agency's accessible electronic and information resources (EIR). That includes accessibility of agency Web sites and Web applications.

To contact the Web Accessibility Coordinator, send an e-mail to Accessibility@tdi.texas.gov.

TDI's Web Accessibility Coordinator is required to:

Develop, support and maintain the agency's (EIR) accessibility policy and oversee accessibility of agency Web sites, electronic and information resources, applications, and products.
Promote accessibility by providing presentations and training opportunities.
Work with all agency areas to coordinate accessibility responsibilities, consult on accessibility purchases and requests for exceptions to the agency's accessibility policy.
Complete the agency's annual Department of Information Resources (DIR) Accessibility Survey, and develop and help implement corrective action plans for non-compliant Web sites, electronic and information resources, applications, and products.
Develop, implement and maintain a process for the public and staff to report non-compliant Web sites, electronic and information resources, applications, and products.
Provide technical support / consulting services to agency staff on accessibility issues.
Work with staff to evaluate and secure software (or contracts) to analyze accessibility of agency Web sites, electronic and information resources, applications, and products.
Consult with agency staff to ensure accessibility of new and updated software applications.
Help ensure agency policies are consistent with TDI's accessibility policy and meet state accessibility requirements.

NOTE: In the event the position is unfilled for any reason, an acting Accessibility Coordinator will be appointed by the IRM and serve until a new coordinator is named.

Exceptions

TAC §213.17 provides state agencies a means for exceptions to compliance with standards and specifications for all new or changed Web pages and content and all electronic and information resources developed, procured or changed on or after September 1, 2006. TDI may approve an exception if the agency determines that compliance would impose a "significant difficulty or expense." Alternate methods of accessibility may be used as provided for in Section 2054.460, Texas Government Code (PDF, 260K).

TDI's ADA coordinator and other accessibility concerns

All TDI facilities are accessible to people with disabilities. If you need special help, contact:

ADA Coordinator Marlette Juarez: Call 512-676-6112 or email HumanResources@tdi.texas.gov
Web Accessibility Coordinator: Email Accessibility@tdi.texas.gov

If you have a complaint, see TDI's ADA Notice and Complaint Procedures.

TDI and DWC headquarters

TDI and DWC’s headquarters are located at the Barbara Jordan State Office Building, 1601 Congress Ave., Austin, Texas. The accessible entrance is the main entrance at Congress Avenue and 16th Street. An auto door opener button is available. If help is needed, there is a safety officer at the reception desk near the main entrance.

State Fire Marshal’s Office

The State Fire Marshal’s office is located at 7915 Cameron Road, Austin, Texas. The accessible entrance is on the south side of building.

TDI field offices

Field offices are inspected for ADA compliance by the Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Audio of certain agency proceedings and hearings

Audio of certain agency proceedings and hearings is available as live broadcasts and as archived files on our Web site. Please contact ChiefClerk@tdi.texas.gov if you have questions about obtaining transcripts of hearings or other agency proceedings.

Reasonable accommodations

The Texas Department of Insurance does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or in the provision of services. Any request for reasonable accommodation should be communicated to staff or by calling 512-676-6101, or calling our office using the relay option of your choice.

If you need to contact us via TDD equipment, please visit the Relay Texas Web site for assistance. Additional information about accessibility programs in Texas is available from the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities.