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 Web Site Development Guidelines are available at www.tdi.texas.gov/webinfo/design.html.

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:

Kenneth Stock, TDI Application 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

The Texas Department of Insurance provides services for the disabled as required. Anyone with a disability who may need auxiliary aids or services, including an interpreter for the hearing impaired, is asked to contact the TDI ADA Coordinator, Skii.Wellington@tdi.texas.gov. [See TDI's ADA Notice and Complaint Procedures.]

Text, telephone and physical access

All TDI facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities. To request special assistance, please contact:

ADA Coordinator Telephone Access - voice: 512-676-6101, fax: 512-305-7192, or call our office using the relay option of your choice
Web Accessibility Coordinator - Accessibility@tdi.texas.gov
Mailing Address - P O Box 149104, Mail Code 112-HR, Austin, TX 78714-9104
Hobby Building Address - 333 Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78701
Metro Building Address - 7551 Metro Center Drive, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78744
E-mail for ADA Coordinator - Skii.Wellington@tdi.texas.gov

Controlled entrances to the Hobby Building are located at:

4th Street and Lavaca Street
4th Street and Guadalupe Street
3rd Street and Guadalupe Street
3rd Street and Lavaca Street

The main Hobby Building entrance is at 4th Street and Guadalupe Street. Ramps to enter the building are located at each of the listed entrances. Speakers to request assistance entering the building are located at all entrances except the 3rd Street / Lavaca Street entrance.

Controlled entrances to the Metro Building are located at:

7551 Metro Center Drive, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78744 - south side of building
7551 Metro Center Drive, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78744 - north side of building

The main Metro Building entrance faces Metro Center Drive. Ramps to enter the building are located at the main entrance.

Controlled entrances to the Cameron Road Training Facility are located at:

7915 Cameron Road, Austin, TX - south side of building

TDI 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 live and as archived files on our Web site. The live Internet broadcasts are available using Windows Media Player and the latest Real Player. The archived broadcasts are available for players capable of playing Windows Media Audio files. Some archived audio files are available as MP3 (mpeg 3) files. Some files may be compressed and must be "opened" using WinZip or other similar software on Windows or Stuff-It on a Macintosh. Agency audio is not available at this time in a format that can be used by the hearing impaired. 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.