The University of Texas System Administration provides a work environment that affords equal access and opportunity to otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities, in compliance with Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Consistent with this, UT System Administration strives to provide web-based services that are accessible to all members of the University community.
As stated in Texas Administrative Code, Title 1, Part 10, 206.2 (a)(2), it is the policy of the state of Texas that, “State Web sites shall meet the definition of generally accessible Internet site, and ensure that all web pages transform gracefully and remain accessible despite any physical, sensory, or environmental constraints or technological barriers.”
The subsections of this document comprise the UT System Administration Web Accessibility Policy. This policy is established to achieve the following:
- Provide an accessible Web presence that enables all members of the university community to have full access to university information, programs and activities offered through the Web; and
- Establish minimum accessibility standards for web pages.
For specifics regarding the web accessibility policy requirements see the Web Accessibility Guidelines.
The UT System Administration Information Web Accessibility Policy applies to all individuals responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining the UT System Administration web pages.
UT System Administration departments use the Internet for publishing information, communicating with the public and business partners, and for delivery of applications in support of departmental missions. To ensure that UT System Administration department web pages are accessible despite physical, sensory, or environmental or technological barriers, UT System Administration adopts the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) as the standard for web accessibility.
Web pages published or hosted for or by UT System Administration must comply with the current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Web accessibility and standards must be taught to and reinforced with UT System Administration department web publishers responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining the UT System Administration web pages. To continuously reinforce web accessibility awareness and web design techniques, UT System Administration departments are charged with providing their web publishers with providing accessible web page design and web accessibility standards training.
In accordance with Texas Administrative Code 206.2, Title 1, Part 10, 206.2, the Technology and Information Services Webmaster will be the web accessibility coordinator. This person will monitor the UT System web site for compliance to this policy and work with the departments to train the web publishers and ensure that all web pages are accessible.
The public and business partners access the UT System Administration web site through various workstations, Internet connections, and web browser applications. To ensure that UT System Administration web pages are designed with consideration for the types of Internet connections available, departmental web publishers are responsible for the testing their web pages for accessibility and usability prior to making them available to the public.
Texas Administrative Code, Title 1, Part 10, 206.2 (b) requires that the Home Page and Key Public Entry Points of the UT System Administration web site include an “Accessibility” link. To meet this requirement, the Home Page and Key Public Entry Points of the UT System Administration web site shall include a link to a web page to be maintained by the Office of Technology and Information Services (OTIS) that contains the following information:
Accessible: A web page that can be used in a variety of ways and does not depend on a single sense or ability.
Generally Accessible Internet Site: A web site that provides for graceful transformation, and making content understandable and navigable.
Graceful Transformation: Concept and language derived from W3C standards for accessible web sites. See "Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0" available at the World Wide Web Consortium web site.
Home Page: The initial page or entry point to a web site.
Key Public Entry Point: A web page specifically designated for members of the general public to access official information from an agency.
State Web Site: A state agency-owned, -operated by / or for, or -funded web site connected to the Internet, including a state agency’s home page and any key public entry points.
University Community: All individuals that may have an interest in university information, programs and activities offered through the Web. These include but are not limited to faculty, staff, current and prospective students, legislators and government officials, state agencies employees, patients, donors, business partners, etc.
Usability: A web design criteria that focuses on user performance, ease of navigation, is understandable, and is visually appealing.
W3C: World Wide Web Consortium. Additional information and copies of the current standards and recommendations are available through the World Wide Web Consortium web site .
Web Page: A document specifically designed for members of the public to access official information from an agency via the Internet.
