Web Accessibility Policy

It is the policy of The University of Texas at Austin that all official University information published on University Web sites shall be accessible to all users. The University has adopted the access standards of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and therefore all Web pages containing official University information that are built, updated or revised after the effective date of this policy must comply with Section 508 requirements. Section 508 establishes only a minimum standard for accessibility and Web pages; developers are encouraged to go beyond the minimum whenever possible.

Web Accessibility and Usability Testing

To ensure that University Web sites are designed with consideration for the different types of Internet connections available, Web developers are responsible for testing their Web sites for accessibility and usability. The University's Usability Web site offers guidance on conducting usability tests, and the Accessibility Institute provides assistance in accessibility planning. The Quality Assurance site describes the accessibility testing services that are available on campus. The University Web recommendations on page size are also useful in this area.

Web Accessibility Link

Each University web site that provides entry to members of the public must contain an "Accessibility" link to http://www.utexas.edu/web/guidelines/accessibility.html which contains the university's Web Accessibility Policy and contact information for the university's Accessibility Coordinator.

Web Accessibility Coordinator

The University has designated a staff member and a faculty member to serve as Web Accessibility Coordinators. They will monitor the University's compliance with this policy and train Web publishers and developers how to make all Web pages accessible. The University's Accessibility Coordinators may grant written requests for exceptions to this policy under appropriate circumstances. To contact the Web Accessibility Coordinators, send e-mail to accessibility@www.utexas.edu.

Additional Information and Resources

The University's Accessibility Institute provides extensive information and accessibility services including brief tutorials, compliance checking, and user testing. Designing Accessible Web Sites also has detailed information on techniques for creating accessible Web sites. Additional information about accessibility programs in Texas is available from the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities.