As required by Texas A&M University System Regulation 29.01.04, Accessibility of Electronic and Information Resources, Tarleton shall comply with the Title 1 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §206.70, State Websites Accessibility Institution of Higher Education Websites, which implements the access standards of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and with 1 TAC §213, Subchapter C, Electronic and Information Resources Accessibility Standards for Institutions of Higher Education.
Please note the Department of Justice revised Title 28 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 35 effective June 24, 2024, with additional requirements regarding specific technical standards for accessibility for services, programs, and activities offered by state and local government entities through web and mobile applications.
EIR Accessibility Coordinator (EIRAC)
1 TAC §213.14 created the EIRAC to ensure each agency and institution of higher education complies with Texas EIR Accessibility statutes and rules to provide accessibility. Tarleton State University’s EIRAC is Jackie George, in coordination with the Office of Innovative Technology Solutions (OITS) – Security Team and the Texas A&M University System Digital Accessibility Office.
All Texas A&M University System members have an EIRAC and they collaborate on ways to improve procedures the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) describes in their roles and responsibilities.
EIR Accessibility
By its many names, including Electronic and Information Technology/Resources (EIT / EIR) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Section 504 requires schools and universities accepting federal funding to ensure that individuals with disabilities are given equal opportunity to access programs and services offered, which includes equal access to:
- Web content (e.g., internet/intranet website, web applications, online forms, social media platforms);
- Non-web content (e.g., portable/cross-device document formats, word processing document formats, email, audio/video mobile apps, software and operating systems);
- Hardware / video (e.g. phones and fax machines, smart phones, tablets, notebooks / laptops, data processing devices); and
- Any future technologies.
Revised Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other global laws have adopted the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) standards, which have also been supported many times over the recent years by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in litigation over civil rights protected in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Therefore, Tarleton upholds compliance with WCAG 2.0, Level A and Level AA criteria, as . Level AAA is optional, though highly recommended, to improve access.
Universal Design
Universal Design is a principle that prioritizes accessibility, inclusivity, and usability. This approach to design seeks to ensure every user can utilize the EIR. To learn more, visit the Universal Design page.
Guidance and Best Practices
While the WCAG 2.0 standards are extensive in regards to rules and techniques, we want to make sure you have relevant examples of how you can comply with the standards in your daily activities, so we are providing you with solutions based on topics:
- Alternative text, also known as alt text, is a description of a graphic (image, video, etc.) read aloud by a screen reader. Alternative text should be provided for all graphics. Read more about alternative text.
- Audio descriptions are additional audio tracks that aid those who cannot see the media by describing the visual elements which appear. Read more about audio descriptions.
- Closed captioning (abbreviated as CC) is alternative text synchronized with media content. It should be provided for all non-textual content in order to aid those who cannot see or hear the media.. Read more about closed captioning.
- When considering color and design, ensure text and graphics are readable and understandable. This includes ensuring text has sufficient contrast. Read more about color and design.
- Some fonts are more accessible than others. Sans serif fonts are preferred due to their simplicity. Fanciful scripted fonts should be avoided when possible. Read more about fonts.
- Headings should be structured semantically and accurately describe their topic or purpose. There should only be one Heading level 1 (located at the top of the page). Subsequent heading levels should follow a linear order (H1 > H2 > H3, etc.). Read more about headings.
- Links should be written in the active voice and should typically use a call-to-action. Links should not be written as “click here”. Read more about links.
- Lists can organize information more logically than a paragraph. Read more about lists.
- Paragraphs are often used when headings, lists, or tables would be more appropriate. Read more about paragraphs.
- Tables are a great way to express organized content. However, depending on user’s viewport and settings, they may not always display properly. Therefore, tables (especially ones with several columns) should be used judiciously and only when displaying tabular data. Read more about tables.
- Text content should always be formatted in order to be accessible to everyone. Text should be understandable and readable. The size, color, font, and styling should be easy to read. It should be organized under proper headings and subheadings. There are many best practices for text content. Read more about text.
- Transcriptions are alternative text for non-textual content such as videos, podcasts, music with lyrics, etc. Although often time consuming, you should try to provide transcriptions for all non-text content. Read more about transcriptions.
EIR Products
All products should conform with WCAG 2.0 requirements. The following list is not exhaustive but deals with many of the common products we use at the university.