Digital Accessibility

Training on Digital Accessibility

Digital accessibility training builds capacity and skills that help make West Texas A&M University's digital resources accessible to the widest possible set of authorized users.

Digital resources are accessible, because of the direct actions taken by University employees and contractors. Thank you for your positive impact on digital accessibility at WTAMU.

Training from The Texas A&M University System (TAMUS)

Take the Digital Accessibility Awareness training course available online in TrainTraq. This course will help you meet your responsibilities for digital accessibility as a University employee or contractor.

Training from the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR)

Web-based on Demand

All State agency and institution of higher education employees have access to digital accessibility training through a web-based learning management platform, and premium live training. The platform is called Access Academy. Registering for role-based, and self-paced courses in Access Academy is easy, and free.

To register to use the platform with an Access Academy account, send an email request with your University email address to statewideaccessibility@dir.texas.gov. You’ll receive a registration link to create an Access Academy account, within one business day.

Then, take on demand courses from this Access Academy course catalog (opens new window). And, register for premium, live training sessions.

Premium Live

Below are premium, live training sessions for March 2025, through Access Academy.

*March 4, 12:00 PM CST*

Accessibility for Testers Quick Start (opens new window)

This course introduces QA testers to an accessibility testing methodology and the importance of performing both automated and manual testing to ensure a product meets accessibility guidelines.

*March 11, 12:00 PM CST*

Accessible PDF Documents (opens new window)

PDF Accessibility is one of the biggest pain points for assistive technology users on the web. This session will delve into the Adobe Acrobat Pro accessibility tools and provide an overview of how to create basic accessible PDF documents.

*March 18, 12:00 PM CST*

Captions, Transcripts, and Audio Description (opens new window)

This session will provide attendees with an introduction to video accessibility. Attendees will learn what it takes to make a video accessible and will learn the difference between captions (open vs. closed), transcripts, and audio descriptions.

*March 25, 12:00 PM CST*

Accessibility for the Business (opens new window)

Participants will learn the building blocks for developing an organizational digital accessibility program. Rather than focusing on the technical details of accessibility guidelines, this course seeks to expose stakeholders to the organizational benefits, challenges, and opportunities of adopting and investing in digital accessibility.

Contact

If you have any questions or concerns about digital accessibility at West Texas A&M University, please contact Lisa Caid, Accessibility Coordinator, by email: accessibility@wtamu.edu, office phone: 806-651-1241, or cell phone: 806-231-9111.

If you need help with digital accessibility right away, please contact the IT Service Center by phone: 806-651-4357, or by email: ITSC@wtamu.edu. After operating hours, urgent matters will be routed to the appropriate person on duty.

What does digital accessibility mean?

Digital accessibility means that people with disabilities have more than just one way to get access to the electronic technology, information and services offered by West Texas A&M University.

Digital is a shorter word. Digital is used with the same meaning as these longer words, or their acronyms.

Electronic and information resources, or EIR
Information and communication technology, or ICT
Information technology, or IT

Digital accessibility makes it possible for qualified individuals with disabilities to access University activities, programs, and services quickly, easily, independently, privately, and equally.

Who does digital accessibility impact?

Everyone is impacted by digital accessibility, especially people with disabilities.

University employees, students, and members of the public with disabilities are impacted, because they depend on access to the digital activities, programs, and services that are offered by WTAMU for the benefit of everyone.

WTAMU employees and contractors are impacted, because they work to meet digital accessibility requirements.

Why does digital accessibility matter?

Digital accessibility matters, because it ensures “equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency” for people with disabilities, as set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (opens new window).

Physically, everyone uses a door to get into their homes, at the end of the day. Everyone needs a door that they can perceive, understand, operate, and trust to work with their keys! People with disabilities need the same things as everyone else, physical accessibility.

Digitally, everyone uses technology to get information and services, when the time is right for them. Everyone needs technology that they can perceive, understand, operate, and trust to work with their devices! People with disabilities need the same things as everyone else, digital accessibility.

How do I impact digital accessibility?

You make a major impact when you’re aware of and act on your role in, and responsibility for digital accessibility at WTAMU.

Do you buy, design, develop, or test digital information, products and services for the University?
Do you make content for social media, or digital communications?
Do you manage legal commitments?
Are you in a digital support, service, or teaching role?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you are responsible for digital accessibility!

When does digital accessibility apply?

Digital accessibility applies at the start of and throughout any work done to make, get, keep, or use digital resources for the benefit of University employees, students, and members of the public.

Digital accessibility practices applied at the end of any work done, tend to increase the WTAMU costs to ensure access by people with disabilities.

Where does digital accessibility apply?

Digital accessibility applies to these categories to ensure that no qualified person with a disability, because of their disability, is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of University services, programs, or activities.

Software Applications

desktop software (non-web software)
telecommunications software
mobile applications
web applications

Operating Systems / Platform Software

desktop operating systems
embedded operating systems, including mobile systems
web browsers
plug-ins to web browsers that render a particular media or format
applications that support macros or scripting

Electronic Content / Video and Multimedia

State websites
blog posts
social media pages
documents
- email messages
- letters
- spreadsheets
- presentations
- podcasts
- images
- movies

Hardware / Telecommunications Products

office equipment
computers
peripheral equipment
information kiosks
transaction machines
multifunction copy machines
customer premises equipment
- telephones
- cell phones
- routers
- switches
- residential gateways
- set-top boxes
- computers with modems
- interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol products
- software integral to the operation of telecommunications function of such equipment
- fixed mobile convergence products
- home networking adaptors
- Internet access gateways
telecommunications equipment
digital television tuners

Functional Performance Requirements

Without Vision –
If a visual mode of operation is provided, digital resource will provide at least one mode of operation that does not require user vision.
With Limited Vision –
If a visual mode of operation is provided, digital resource will provide at least one mode of operation that enables users to make use of limited vision.
Without Perception of Color –
If a visual mode of operation is provided, digital resource will provide at least one visual mode of operation that does not require user perception of color.
Without Hearing –
If an audible mode of operation is provided, digital resource will provide at least one mode of operation that does not require user hearing.
With Limited Hearing –
If an audible mode of operation is provided, digital resource will provide at least one mode of operation that enables users to make use of limited hearing.
Without Speech –
If speech is used for input, control, or operation, digital resource will provide at least one mode of operation that does not require user speech.
With Limited Manipulation –
If a manual mode of operation is provided, digital resource will provide at least one mode of operation that does not require fine motor control or simultaneous manual operations.
With Limited Reach and Strength –
If a manual mode of operation is provided, digital resource will provide at least one mode of operation that is operable with limited reach and limited strength.
With Limited Language, Cognitive, and Learning Abilities –
digital resource will provide features making its use by individuals with limited cognitive, language, and learning abilities simpler and easier.

Support Documentation and Services Requirements

Support Documentation

Accessibility and Compatibility Features -
Digital resource support documentation must list, and explain how to use the accessibility and compatibility features of the digital resource.
Electronic support documentation must conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA.
Alternate Formats for Non-Electronic Support Documentation -
Non-electronic support documentation must be provided upon request in alternate formats (such as braille, large print) that is usable by individuals with disabilities.

Support Services

Information on Accessibility and Compatibility Features –
Support services must offer information on digital resource accessibility and compatibility features.
Accommodation of Communication Needs –
Support services must ensure a contact method that accommodates the communication needs of individuals with disabilities.

Definitions

Application –

Software designed to perform, or to help the user perform, a specific task or tasks.

Content –

Electronic information and data, as well as the encoding that defines its structure, presentation, and interactions.

Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) –

Equipment used on the premises of a person (other than a carrier) to originate, route, or terminate telecommunications service or interconnected VoIP service, including software integral to the operation of telecommunications function of such equipment. Examples of CPE are telephones, routers, switches, residential gateways, set-top boxes, fixed mobile convergence products, home networking adaptors and Internet access gateways which enable consumers to access communications service providers’ services and distribute them around their house via a Local Access Network (LAN).

Document –

Logically distinct assembly of content (such as a file, set of files, or streamed media) that: functions as a single entity rather than a collection; is not part of software; and does not include its own software to retrieve and present content for users. Examples of documents include, but are not limited to, letters, email messages, spreadsheets, presentations, podcasts, images, and movies.

Hardware –

A tangible device, equipment, or physical component of ICT, such as telephones, computers, multifunction copy machines, and keyboards.

Keyboard –

A set of systematically arranged alphanumeric keys or a control that generates alphanumeric input by which a machine or device is operated. A keyboard includes tactilely discernible keys used in conjunction with the alphanumeric keys if their function maps to keys on the keyboard interfaces.

Non-web Software –

Software that is not: a web page, not embedded in a web page, and not used in the rendering or functioning of web pages.

Peripheral Device / Equipment -

Any of various devices (including sensors) used to enter information and instructions into a computer for storage or processing and to deliver the processed data to a human operator or, in some cases, a machine controlled by the computer. Such devices make up the peripheral equipment of modern digital computer systems.

Platform Software –

Software that interacts with hardware or provides services for other software. Platform software may run or host other software, and may isolate them from underlying software or hardware layers. A single software component may have both platform and non-platform aspects. Examples of platforms: desktop operating systems; embedded operating systems, including mobile systems; Web browsers; plug-ins to web browsers that render a particular media or format; and sets of components that allow other applications to execute, such as applications which support macros or scripting.

Software –

Programs, procedures, rules, and related data and documentation that direct the use and operation of ICT and instruct it to perform a given task or function. Software includes, but is not limited to, applications, non-web software, and platform software.

State website –

A website that is connected to the Internet and is owned, funded, or operated by or for a state agency or institution of higher education, including key public entry points.

Support Documentation -

Documentation that supports the use of ICT, including web-based self-service support.

Support Services –

ICT support services examples include, but aren’t limited to help desks, call centers, training services, web-based self-service support, and automated self-service technical support.