All TCU website content developers, webmasters, procurement officials, or someone who is responsible for developing, loading, maintaining, or auditing web content and functionality are now required to complete online web accessibility training to gain an understanding of responsibilities and duties when working with websites and web pages that are published or hosted by the University.
TCU is committed to making information on the University’s website available to all students and employees, including those with disabilities; an accessible website is a better website. By providing simple navigation, easier access to critical information, and the ability to interact with all forms of media, an accessible website will improve the overall user experience while on our website. Additionally, ensuring that all TCU web pages are accessible will help the University avoid unnecessary risks and provide better interactions with our students, faculty, staff and the general public.
Before individuals can make websites accessible, however, they must understand accessibility, be committed to ensuring accessibility, learn how to implement accessibility, and understand their legal obligations as noted within the American with Disabilities Act, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the standards and guidelines outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, Level AA. Resources and online training courses have been secured by the institution to assist employees in creating accessible web pages, courses, and other online content.
The initial interactive e-learning web accessibility course you are required to complete is titled Web Accessibility Fundamentals. This course, offered via Siteimprove Academy, provides a high-level overview of general accessibility principles including understanding disabilities, international guidelines, legal implications, and assistive technologies. Additional courses will be rolled out in the coming months and will be assigned based on your role and responsibilities associated with University websites and web pages.
Soon (if you haven’t already), you will receive an introductory email from Siteimprove, adding you as a user to the system and asking you to set up an account. This email also welcomes you to the Siteimprove Academy, providing you access to the Web Accessibility Fundamentals course.
If for some reason have difficulty accessing the training course after you have set up your account, please try logging in to your Siteimprove account on this site: https://siteimprove.litmos.com/home/dashboard.
If you experience any additional technical difficulties with the Siteimprove Academy training site or module, please open a support ticket via https://getonline.tcu.edu.
Users who do not complete the required online training within 30 days will have their website/web page editing and updating access revoked until such training is successfully completed. If you have questions about how you were identified as a webmaster or content provider please contact Elaine Tubre, Associate Director of Office of Website & Social Media Management, at e.tubre@tcu.edu. For questions regarding accessibility compliance, please contact Laurel Cunningham (Disability Services), at laurel.cunningham@tcu.edu.
Thank you in advance for your commitment to this important effort!
Andrea Nordmann, CCEP
Chief University Compliance Officer
Corey Reed
Director of Website & Social Media Management