TexasHealthOptions.com

(Portions of this guideline were adapted from various sources, including accessibility guidelines and policies adopted by the State of Texas.)

TexasHealthOptions.com and the Texas Department of Insurance are committed to making this Web site accessible to the widest possible audience, including people with visual disabilities using screen-reading software.

As part of that commitment, we are continually working to make all our Web pages more accessible. Some of the accessibility and usability features we have provided include:

• Skip Navigation - A "Skip Navigation Link" option is available at the top of every Web page. This allows users with mobility impairments and those who use screen-reader software to go directly to the main content of a Web page without having to deal with repetitive navigation links.
• Text Reader and Printer Friendly Versions - Links are available at the top of each page that allow users to go directly to a separate text version or a "normal" version of the page.
• Spanish Translations - We provide key consumer documents in Spanish through our En Español links.
• Text and Textual Equivalents - We try to ensure that alternative text (ALT tags) are provided for all non-text elements used on our Web site.
• Documents Not Tied to Hardware - Our Web pages are designed and tested to be usable by people without a mouse, with only voice or text output and with alternative keyboards. A majority of documents on our Web site are in XHTML. A few are in Word. XHTML and Word pages are usually accessible to screen-reading software. We also have documents in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF). PDF documents reproduce the exact look of a printed page and may be displayed using Adobe's free Acrobat Reader.

We have tested our Web page design with screen readers and other web accessibility tools. As a result, we have made changes to improve the site's accessibility for users with disabilities.

Our guidelines call for:

• Following current web standards for XHTML, and Cascading Style Sheets, while maintaining accessiblity of content to older browsers.
• Avoiding excess images, image maps and use of animation material.
• Using hypertext links that make sense when read out of context.
• Using headings, lists and Web site structure in a consistent manner, including using CSS to control the Web site's style and, in many cases, to control layout.
• Summarizing material (or using the longdesc attribute) for content that may be difficult to access.
• Providing alternatives in cases where content produced by scripts, applets or plug-ins may not be accessible or supported.
• Avoiding the use of frames.
• Summarizing table content or creating tables that allow for line by line reading.
• Validating pages with various tools, including the W3C's HTML Validation Service and the Bobby Accessibility Checker.
• Testing on the Windows and MAC platforms and numerous browsers (Netscape 6 and 7; IE 6; Mozilla 1.0 and Firefox; Opera and Home Page Reader).
• Using various accessibility checklists and guidelines, including those at www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/.

A related document, our Web Site Development Guideline, is also available for more details.

All TDI facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities. To request special assistance, please contact:

• Texas Department of Insurance - (512) 463-6169
• ADA Coordinator - (512) 475-1992
• TDD - (512) 322-4238
• Mailing Address - P O Box 149104, Austin, TX 78714-9104
• Hobby Building Address - 333 Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78701
• E-mail - patricia.david@tdi.state.tx.us

Entrances to the Hobby Building are located at:

• 4th Street and Lavaca Street
• 4th Street and Guadalupe Street
• 3rd Street and Guadalupe Street
• 3rd Street and Lavaca Street

Ramps to enter the building are located at each of these entrances. Speakers to request assistance entering the building are located at all entrances except the 3rd Street/Lavaca Street entrance.

TDI field offices are inspected for ADA compliance by the Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Please let us know if you have any problems accessing our Web site. When you contact us, please note:

• The nature of your accessibility problem.
• The format you prefer for receiving requested Web site material.
• The Web address of the requested material.
• Your contact information.

If you need to contact us via TDD equipment, please visit the Relay Texas Web site at http://www.puc.state.tx.us/relay/index.cfm for assistance.

Additional information about accessibility programs in Texas is available from the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities.

The Texas Department of Insurance does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or in the provision of services. Any request for reasonable accommodation needed during the application process should be communicated by the applicant to staff in the application area or by calling (512)475-1992 or TDD(512)322-4238.

For more information contact: