DIR Deploys Level Access’s Access University, an IT Accessibility Learning Management System across Texas State Government

AUSTIN – Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) is now offering Access University, an industry leading Information Technology (IT) accessibility learning management system from Level Access.

Access University will be used for training staff at Texas state agencies and many of its institutions of higher education employees with responsibilities in the development, procurement, or use of accessible IT.

Users will have access to Access University’s extensive course catalogue, from which to build and accelerate their knowledge on a broad range of IT accessibility related subject areas. The browser-based system will be made freely available to employees within the Texas DIR purview.

Information Technology accessibility is a critical imperative that enables people with disabilities to participate in the use and benefits of goods and services available over the internet and in the digital world without barriers, creating an environment where most people take the use of technology in their daily lives for granted.

The Texas government and other government agencies are subject to regulations requiring compliance to IT accessibility technical standards, such as the Worldwide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). When technology is implemented using these standards, it allows people with disabilities such as blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, mobility impaired, and cognitive disabilities to use websites, web applications, mobile applications, documents, software, telecommunications equipment and other forms of technology in the performance of their jobs or in their personal lives.

“Providing IT accessibility training resources across Texas state government and state funded institutions of higher education is an important component of DIR’s IT Accessibility responsibilities, and is codified in our administrative rules,” as Jeff Kline, Program Director of Texas Statewide. Electronic and Information Resources Accessibility explains. “Access University is a highly scalable, robust, and cost effective LMS that will greatly assist DIR in its initiative to ensure that state government related IT is inclusive and accessible to our state employees and our citizens, including people with disabilities.”

“At Level Access, we believe that access to technology is a profound enabling force in the lives of people with disabilities and the elderly,” said Tim Springer, CEO of Level Access. “We are proud to work with the State of Texas DIR to offer our extensive digital accessibility courses for the purposes of benefiting their citizens of all abilities.”

There are many roles within an organization where IT accessibility comes into play and need to be considered appropriately. Available courses are tailored to address the needs of the various roles and positions across organizations including:

• Developers
• Designers
• QA
• Engineers and Specialists
• Content Authors
• Procurement
• Managers
• HR
• Marketing/Communications

For more infomation contact DIR Statewide EIR Accessibility at statewideaccessibility@dir.texas.gov.