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Accessibility

Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility, also known as Digital Accessibility, is all about ensuring our online environments are accessible and user-friendly to all people.

EIT covers a range of information and communication technologies including but not limited to our websites, digital content (e.g., documents and videos) and software.

Providing accessible materials and experiences will empower all campus community members and visitors to our website and academic offerings. Proactively addressing accessibility will enhance pedagogical benefits, our campus climate, and overall participation - including the recruitment and retention of employees and students with disabilities.

In accordance with SUNY Policy, SUNY Potsdam is committed to inclusive access and universal design across all platforms and multimedia. The EIT Accessibility Steering Committee at SUNY Potsdam comprises of five subcommittees dedicated to addressing the accessibility of websites, digital content, classrooms and facilities, libraries and procurement.

The SUNY Potsdam contact regarding the accessibility for the SUNY Potsdam website is the Assistant Vice President for Communications, (315) 267-3486. Please contact the AVP with questions or suggestions.

  1. Navigation
    1. Design clear and consistent navigation
    2. Use meaningful names for files and document titles
  2. Readable
    1. The text size and font type are easily readable (Sans Serif fonts)
    2. The content is written concisely with minimal jargon
    3. Avoid sensory instructions
    4. Avoid flashing and blinking text
  3. Flexibility
    1. Provide information in multiple formats (see Universal Design for Learning)
  4. Headings & Lists
    1. Use built-in headings and styles guides to structure a document or webpage
    2. Use built-in lists in various authoring tools (e.g., Microsoft Word)
  5. Color
    1. Use sufficient color contrast (free Color Contrast Checker)
    2. Avoid using color to convey meaning or pair the color with another indicator, such as an asterisk
  6. Images
    1. Provide alternative (alt) text descriptions for images, graphs, etc.
    2. Regarding images of text: write text directly in the document or webpage
  7. Hyperlinks
    1. Ensure hyperlinks are meaningful in context
  8. Tables
    1. Create tables with column and/or row headers, and ensure a proper reading order (using the Tab key, the information should read from left to right)
  9. Video & Audio
    1. Choose videos that have intelligible captions
    2. Caption videos you create (use auto-captioning and fix accuracy)
    3. Provide transcripts for audio recordings
  10. Math & Science
    1. Use equation editors (e.g., Microsoft Equation Editor or MathType) or LaTeX input to a MathML expression
    2. If necessary, provide alt text descriptions for graphs, diagrams, and equations

Microsoft

Tips: Use the built-in automated checkers when creating documents and presentations. If documents
are created accessibly from the beginning, use the “Save as PDF” rather than “Print to PDF” to retain
accessibility features. Also, always keep the source (original) document. If possible, share the Word
document instead of the PDF.

Adobe

  • Adobe Reader:
  • Adobe Professional DC:
    • Wherever possible, use web forms and websites to relay information instead of using PDFs.
    • If a PDF cannot be read aloud using the Read Out Loud feature, the document is inaccessible.
    • To enhance accessibility, there is an automated checker and Make Accessible feature.
    • At minimum, conduct an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) scan to make the text readable to all users.
    • Currently, limited licenses to the professional version of Adobe are available. Please work with your department to determine the best workflow for making PDFs accessible and then request a license from CTS.

BizLibrary Trainings

  • Empathy ADA: Promoting Understanding and Accessibility (mandated)
  • Section 508 compliance: Enhancing Accessibility and Elevating Engagement

Deque University
SUNY has contracted with a comprehensive training platform that covers a range of digital accessibility training courses. This is also a searchable resource. To gain access, please contact Lauren Jackson-Beck: jacksola@potsdam.edu

Additional Resources:

Social Media

Social media platforms vary in their accessibility features and functionality. The following accessibility
considerations apply universally:

  • Provide alt text descriptions for images
  • Use captions for all videos. Note, captioning may need to be burned into the video depending on the platform.
  • Use Emojis instead of symbols. Place emojis at the beginning or end of sentences
  • Use CamelCase for Hashtags (e.g., #PotsdamProud)

For more information about each platform’s accessibility features, dive into the following resources:

Teaching Faculty

The Diversity and Inclusion Action Coalition (DIAC) offers a checklist to diversify your syllabus and cultivate a welcoming classroom environment.

Physical Accessibility

Complaints, concerns, questions and suggestions about physical accessibility at SUNY Potsdam can be directed to the Office of Accommodative Services.