SUNY Open Access Repository (SOAR)

Are works in SOAR accessible?

Legacy content may have accessibility limitations, but we are working with other departments to make incoming submissions as accessible as possible. Specifically, our theses and dissertations submission guidelines prompt contributors to:

• title their document
• set the document language to English
• use headings and structural tags
• create alt text for images and figures
• format clear tables with headers
• use bullet or number formatting for lists
• use colors with adequate contrast to their background
• when using Microsoft Word, use the Microsoft Accessibility Checker throughout the writing process

How can I make sure my document is accessible?

If you are faculty or staff, we highly recommend Educational Communication's Brightspace course, Creating Accessible Content - 2025.

If you are submitting a document that you created in Microsoft Word (thesis, dissertation, or the accepted or submitted version of an article):

• we recommend using the Microsoft Accessibility Checker. Using this before converting the file to a PDF will help minimize accessibility issues.
• If you have access to Adobe Acrobat Pro, you can double-check a converted PDF using Adobe's built-in Accessibility Checker.

If you are submitting the published version of an article as a PDF:

• please include the publisher's link to this article (typically the URL that includes the DOI). These links often include HTML-based, read-online access to the article, which will be more accessible than a PDF.

For further assistance, feel free to reach out to us at libsuppt@upstate.edu. 

Can I request accessibility remediation on a SOAR item?

Yes. Please contact us at libsuppt@upstate.edu to learn more.