Skidmore College is committed to making its web content and digital communications accessible to all users, including people with disabilities.

Accessibility is an essential part of effective communication. The Office of Communications and Marketing (OCM) works with campus partners to support web content that is usable, inclusive, accurate, and consistent with applicable accessibility standards and College expectations.

Web accessibility standard

Skidmore’s public web content should meet applicable accessibility standards and follow current web accessibility best practices, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

Skidmore.edu follows current WCAG 2.0 / Section 508 accessibility standards across all pages and WCAG 2.1 / Section 508 on all newly redesigned pages. 

OCM, Information Technology, and campus content owners share responsibility for supporting accessible digital content. OCM may review, edit, return, or remove content that does not meet accessibility expectations or that creates barriers for users.

Responsibilities

OCM is responsible for setting web content standards, providing guidance to campus web editors, and reviewing official College web content for accessibility, usability, clarity, and brand alignment.

Campus offices, departments, programs, and content owners are responsible for ensuring that the content they submit, publish, or maintain is accurate, current, and accessible.

Content owners should consider accessibility before publishing new pages, documents, images, videos, forms, graphics, tables, or other digital materials.

Accessible web content

Accessible web content should include:

• meaningful page titles and headings
• clear, descriptive link text
• alternative text for meaningful images
• captions, transcripts, or other alternatives for video and audio
• sufficient color contrast
• information that does not rely on color alone
• readable, plain-language content
• accessible tables with appropriate headers
• forms with clear labels, instructions, and error messages
• documents, PDFs, and attachments that are accessible before posting
• content that can be navigated and used with a keyboard
• content that works with assistive technologies

Documents and PDFs

Documents posted to Skidmore websites, including PDFs, Word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, flyers, and reports, should be accessible before publication.

Whenever possible, important content should be provided as HTML web content rather than only as a PDF or image-based document.

OCM may ask content owners to revise, replace, or remove inaccessible documents.

Images, graphics, and flyers

Do not use images of text as the only way to communicate important information.

Event flyers, posters, graphics, and social media images should be accompanied by accessible text that includes the essential details, such as event title, date, time, location, registration information, and contact information.

Video and audio

Videos posted on official Skidmore websites or channels should include accurate captions. Audio-only content should include transcripts when appropriate.

Live or recorded events may require additional accessibility planning, depending on audience, purpose, and platform.

Forms

Online forms should include clear labels, instructions, required-field indicators, error messages, and confirmation steps.

Forms should be usable with a keyboard and compatible with assistive technologies.

For forms used for official College business, consult OCM or IT before publishing if accessibility is uncertain.

Report an accessibility concern

If you experience an accessibility barrier on a Skidmore website or digital service, contact OCM at info@skidmore.edu or 518-580-5733.

Please include the web address, a description of the issue, and the assistive technology or browser you were using, if relevant.