SOAR User Manual

The Rutgers Libraries are committed to providing access to resources and services for users of all abilities. Toward that end, we strive to ensure that materials submitted to SOAR are machine-readable and accessible to users of adaptive or assistive technology. In support of Rutgers' Web Accessibility Policy, we encourage all faculty, students, and staff to consider accessibility in their research and publishing workflow. Creating accessible documents not only benefits individuals with disabilities but improves the overall user experience for all readers.

Use proper document metadata

Include title, author, language, and other relevant metadata to assist screen readers in identifying and understanding your document.

Use accessible fonts and text formatting

Choose standard, easy-to-read fonts. Ensure text is resizable without loss of content or functionality.

Use sufficient color contrast

Use high-contrast color combinations to make text and background content legible. Avoid using color as they only means of conveying information.

Use headings

Use proper headings (e.g., Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3) as opposed to formatting (e.g., font size, style, and color) to convey document organization and structure and ensure your document can be navigated using screen readers.

Use properly formatted lists and tables

Use properly formatted lists and tables to structure and organize content (i.e., using markup language or formatting tools rather than tabs or spaces to position content). Use tables to present data, not to control page layout. When creating tables, use column/row headers and table captions to ensure they can be read by screen readers.

Provide alternative text for images

Add descriptive alt text to all images, charts, and graphs so that screen readers can convey the information to users who are blind or visually impaired.

Use meaningful hyperlinks

Avoid generic link text like "click here" or "read more." Instead, use descriptive text that indicates or describes the resource to which you are linking.

Set equations and formulas using equation editors and typesetting

Create formulas and equations using markup language like MathML or LaTeX. For more information, see Creating Accessible Math from Rutgers Access and Disability Resources (RADR).

Provide transcripts and captions for multimedia

Provide transcripts for audio content and captions for video content to make it accessible to individuals with hearing impairments. For a list of available captioning tools, see Digital Accessibility Resources from Rutgers' Office of Information Technology.

Comply with accessibility standards

Follow recognized accessibility standards, such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Section 508.

While the Libraries make every effort to ensure materials deposited in SOAR are accessible to all users, some items may formatted in ways that make them difficult to use with assistive technology such as screen readers and closed captioning. If, due to hearing or vision impairment, you require an item from SOAR in a format other than the one that is available, please contact soar@rutgers.libanswers.com.