Digital Accessibility

Goucher’s campus-wide effort to improve digital access to websites, documents, and communications

Goucher College is working to improve the accessibility of its websites, documents, and digital communications as part of an ongoing campus-wide effort to support inclusion and equitable access.

This work is coordinated through the Digital Accessibility Working Group (DAWG), which brings together partners from across the college to identify priorities, improve practices, and support progress toward accessibility compliance.

What we're doing

Goucher is taking a phased approach to improving the accessibility of digital content across the college. Here are the current areas of focus:

  • Websites: improving website templates, structure, and content
  • Documents: auditing and remediating inaccessible PDFs and other files
  • Digital communications: promoting more accessible email and content practices
  • Training and support: providing guidance and resources for faculty and staff who create digital content
  • Planning and coordination: identifying priorities, reviewing progress, and supporting accessibility work across campus

The Digital Accessibility Working Group meets regularly to review progress, set priorities, and coordinate this work.

Why it matters

Digital accessibility helps ensure that everyone can access and use Goucher's websites, documents, and digital communications. When digital content is accessible, it supports fuller participation in campus life for students, faculty, staff, alumni, families, and visitors alike.

Digital accessibility matters because it:

  • Supports equitable access. Accessible digital content helps everyone find, understand, and use the information and services they need—regardless of ability or how they access the web.
  • Helps people with disabilities. Accessibility removes barriers for people who use assistive technologies, such as screen readers, voice control, or keyboard navigation.
  • Benefits everyone. Clear structure, readable text, descriptive links, and well-organized content improve the experience for all users, not just those with disabilities.
  • Reflects our values. This work supports Goucher's commitment to inclusion and belonging by helping ensure that no one is excluded from digital information or services.
  • Supports compliance. Goucher's accessibility efforts align with current legal expectations and WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, the widely recognized benchmark for digital accessibility. For additional context, view the ADA.gov fact sheet on web and mobile app accessibility requirements for state and local governments.

Roles & Responsibilities

Everyone who creates digital content on behalf of Goucher College plays a role in accessibility.

  • Web editors are responsible for following Goucher's web content, style guide, and accessibility standards when creating or updating webpages.
  • Faculty should design courses and prepare course materials—including syllabi, readings, and multimedia—with accessibility in mind.
  • Staff should consider accessibility when creating documents, presentations, emails, or social media posts intended for campus audiences.

Training and guidance are available to help you meet these responsibilities. See the Training & Guidance section below for resources.

Timeline & Progress

Goucher established the Digital Accessibility Working Group (DAWG) in spring 2025 to guide a coordinated approach to digital accessibility across the college. Since then, the college has been building a compliance plan, identifying priorities, and taking steps to improve accessibility in key areas, such as websites, documents, and digital communications.

Our goal is to make steady progress toward meeting digital accessibility requirements and improving the usability of online content by April 2027. Because this work is ongoing, updates will be shared periodically on this page.

Area Status Notes
Website audit In progress Reducing number of PDFs on the Goucher website to narrow the scope of PDFs to review and remediate. Identifying outdated or unnecessary webpages to remove or update.
PDF remediation In progress Reviewing tools and services to scan, remediate, and test PDFs for accessibility, including automated tools and manual testing.
Website template improvements In progress Addressing higher-impact structural accessibility issues on www.goucher.edu.
Website scan and remediation In progress Currently focusing on www.goucher.edu. Planning to review and remediate other goucher subdomains and web properties through fall 2026.
Accessibility training for web editors Completed: 10/2025 Guidance and resources available.
Accessibility training for faculty Ongoing Training delivered at Faculty Orientation (Aug 2025) as well as CAST workshops (Jan 2025, Feb 2026). Future trainings to be scheduled at faculty development day in May 2026.
Employee accessibility training Planned In development, to be launched at a later date.
All-campus email guidelines Completed: 9/2025 Accessible email guidelines published.
Full WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance In progress Target: April 2027.

Last updated: 5/5/26

Training & Guidance

Creating accessible content is a shared responsibility. Goucher is developing and expanding training, guidance, and support to help faculty and staff create more accessible digital materials, including webpages, documents, and campus communications. The following resources are available to faculty and staff who create digital content:

Report a Barrier

If you encounter a digital accessibility issue on the Goucher website or in another online resource, we encourage you to let us know. Reporting barriers helps the college identify issues, improve access, and prioritize remediation. Please include as much detail as possible, such as the webpage or resource involved and the issue you experienced.

Report a Digital Accessibility Barrier

Contact

Questions about digital accessibility, website accessibility, training, or this initiative may be directed to webmaster@goucher.edu.