Canvas & Course Content Accessibility
Canvas & Course Content covers a broad range of digital items including content built out in Canvas courses, PDFs, Word Docs, PowerPoints, Syllabi, online textbooks, external links and anything else that is linked within Canvas or digital content that is used to teach a course.
Please review the guidelines below and integrate them in your day-to-day workflow.
Who is responsible?
Instructors, Deans, Department Chairs and Instructional Designers must ensure course content and Canvas comply with WCAG 2.1 AA.
Tools for Accessibility
UDOIT, Microsoft Accessibility Checkers, Adobe Acrobat PDF Accessibility Checker
Course Content Best Practices
Use UDOIT to Check Accessibility
UDOIT is a tool that allows you to scan your Canvas courses for accessibility issues. It will scan your built out content and anything you upload into the course.
Upload Accessible Files
As you build out a course, be sure to upload the most accessible version of the content. For example, if you're sharing a chapter from a digital textbook, share a link to the chapter rather than a PDF. Another example would be to avoid screenshots when possible and linking directly to the content you would like the student to utilize.
Add Closed Captions to Videos
If you have video content in your course, provide captions and descriptions so that students who can’t hear, see, or process the original video can understand its content.
Add Alt Text to Images and Complex Visuals
All images, graphics, tables, charts, etc. need to have alt text added so those who may not be able to see the content can understand its meaning or purpose.
Other Digital Accessibility Basics
Becoming familiar with an incorporating the items below in your daily work will alleviate many of the most common WCAG 2.1 AA compliance issues. To learn more about each of these items, visit the Digital Accessibility Basics Guide.
Document Title
Headings
Lists
Color Contrast
Color Usage
Font Size
Plain language
Link Text