Title: How do I make sure my content is accessible?
Course: Templates for Canvas > Section: Using the Templates

Canvas has an automated tool [insert image] to check the accessibility of a page. This tool is a useful starting point, but will not catch everything. Learning how to make sure your content is accessible from the start will save you time and improve the learner's experience.

Canvas Content

Use semantic structure

Use document structure (headings, styles, and tags) to build flexible, accessible course content.

- In the Canvas editor, click the "paragraph" dropdown menu (you may have to expand the window to see it) to choose a heading level. Make sure the structure makes sense: heading 3 is a subheading of heading 2, heading 4 is a subheading of heading 3 etc. "Use semantic structure, style, and tags" above is current set to heading 3.
- Use bold and italics for emphasis, do not use color or text size for emphasis, as screen readers cannot interpret these as distinct elements.
- Use true bulleted and numbered lists, like this one, rather than using the tab key to indent, as screen readers cannot interpret tabs.

Increase readability

Use the simplest language appropriate for your content. See PlainLanguage.gov for tips.

- Convert large blocks of text to smaller, more manageable blocks of text and use bullet points.
- Define abbreviations or jargon.
- Avoid the use of ALL CAPS, which can make text difficult to read.
- Do not convey information solely by color, particularly in diagrams and graphs.

Use descriptive link text

- Use link text that describes the destination.
- Avoid using nondescript link text like “click here” and “more info” as link text. Avoid using the URL itself as link text.
- Learn more about descriptive link text.

Provide alternative text descriptions

- Use alternative text to describe images, graphics and pictorial data. When you embed an image in Canvas, or edit an existing image, click the "embed image button" in the tool bar. Then you can edit the alternate ("alt") text.
- You can indicate that an image is decorative using the "embed image button" in the tool bar. An image marked as decorative will be ignored or elided over by a screen reader or assertive device.
- More complex images or diagrams may need a caption or text description beneath the image.
  - complex images guide
- For assistance in describing complex images or diagrams, see suggestions and tools from the Diagram Center.

Use tables thoughtfully

- Use the simplest table configuration possible. Tables should be used for data and tabular info, not layout.
- Tables should have a figure designation and text description summarizing key takeaways.
- Learn more about creating accessible tables.

Learn more about how to create accessible course content in Canvas and accessibility of specific Canvas functionality.

Multimedia and document accessibility

Content you upload to Canvas also needs to be accessible, but this is usually handle in a media-specific app.

Video and Multimedia

- Turn off auto-play feature, if the option is available.
- Make sure videos are captioned and audio is transcribed.
  - Captions should include who is speaking, punctuation, meaningful text that appears on screen, and vocal emotional tone and ambient sound.
  - Professional captioning services are available at discounted pricing. If using Kaltura machine captions, proofreading and editing will be necessary. Pay careful attention to subject-specific or uncommon language which a machine captioning process will incorrectly parse.
- Learn how to get started with captioning and transcription.

Adobe PDF and Scanned Documents

- Start with an accessible document (e.g. Word or PowerPoint) before converting to PDF.
- Follow WebAIM’s guidelines to learn how to create accessible PDFs.
- Scanned images of text are not accessible.
  - If you have specific readings, investigate if they are available through the library in a digital format. This content is usually accessible, and Librarians can assist you if you need further assistance acquiring an accessible document.
  - If you must use a scanned document, it should be high visual quality and at least 300dp resolution. Text should not be highlighted or underlined, binding shadows should not be present, lines should not be clipped, and text must be readable, even when enlarged.

Microsoft PowerPoint

- Use sans serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica or Calibri.
- White space is your friend. Use punctuation at the end of each line.
- Create alternative text descriptions for images.
- Learn more about accessible PowerPoint presentations.

Microsoft Word

- Use uniform and hierarchical headings to structure the document.
- Create alternative text descriptions for images.
- Use the simplest table configuration possible. In general, tables are best for data and not layout.
- Use link text that describes the destination.
- Use true bulleted and numbered lists, rather than using the tab key, as screen readers cannot interpret tabs.
- Use the built in accessibility checker.
- Learn more about accessible Word documents.