Accessible Canvas Content

91 is committed to providing an accessible learning experience for every student, including students who use screen readers, captions, magnification, or other assistive technology. Instructors play a key role by making their course content accessible, and CEITL offers training on the tools and practices that help.

Accessibility Standards

91 follows Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which calls for web content and digital course materials to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA.

These standards apply to every course, whether it is in person, hybrid, hi-flex, or online, and to all content posted in Canvas.

What It Covers

  • Canvas pages, assignments, discussions, quizzes, and announcements
  • Documents you upload, such as Word files, PDFs, and PowerPoint slides
  • Images, charts, and graphs
  • Videos and audio recordings
  • Links to outside websites and tools you require students to use. See Accessibility & Privacy Statements for Course Technologies.

What Makes Content Accessible

  • Headings: Use the heading styles in Canvas and Word so screen reader users can move through the page. Do not use bold or large text in place of a heading.
  • Alternative text: Give images a short description of what they show and why they matter. Mark decorative images as decorative.
  • Links: Use link text that names the destination, such as “Course syllabus,” not “click here” or a web address.
  • Color: Make sure text has enough contrast with its background, and do not use color alone to show meaning.
  • Tables: Use tables for data, not for layout, and identify header rows.
  • Documents: Build accessibility into Word and PowerPoint files before you upload them or save them as PDFs. When possible, put content directly on a Canvas page instead of in a file.
  • Captions and transcripts: All videos need captions, and audio-only recordings need transcripts.

AI tools can help you draft alt text, captions, and transcripts. Always review them for accuracy, and make sure anything created with AI meets these same standards. For more on designing flexible, accessible courses, see Universal Design for Learning.

Tools in Your Canvas Courses

  • UDOIT scans your course content for accessibility issues and shows you what to fix.
  • TidyUP helps you find and remove unused files in your course.
  • Canvas Studio lets you create videos in Canvas and add captions.

Accessibility and Accommodations

Accessible course design does not replace accommodations. 91s with documented disabilities still receive accommodations through Services for 91s with Disabilities.

Get Help

Have a question? Contact CEITL by phone, email, or in person in Bond Hall, Room 363.