Canvas Tools for Accessibility

The Department of Justice’s April 2024 ruling under Title II of the ADA requires that all digital content, including password-protected course materials, be accessible to individuals with disabilities. This means that Canvas content must meet the WCAG 2.3 Level AA standards to ensure equal access for all learners and align with federal digital accessibility requirements.

Compliance Deadline: April 24, 2026

Accessibility isn’t just a legal requirement; it helps create an inclusive learning environment for students and makes courses clearer, more organized, and easier for instructors to manage and teach effectively.

Accessibility in Action: Overall Canvas Toolkit

1. Use Canvas tools for formatting.
   1. Headings in order.
   2. Horizontal lines to separate content.
   3. Numbered and bulleted lists.
2. Add alternative text and long descriptions (when necessary) to all images. 
   1. Use the Image Accessibility Creator to create long or alternate text.
   2. Avoid using words like “image” or “photo.”  
   3. Use the mark as decorative option sparingly.
3. The use of color is decorative and has enough contrast.
4. Use Paste as Plain Text [ctrl+shift+V] to remove hidden code when copying from Word, websites, etc.
5. Use descriptive naming conventions and link to these names.
   1. Files. 
      EXAMPLE: Accessibility Session Notes (Word 1 page).
   2. Pages, assignments, quizzes, and modules. 
6. Ensure hyperlinks are informative and describe context/purpose. Avoid “click here” or “link to.”
   HINT: Click existing links and select Link Options to fix.
   
7. Use the Canvas Accessibility Checker when editing pages, assignments, and other content.
8. Create quizzes that are inclusive and easy to navigate.
   HINT: Refer to the Accessibility in Action: Classic and New Quizzes guide. 
9. Use tables sparingly.
   1. For data, not for page organization.
   2. Add captions and headers.
10. Hide extra navigation buttons via Settings > Navigation.
11. Use View as Student to ensure students can view content as you intended.
12. Use Settings > Course Link Validator to ensure your links work.
    1. Some external links are listed as “unreachable,” but they really work. Canvas does not wait long for websites to respond.
    2. Links you fix do not update automatically, so rerun the scan after you fix them.
13. Use UDOIT to review and fix pages, announcements, assignments, and related content.
14. Use TidyUP to delete unused files.
    IMPORTANT: TidyUp does NOT scan for files/images in Quiz Question Banks.

Start Small with Big Impact

Feeling overwhelmed? Begin with the steps that help the most students:

• Use proper heading levels in order. This creates a clear structure for screen readers and improves readability for everyone.
• Add alternative text to images: without it, images are inaccessible to students using assistive technologies.

These two changes significantly improve accessibility. Start here, and you’ll already be creating more inclusive, organized courses!

Learn More

Reach out to CETL at cetl@uwec.edu and access the Accessibility Resources section of the CETL Canvas website.