Canvas Accessibility Checker: Course Improvement

The pursuit of inclusive online learning environments gains momentum as institutions worldwide, including leaders recognized by WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), prioritize digital accessibility; course improvement, therefore, becomes a central focus. Instructure, the creators of Canvas, offer the canvas accessibility checker, a crucial tool that empowers instructors to proactively identify and rectify accessibility barriers within their course content. This checker evaluates course elements against accessibility standards, helping educators create more inclusive learning experiences for all students, including those utilizing assistive technology. Improving accessibility is not solely a technical issue but also a pedagogical one, with accessibility expert Dr. Sarah Thompson emphasizing the importance of universal design principles in online course development.

Embracing Proactive Accessibility in Canvas: Building Inclusive Learning Environments

Accessibility in Canvas is not merely a feature or an afterthought; it is a fundamental principle for creating inclusive and equitable learning environments. It ensures that all students, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, have equal access to educational opportunities. A proactive approach to accessibility is vital in fostering a learning space where every student can thrive.

Defining Accessibility in Online Learning

Accessibility, in the context of online learning, refers to the design and delivery of digital content and tools that can be used effectively by all students. This includes students with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. An accessible Canvas course is one where every element, from text and images to videos and interactive components, is designed to be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

It’s about removing barriers that might prevent students from fully engaging with the material. Accessibility encompasses a broad range of considerations. It spans from providing alternative text for images to ensuring proper color contrast.

Ethical and Legal Imperatives for Accessibility

The drive for accessibility is rooted in both ethical considerations and legal mandates. Ethically, it is our responsibility to create learning environments that are fair and inclusive. Denying access to education based on disability is unjust and contradicts the core values of equality and opportunity.

Legally, various laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, require educational institutions to provide accessible digital resources. Non-compliance can lead to legal repercussions, including lawsuits and loss of funding. It is crucial to understand and adhere to these legal requirements to protect both the institution and the rights of students.

The Universal Benefits of Accessible Course Content

While accessibility primarily addresses the needs of students with disabilities, the benefits extend to all learners. Accessible course content enhances usability and clarity for everyone.

For example, providing captions for videos not only assists students with hearing impairments, but also benefits students learning a new language, those studying in noisy environments, or those who simply prefer to read along. Similarly, well-structured content with clear headings and concise language improves comprehension and navigation for all students.

Accessibility is not just about compliance; it’s about creating a better learning experience for everyone. When we design with accessibility in mind, we are designing for a diverse range of learning styles and preferences. This leads to more engaging, effective, and inclusive educational experiences for all.

Key Stakeholders: A Collaborative Approach to Canvas Accessibility

Creating truly accessible Canvas courses requires a collective effort. It’s not solely the responsibility of one individual or department. It involves a diverse group of stakeholders, each playing a crucial role in fostering an inclusive learning environment. When all stakeholders are engaged and working together, it ensures that accessibility is woven into the very fabric of the course design. It protects the rights of students.

The Crucial Roles of Stakeholders

Understanding the distinct roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder is critical for effective collaboration and successful implementation of accessibility initiatives. This section will define the importance and significance of each role.

Faculty/Instructors: The Architects of Accessible Learning

Faculty and instructors are at the forefront of accessibility.

They are primarily responsible for creating and maintaining accessible course materials. This includes ensuring that documents, videos, and other resources are designed with accessibility in mind from the start.

Integrating accessibility into course design involves several key strategies:

• Using clear and concise language.
• Providing alternative text for images.
• Structuring content with proper headings.
• Choosing appropriate color contrast.

Empowering instructors with the knowledge and resources is essential. Offer training on accessibility best practices, provide access to assistive technologies, and foster a supportive environment where they can experiment and innovate.

Instructional Designers/Technologists: The Accessibility Enablers

Instructional designers and technologists possess expertise in leveraging technology for accessibility.

They can assist faculty in implementing accessibility best practices within Canvas, offering guidance on using built-in tools and features.

They are instrumental in scaling accessibility efforts across departments and institutions.

Their role extends to:

• Developing templates.
• Creating training materials.
• Promoting accessibility awareness.

Students with Disabilities: Active Partners in Accessibility

Students with disabilities are not passive recipients but active partners in creating accessible learning environments.

It is vital to actively seek their feedback on course design and materials.

Their lived experiences can provide valuable insights into potential barriers and areas for improvement.

Respecting and protecting their rights through accessible design is paramount.

Accessibility Specialists: The Accessibility Guides

Accessibility specialists possess in-depth knowledge of accessibility standards and guidelines, such as WCAG.

They can provide guidance on ensuring compliance with these standards.

They can assist Instructional Designers/Technologists and help them navigate the complexities of accessible design.

Leveraging their expertise is critical for creating courses that meet the needs of all students.

Administrators (e.g., Directors of Online Learning): The Champions of Accessibility

Administrative support is essential for fostering a culture of accessibility.

Administrators play a vital role in implementing institutional policies that prioritize accessibility.

They also allocate resources for training, support, and assistive technologies.

Without their commitment, accessibility initiatives may lack the necessary infrastructure and funding to succeed.

Accessibility Auditors: Ensuring Accountability

Accessibility auditors play a crucial role in ensuring accountability and compliance with accessibility standards.

They offer recommendations for improvements based on their expertise.

Their expertise in accessibility standards and guidelines ensures that institutions are meeting legal and ethical obligations.

User Experience (UX) Designers (at Instructure): The Accessibility Architects of Canvas

UX designers at Instructure contribute to accessibility improvements at the platform level.

They play a vital role in designing and improving the Canvas platform to be inherently more accessible.

Their expertise in accessibility design ensures that Canvas remains a user-friendly and inclusive learning environment for all.

By understanding and appreciating the unique contributions of each stakeholder, institutions can create a collaborative ecosystem that fosters a truly accessible and equitable learning experience for all students within Canvas.

Core Accessibility Concepts for Canvas: Building a Strong Foundation

Creating truly accessible Canvas courses requires a collective effort. It’s not solely the responsibility of one individual or department. It involves a diverse group of stakeholders, each playing a crucial role in fostering an inclusive learning environment. When all stakeholders are working together, it will be easier to focus on the core accessibility concepts needed to build a strong foundation.

This section introduces fundamental accessibility concepts relevant to Canvas course design. A shared understanding of these terms and principles is critical for effective implementation and collaboration. By familiarizing yourself with these concepts, you’ll be well-equipped to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable learning experience for all students.

Understanding Accessibility

Accessibility, in the context of online learning, refers to the design of course materials and activities that can be used effectively by all students, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. This includes students with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments.

Accessibility isn’t just about compliance; it’s about creating a better user experience for everyone. When we design with accessibility in mind, we often create content that is more organized, clear, and user-friendly for all learners.

Benefits of Accessibility for All Students

Accessible design practices often lead to better learning outcomes for all students. Clear navigation, well-structured content, and alternative formats can benefit students with diverse learning styles and preferences, not just those with disabilities. Consider the benefits of captions on videos, these are used and appreciated by many students in different situations.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for designing instruction that is accessible and effective for a wide range of learners. It’s based on the principle of providing multiple means of representation, action and expression, and engagement.

Minimizing Barriers with UDL Principles

UDL encourages instructors to be flexible in their approach to teaching and assessment. By offering students choices in how they access content, demonstrate their learning, and engage with the course material, we can minimize barriers and maximize learning opportunities. UDL principles aim to create curricula that are flexible, adaptable, and responsive to individual learner needs.

Designing Engaging Courses for All

UDL promotes creating engaging courses for all learners. This means designing activities and assessments that are relevant, meaningful, and motivating for students with diverse backgrounds and interests.

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are internationally recognized standards for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. These guidelines provide a comprehensive set of recommendations for creating accessible websites and applications.

Canvas Accessibility Checker and WCAG Alignment

The Canvas accessibility checker is designed to help instructors identify and address common accessibility issues in their course content. It aligns with WCAG principles and provides guidance on how to fix errors and improve the accessibility of your course.

Ensuring Content Meets Minimum Requirements

WCAG provides a tiered system of conformance levels (A, AA, and AAA). While striving for the highest level of accessibility is admirable, meeting the minimum requirements (Level A and AA) is crucial for ensuring that your content is usable by the majority of users with disabilities.

Remediation: Fixing Accessibility Errors

Remediation refers to the process of fixing accessibility errors in your course content. This may involve adding alternative text to images, improving color contrast, or restructuring content to be more navigable.

Step-by-Step Guidance on Fixing Issues

When remediating accessibility errors, it’s essential to follow a systematic approach. Start by identifying the issues using the Canvas accessibility checker or other tools. Then, follow the recommended solutions to fix the errors.

Importance of Testing

Always test your remediated content with assistive technologies, such as screen readers, to ensure that it is truly accessible. This will help you identify any remaining issues and make any necessary adjustments. Testing is crucial to ensure that the content is understandable and usable for all.

Alternative Text (Alt Text) for Images

Alternative text (alt text) is a short description of an image that is read aloud by screen readers for users with visual impairments. Alt text should accurately convey the content and function of the image.

Best Practices for Writing Effective Alt Text

When writing alt text, be concise and descriptive. Focus on the essential information that the image conveys. Avoid using phrases like "image of" or "picture of." If an image is purely decorative, it should have empty alt text (alt="").

Applying Alt Text to Images in Canvas

In Canvas, you can add alt text to images by clicking on the image and selecting "Alternative Text" from the options. Be sure to provide alt text for all images that are not purely decorative.

Heading Structure: Organizing Content Logically

Using headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.) is essential for creating accessible and navigable content. Headings provide a hierarchical structure that allows users to easily understand the organization of the page and navigate to specific sections.

Improving Navigation and Readability

Proper heading structure improves navigation and readability for all users, not just those with disabilities. Screen reader users rely on headings to navigate through content efficiently.

Using Headings Appropriately in Canvas

In Canvas, use the heading styles provided in the Rich Content Editor to create a clear and logical heading structure. Start with an H1 for the main title of the page, and then use H2, H3, and so on for subheadings. Avoid skipping heading levels (e.g., going from H1 to H3).

Color Contrast: Ensuring Readability

Sufficient color contrast between text and background is essential for readability, especially for users with low vision or color blindness.

Tools and Techniques for Ensuring Adequate Contrast

Use color contrast checkers to verify that your color choices meet accessibility guidelines. These tools will tell you if the contrast ratio between your text and background colors is sufficient.

Importance of Color Contrast in Digital Environments

Poor color contrast can make it difficult or impossible for some users to read your content. Always prioritize color contrast when designing your Canvas courses. Adhering to WCAG guidelines will ensure that your content is accessible to a wider range of users.

Keyboard Navigation: Accessibility Without a Mouse

Ensuring that your Canvas courses are fully navigable by keyboard is crucial for users who cannot use a mouse or other pointing device. This includes users with motor impairments and screen reader users.

Tips for Designing Keyboard-Navigable Courses

Make sure that all interactive elements, such as links, buttons, and form fields, are accessible via keyboard. Use logical tab order to ensure that users can navigate through the page in a predictable manner.

Using Keyboard-Accessible Content

When creating content, use HTML elements that are inherently keyboard accessible, such as <button> and <a> elements. Avoid using custom JavaScript solutions that may not be fully accessible. Test the keyboard accessibility of your courses regularly to ensure that they are usable by all students.

Canvas Accessibility: Key Locations and Resources

Creating truly accessible Canvas courses requires a collective effort. It’s not solely the responsibility of one individual or department. It involves a diverse group of stakeholders, each playing a crucial role in fostering an inclusive learning environment. When all stakeholders work together to support accessibility it builds an easier path for student. To achieve this, it is vital to know where to focus your efforts and what resources are available to assist you. This section pinpoints critical locations within Canvas for accessibility improvements and highlights valuable resources for ongoing support.

Optimizing Accessibility Within Canvas Courses

The Canvas course itself serves as the central hub for student learning. Instructors have the power to cultivate an accessible learning environment from the ground up.

This begins with thoughtfully structuring the course layout. Clear navigation, consistent formatting, and logical organization are essential for all students, particularly those using assistive technologies.

Carefully consider the order in which content is presented and ensure that all elements are clearly labeled. Provide descriptive names for modules and assignments so students know where to go for resources.

Another crucial element is ensuring the accessibility of all course documents. Convert documents to accessible formats. Provide alternative formats (e.g., HTML) for documents that are inherently less accessible.

Elevating Accessibility on Content Pages

Canvas content pages are the workhorses of your course. These are where you deliver lectures, provide instructions, and share important information. Making them accessible is paramount.

Employ headings strategically to break up large blocks of text and create a clear visual hierarchy. Use lists and tables appropriately, ensuring that tables have properly defined headers.

Pay close attention to images and multimedia elements. Always provide meaningful alternative text for images that accurately describes their content and purpose. Ensure that videos are captioned and that audio content includes transcripts.

Also, take advantage of accessibility tools and features like Ally, which automatically assesses the accessibility of your course content and provides suggestions for improvement.

Leveraging the Canvas Rich Content Editor

The Canvas Rich Content Editor (RCE) is a powerful tool for creating and formatting content within Canvas. The RCE offers a direct approach to ensure accessibility from the start.

A key feature is the built-in accessibility checker. This tool automatically identifies potential accessibility issues, such as missing alternative text or insufficient color contrast.

Make it a habit to run the accessibility checker every time you create or edit content in the RCE. Pay attention to the recommendations and make the necessary changes.

Beyond the accessibility checker, the RCE offers other features that can enhance accessibility. Use semantic heading styles to structure your content logically. Ensure that links are descriptive and provide clear context.

Accessibility Training Workshops: Invest in Knowledge

Knowledge is power, and accessibility training workshops are a valuable way to empower yourself with the knowledge and skills needed to create accessible Canvas courses.

These workshops, often offered both virtually and in person, provide hands-on training and practical guidance on a variety of accessibility topics.

Attending workshops provides an opportunity to learn from experts, share best practices with colleagues, and ask questions about specific accessibility challenges.

Encourage both students and faculty to attend workshops. The more stakeholders who are trained in accessibility, the more inclusive your learning environment will become.

Institutional Accessibility Resource Centers: Your Support Network

Many institutions have dedicated accessibility resource centers that provide support and expertise to faculty, staff, and students.

These centers are staffed by accessibility specialists who can provide guidance on a wide range of accessibility topics.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to your institutional accessibility resource center for assistance.

By leveraging these key locations and resources, you can significantly improve the accessibility of your Canvas courses and create a more inclusive learning environment for all students. Accessibility is an ongoing journey.

Remember to prioritize it in your course design and development efforts.

Essential Tools for Canvas Accessibility: A Practical Toolkit

Creating truly accessible Canvas courses requires a collective effort. It’s not solely the responsibility of one individual or department. It involves a diverse group of stakeholders, each playing a crucial role in fostering an inclusive learning environment. When all stakeholders work together to support accessibility improvements, course content will provide the same learning opportunities for students. A vital part of this effort is having access to the right tools that empower educators and content creators to build and maintain accessible course materials.

Let’s explore some essential tools that should be part of your Canvas accessibility toolkit.

The Built-In Canvas Accessibility Checker: Your First Line of Defense

Canvas thoughtfully provides a built-in accessibility checker, directly integrated into the Rich Content Editor. This checker acts as a first line of defense, flagging common accessibility issues before content is published. It’s a crucial step in ensuring that your course materials meet basic accessibility standards.

How to Use the Canvas Accessibility Checker Effectively

Using the Canvas accessibility checker is straightforward. Within the Rich Content Editor, you’ll find the accessibility icon (it looks like a person inside a circle). Clicking this icon initiates a scan of your content. The checker then identifies potential issues, such as missing alternative text for images, insufficient color contrast, or improper heading structures.

The checker doesn’t automatically fix the problems. Instead, it highlights the issues and provides guidance on how to resolve them.

Interpreting Results and Prioritizing Efforts

The accessibility checker provides a list of potential issues. While it’s tempting to fix everything at once, it’s often more effective to prioritize. Focus first on critical errors that significantly impact users with disabilities. For example, missing alternative text on images or insufficient color contrast can severely hinder understanding.

Consider addressing the most frequent errors next. Fixing these common issues across your course will have a broad positive impact. Remember, the goal is continuous improvement, not instant perfection.

Keeping Up with Updates

Instructure continuously updates Canvas, including the accessibility checker. Regularly check for release notes and announcements to stay informed about improvements and new features. Staying current ensures you’re using the most effective tools to create accessible content.

Color Contrast Checkers: Ensuring Readability for All

Color contrast is a critical aspect of accessibility. Insufficient contrast between text and background can make content difficult or impossible to read, especially for users with low vision or color blindness. Using a color contrast checker is essential to ensure that your color choices meet accessibility guidelines.

Verifying Sufficient Contrast

Tools like the WebAIM Color Contrast Checker allow you to input foreground and background color values (either as hex codes or by using a color picker). The checker then analyzes the contrast ratio and indicates whether it meets WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards for different levels of compliance (AA and AAA).

Aim for AA compliance as a minimum, and AAA compliance whenever possible.

Ensuring Color Palettes Adhere to Guidelines

When designing your course, choose color palettes that inherently provide sufficient contrast. Avoid combinations that may be visually appealing but fail to meet accessibility requirements. This proactive approach simplifies the content creation process and ensures consistency across your course.

Where to Find Color Contrast Checkers

Numerous color contrast checkers are available online, many of them for free. WebAIM’s tool is a popular and reliable option. Other reputable checkers can be found through a simple web search. Experiment with different tools to find one that suits your workflow.

By incorporating these essential tools into your workflow, you can significantly improve the accessibility of your Canvas courses, creating a more inclusive and equitable learning experience for all students. Accessibility is an ongoing process, and these tools are invaluable in supporting your efforts.

Instructure’s Commitment: Promoting Accessibility in Canvas

Creating truly accessible Canvas courses requires a collective effort. It’s not solely the responsibility of one individual or department. It involves a diverse group of stakeholders, each playing a crucial role in fostering an inclusive learning environment. When all stakeholders work together, the platform’s commitment to accessibility can be better leveraged.

Instructure, the company behind Canvas, has a significant responsibility to ensure its platform is inherently accessible. This commitment goes beyond simply meeting legal requirements; it’s about fostering a truly inclusive learning environment for all students.

A Multi-Faceted Approach to Accessibility

Instructure promotes accessibility through several key avenues: platform development, dedicated resources, and active engagement with the accessibility community. These efforts are designed to make Canvas not only compliant with accessibility standards but also easy to use for both instructors and students with disabilities.

Embedding Accessibility in Platform Development

Accessibility isn’t an afterthought for Instructure; it’s a core principle integrated into the design and development process. This means that new features and updates are evaluated for accessibility from the outset, aiming to prevent accessibility barriers before they even arise.

This proactive approach includes rigorous testing with assistive technologies and incorporating feedback from accessibility experts.

Dedicated Resources for Users

Instructure provides a range of resources to support users in creating accessible Canvas courses. These resources include:

• Comprehensive documentation: Detailed guides on how to use Canvas features in an accessible way.

• Accessibility checklists: Practical tools to help instructors identify and address potential accessibility issues.

• Training materials: Workshops and online courses focused on accessible course design.

Engaging with the Accessibility Community

Instructure actively participates in the accessibility community, collaborating with experts, disability organizations, and educational institutions. This engagement ensures that Canvas remains aligned with evolving accessibility standards and best practices.

It involves seeking feedback on accessibility features, participating in industry conferences, and supporting research on accessible learning.

Accessibility Improvements in Canvas: A Continuous Journey

Instructure continuously works to improve the accessibility of Canvas, addressing existing issues and enhancing features to better support users with disabilities. These improvements span various aspects of the platform, from content creation to navigation.

Enhancements to the Rich Content Editor

The Rich Content Editor, a key tool for creating course content, has received significant accessibility upgrades. These include improved keyboard navigation, better support for screen readers, and an integrated accessibility checker to identify and address common issues.

Improved Alternative Text Functionality

Alternative text (alt text) is crucial for making images accessible to users with visual impairments. Canvas has enhanced its alt text functionality, making it easier for instructors to add descriptive text to images and ensuring that this text is properly conveyed to assistive technologies.

Streamlined Navigation and User Interface

Instructure has focused on simplifying the Canvas interface and improving navigation for all users, particularly those who rely on keyboard navigation or screen readers. This includes clearer labeling of elements, logical tab order, and consistent design patterns.

Providing Support for Customers: A Collaborative Partnership

Instructure recognizes that creating accessible Canvas courses is a collaborative effort. The company provides ongoing support to institutions and instructors to help them meet their accessibility goals.

Dedicated Accessibility Support Team

Instructure has a dedicated accessibility support team that provides expert guidance and assistance to customers. This team can help with accessibility audits, training, and implementation of accessibility best practices.

Knowledge Base and Community Forums

Instructure maintains a comprehensive knowledge base with articles and tutorials on accessibility. Additionally, community forums provide a platform for users to share tips, ask questions, and learn from each other.

Partnering with Accessibility Vendors

Instructure partners with leading accessibility vendors to offer integrated solutions for captioning, audio description, and other accessibility services. This allows institutions to easily incorporate these services into their Canvas courses.

Instructure’s commitment to accessibility is evident in its ongoing efforts to improve the Canvas platform, provide resources and support to users, and engage with the accessibility community. While challenges remain, Instructure’s dedication to creating an inclusive learning environment is a positive step towards ensuring that all students have equal access to education.

So, give the Canvas Accessibility Checker a try! It’s a fantastic (and free!) way to make sure your courses are reaching all of your students. A little effort here can really make a big difference in creating a more inclusive and successful learning environment for everyone.