Overview

This page will show you how to make sure all of your Canvas pages (and assignments, discussions, quiz pages) are accessible.

You have a choice as to how to engage with the material in this lesson. Remember, the key concepts are always addressed in the text. If you need more info or learn by watching, the videos and resources are great supplements.

Read About It
Watch a Demo / Video
Explore Resources on the Web

Read: Creating Accessible Canvas Pages

The Rich Content Editor

Screen shot of rich content editor in Canvas

The rich content editor in Canvas is one tool that you should become very familiar with. These icons above the pages where you add text, allow you to add headings to your page (much like you do in Word), add images, add tables, videos, lists, etc.

Headings

As discussed in Module 2, using headings is vital to ensuring users can navigate a document efficiently and effectively. To review how to add (and modify) headings in Canvas, check out How to Add Headings in Canvas (opens new tab).

Alt Text

When using images in Canvas, be sure to add alt text. Review How to Add Alt Text in Canvas (opens new tab).

Alt Text for Complex Charts & Graphs

When it comes to complex graphics and charts, some of the guidance depends on the type of image presented. See Examples of Different Types of Images by the National Center for Accessible Media for specific guidance on bar charts, line graphs, Venn diagrams, scatter plots, etc.

Generally speaking, you should practice the following:

Identify the instructional merit of an image. What is the main point? Is the image more decorative or like "eye candy"?
Keep the explanation of an image brief. How would you describe it's purpose in a sentence?
Articulate the point of the image clearly. Would your explanation help the learner to understand the point of the image? Would learners be more confused?
Ensure that your explanation is usable by all. How would you explain the image, if you need to do so to someone over the phone? This helps a sighted person perhaps better understand the experience of a non-sighted individual listening to alt text.
It is often more accessible to provide a table rather than narrative alt text in cases where you're using a pie chart and/or bar chart.
For graphics that illustrate processes (e.g. flow charts), these can often be presented in a nested list format instead/in addition.
If the information conveyed in the image/graphic is already represented in the text, then a brief alt text description is all that's needed. The alt text could read "flow chart representing the process discussed in the following text" or something simple that directs the user to the text equivalent.

Equation Editor/MathML in Canvas

The Canvas Math Editor does allow you to insert basic equations, and these will be accessible by default. The editor is based on LaTeX. The LaTeX is converted to accessible MathML for screen readers. (Penn State's Canvas Math Editor and Accessibility).

The How do I use the Canvas Math Equation Editor? page has a nice step-by-step explanation with screenshots. This is best for content creators who do not use or know LaTeX.

If you are accustomed to working with LaTeX, the Advanced View lets you copy and paste LaTeX into the editor.

Open your source file that contains LaTeX.
Copy the LaTeX for an equation or expression.
In Canvas, choose the Insert Math Equation button on the Rich Content Editor.
1. Review Rich Content Editor if you need more explanation as to what that is.
Choose Switch View to Advance.
Paste the LaTeX into Canvas Equation Editor.
Choose Insert Equation.

Tables

For tables to be accessible they 1) should only be used for data and not for layout, and 2) the need to be formatted to include header rows and/or columns. Tables should have captions to assist all users to contextualize the data.

Once you've made your table, do the following to make it accessible:

Click on the table to select it. Then, click on the table icon in the rich content editor.
Select Table properties and check "caption". Click "Ok".
Click at the top of your table to type a caption for the table.
Highlight the cells of the header row (or column).
Select "Cell", then "cell properties" from the table menu in the rich content editor.
Select "header cells" from the Cell type dropdown menu.
Select "columns" (if the headings are by column as below. If it's arranged by row, select rows. If you do both, select both options.) from the scope dropdown menu. Click "Ok".

screen cast demonstrating the steps to make a Canvas table accessible

PSST!! There's an easier way to make your tables accessible in Canvas. Read about it in the AccessWA blog post, Quick Tip: Tables in Canvas.

Watch: Making Accessible Canvas Pages

Instructional Design Strategies to Make Content Accessible in Canvas - Tera Lisicky (30 mins)

A longer video with lots of good information and demonstration. This video focuses on the accessible use of HTML, table headers, and long descriptions.

28:36 / 30:22 Instructional Design Strategies to Make Content Accessible in Canvas

Style Your Syllabus for Accessibility (11 mins)

Another video from South Seattle College's Tom Gibbons! In this video, you'll learn how to format your Canvas syllabus to be accessible for students with disabilities.

Style Your Syllabus for Accessibility

Explore: Canvas Accessibility Guides