Canvas@Illinois, Accessibility Checker

The page editor in Canvas includes a tool called the Accessibility Checker, which examines the page's content and makes recommendations to improve its accessibility. You may have noticed the checker’s small Vitruvian Man-like character just below the edit window. The icon’s outstretched arms represent Universal Access, and the number beside it tells you there are accessibility issues you can address to make your content more accessible to your students.

The Accessibility Checker can identify 12 types of accessibility issues, including these common ones:

Image description (known as alternative or alt text) problems, such as alt text that is missing, too long, or is simply the name of the image file itself
Adjacent links that have the same URL (where the text should be a single link)
Table problems, such as missing captions, headers, and/or header scope
Headings that are too long
Color contrast ratios that make text or images difficult to discern

The Accessibility Checker will also walk you through how to fix issues it detects. The fix may be as simple as typing something in a text box or choosing a new color and clicking "Apply." When there are no more accessibility issues remaining, you'll be rewarded with confetti and balloons!

If you’re looking to enhance the overall accessibility and inclusivity of your course and teaching, CITL's Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Team can also help. For more information, contact the UDL Team at CITL-UDLTeam@illinois.edu.

Instructure provides more information about the Accessibility Checker on their Canvas Community site here: https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-use-the-Accessibility-Checker-in-the-Rich-Content/ta-p/820

Canvas@Illinois, Accessibility Checker

Canvas@Illinois, Accessibility Checker

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