Skip to content

Creating Accessible Content

Design for Accessibility Guide

Close-up of individual typing on laptop with one hand, writing on accessible canvas pages with the other, setting unclear.

accessibility

Accessible Canvas Pages

Checking Canvas Pages To ensure your course content is accessible to all students, it is best to use the accessibility
View Accessible Canvas Pages
Person presents charts and graphs on large screen to audience in modern meeting room (person teaching).

accessibility

Accessible Slide Decks

Design for Accessibility Guide Checking Slide Decks Use Microsoft Office PowerPoint’s Accessibility Checker as you create or edit a slide
View Accessible Slide Decks
Staff at desk using laptop to create accessible content in bright office setting.

accessibility

Accessible Text and Documents

Checking Word Documents  Use Microsoft Office Word’s Accessibility Checker during or after you create or edit a document. This tool
View Accessible Text and Documents
Individual using tablet with video player icons; accessible digital video, multimedia streaming suggested.

accessibility

Accessible Video and Multimedia

Design for Accessibility Guide Check Video  Whether it’s a video you made yourself or one someone else made, it is
View Accessible Video and Multimedia
Three individuals seated together, smiling and looking at cards, engaged in content creation. Setting unclear.

accessibility

Creating Accessible Content

Keep in Mind During Design The easiest way to make sure your course content is accessible is by keeping multiple
View Creating Accessible Content
Students discussing course accessibility in classroom; others using laptops in background.

accessibility

Design for Course Accessibility

Accessibility Best Practices For each resource type, this guide provides information about the benchmarks for accessibility. Keep these general best
View Design for Course Accessibility

Keep in Mind During Design

The easiest way to make sure your course content is accessible is by keeping multiple modalities in mind from the start. Here are some simple ways to do that: 

  • Use the accessibility checker in the Rich Content Editor (RCE) as you add content to Canvas pages for your course. This tool detects common accessibility errors and provides guidance on how to fix issues. Visit How do I use the Accessibility Checker in the Rich Content Editor as an Instructor? for more information. 
  • Microsoft Office products have built-in accessibility checkers for your text documents and slide decks. 
  • Use accessible fonts (sans-serif like Arial or Verdana). 
  • Ensure a high color contrast between foreground elements and their background. 
  • Use headings in sections of text to structure content in a logical order. Headings should also be used for tables. 
  • Include alt-text for all images. For complex images, try using an AI tool to generate a description for you. 
  • Use Canvas Studio to generate closed captions for videos. Videos uploaded to YouTube will auto-generate captions.

This Accessibility in Canvas Courses Checklist is a handy reminder of things to keep in mind while creating course content

Handy Checklist 

This checklist is a handy reminder of things to keep in mind while creating course content. Accessibility in Canvas Courses (PDF)