Best Practices for Designing for Accessibility in Canvas

Prioritizing Digital Accessibility

Creating an accessible Canvas course ensures that all students—regardless of ability—can engage fully with your content. By following these universal design principles, you not only comply with legal requirements but also create a more organized and intuitive experience for everyone.

1. Structure & Navigation

  • Heading Hierarchy: Use the built-in “Paragraph” dropdown in the Rich Content Editor. Since the Page Title is an H1, start your content with Heading 2, then Heading 3 for sub-sections. Never skip levels!
  • Descriptive Links: Avoid “click here” or raw URLs. Use text that describes the destination, such as Canvas Instructor Guides.
  • Bulleted Lists: Use the RCE list tool rather than typing dashes or numbers manually. This allows screen readers to announce the total number of items to the student.

2. Visuals & Multimedia

  • Alt Text for Images: Every image should have a brief description of its purpose. If an image is purely decorative (like a divider line), mark it as “Decorative” so screen readers skip it.  Learn more through the following resources:
  • Color Contrast: Ensure text is easy to read against the background. Avoid light grays or neon colors. High contrast (black on white) is always the safest bet. Color alone should never convey meaning. Learn more through the following resource:
  • Captions & Transcripts: All videos should include accurate closed captions. If you use auto-generated captions, be sure to edit them for technical terms or names that the AI might miss. All audio content must have a complete text equivalent in the form of a transcript.

Advanced Accessibility Tips

Accessible Tables:
Only use tables for data, never for page layout. When creating a table, always designate a Header Row so screen readers can help students navigate the cells. You can do this in the Table Properties menu in Canvas.
The One-Click Solution:
Canvas has a built-in Accessibility Checker. Look for the small person icon in the bottom right of the Rich Content Editor. Click it before you save any page to catch common errors like missing alt text or poor contrast!

For more detailed checklists, visit the Canvas Accessibility Guide.

Organization & Logical Consistency

A predictable course structure is a cornerstone of accessibility. When students know exactly where to find information, they can focus their cognitive energy on learning the material rather than navigating the interface.

Design for Clarity

  • Keep it Clean: Aim for a minimalist page layout. Avoid cluttered sidebars or excessive “fluff” that distracts from core learning objectives.
  • Descriptive Titling: Use specific names for assignments and pages. Instead of “Quiz 1,” use “Module 1 Quiz: Intro to World History.” This helps students using screen readers quickly identify their location.

Unified Naming

  • Syllabus Alignment: Ensure that the titles used in your syllabus match your Canvas items exactly. If a reading is called “The Great War” in your schedule, it should have the same title in your Modules.
  • Consistent Navigation: Maintain a uniform flow from week to week so students can develop a “muscle memory” for your course layout.

Deepen your knowledge:
Canvas Course Accessibility Checklist

Accessible Documents & Media

Files uploaded to Canvas must be “machine-readable.” If a screen reader cannot “see” the text inside a file, the student cannot access the information.

File Guidelines

  • 📄 Word & PDF: Always use the latest version of Microsoft Word and utilize the “Check Accessibility” feature before saving. When converting to PDF, use the Adobe plugin to ensure the “Read Order” and “Tags” are preserved. Note: Never upload a scanned PDF of a book page; if you cannot highlight the text with your mouse, a screen reader cannot read it.
  • 📊 Excel Spreadsheets: Use spreadsheets strictly for data, not for layout. Avoid leaving blank cells or merging rows, as this confuses screen readers.
  • 📽️ PowerPoint: Ensure every slide has a unique title. Use the “Notes” section to provide a text-based equivalent of the slide content, and verify that the “Reading Order” pane is correctly sequenced.

External Learning Resources

If you need any help with designing with accessibility in mind, you can book a one-on-one session via Zoom or in person with Kirstie Knighton, Instructional Technology Specialist.