Making Your Courses Accessible

Sometimes it's hard to know where to start. If you have a strategy that works for you, keep using it. For those seeking a progression of steps, consider these.

1: Learn the basics

Learn the basics of making content accessible, including use of headings, lists, tables, images, links, captions, fonts, and ensuring “real text” (not an image of text). These basics are relevant across types of formats, whether your material is in a Canvas Page or a Word document! To do this:

2: Make new content accessible from the start

 For content you are creating:

  • Apply the basics from the training and Basic Digital Content Accessibility page
  • Use automated accessibility checkers, such as Pope Tech for Canvas to help identify some types of common accessibility issues. While automated accessibility checkers can be useful tools, note that they are only able to identify a subset of issues.
  • Refrain from turning your file into a PDF, as PDFs are extremely difficult to make accessible, even when created from an initial file format (such as Word) that may have been accessible. In addition, PDFs can introduce new accessibility problems, and that they're difficult to update or change after they've been made accessible. Use the PDF Decision Tree to guide your thinking.
  • Ensure that video you make has accurate captions and that audio has an accurate transcript. 

3: For existing content, identify what needs work

For existing content, identify what needs work by:

  • Removing content from your Canvas course that you no longer use, such as outdated Files or Pages. If there are files you do not actively use for the course that you wish to save, save them elsewhere. Doing this will provide a more accurate understanding of what you may need to fix, and will ensure you don’t spend time fixing things you no longer use.
  • Using the Pope Tech accessibility checker to scan content created in Canvas (i.e., Assignments, Discussions, Pages and Quizzes) and to learn a subset of accessibility issues you might need to fix and how to do this. UO’s Pope Tech Dashboard and Accessibility Guide can help you understand how to use the time-saving “dashboard view” to learn about some of the most common issues in and across your course.
  • Where possible, shifting to web (HTML) versions of assigned readings instead of PDF versions. Consider contacting your Subject Librarian or the Textbook Affordability team to explore eBook options, or request digitized print materials through Scan & Deliver (which will ensure scanned content is "real text" as opposed to an image of text).
  • Double checking that uploaded files:
    • Are “real text” if text is present (instead of a scan, or picture, of text)
    • Have basic content accessibility principles applied (for Microsoft files, such as Word or PowerPoint, you can use the automated accessibility checker to help you determine this, although these checkers only catch a subset of issues).
    • Have accurate captions on videos and accurate transcripts to go along with audio files

4: Decide what work to prioritize

Digital Accessibility @ UO provides prioritization considerations. For example, it may make sense to prioritize working on course content which: 

  • Acts as a landing page or gateway to other content (for example, if you use a Home page you want students to start at)
  • Is being newly created (for example, documents or Canvas pages you are developing for next term)
  • Will be used on an ongoing or recurrent basis (for example,
  • Is essential or required content (for example, the course syllabus and required readings) 

While prioritization can make our work feel more manageable, it doesn’t indicate things to ignore, as all web-based course materials need to be digitally accessible. 

Get support throughout

TEP and UO Online can answer questions around applying basic content accessibility guidance to course content, and instructors can get support through drop-in weekly hours or through one on one consultation. If you have questions that are beyond our scope and expertise, we can help you identify who to contact.