Title: *DRAFT* Basic Canvas Page Accessibility
Course: Canvas Course Template 1

Using These Templates

These templates have been built with accessibility in mind. We have ensured that heading structure is correct and that color contrast is  appropriate. To ensure continued accessibility, please take note of the following things you should do to maintain accessibility of your Canvas content.

- Utilize Accessibility Guides Available in Canvas

The most accessible content type in Canvas are pages created using the Rich Content Editor (available Assignments, Discussions, Pages, and Quizzes). As you design content using the Rich Text Editor Canvas' built-in Accessibility Checker will flag accessibility issues as they arise and provide ways to solve them.

Another easy way to ensure basic accessibility is to use the PopeTech tool in Canvas. PopeTech is a simple, easy-to-use tool available within the Canvas content creation interface. You will see this tool next to the Save button when you create any new content or edit existing content.

Uploaded documents that are PDFs, Word Docs, or PowerPoint slide decks may not be accessible unless specifically designed so.

- Provide Descriptive Alt Text for Images

As you add images to your Canvas course, remember to include alt text (alternative text) to describe images to users who are unable to see them for a variety of reasons including visual impairment and images not loading. Adding alt text to images allows screen readers to describe the image and alt text will be displayed in place of an image if an image file cannot be loaded for any reason. To be effective, alt text should be descriptive but not lengthy. Consider the following alt text options for the image at right.

- Okay alt text: Bikes on bridge
- Better alt text: Parked bikes on bridge
- Best alt text: Bikes parked on a canal bridge at La Petite Venise Versailles France

When creating alt text, consider how you'd describe the image to someone as completely and concisely as possible.