Accessible Course Content in Canvas

Canvas Accessibility Checker

The Accessibility Checker tests against a curated selection of WCAG 2.1 Level A, AA, and AAA success criteria. Rather than a checklist for total level-specific compliance, it focuses on the high-impact rules that most frequently affect users.

The accessibility checks do not cover all issues that may occur in complex or interactive content created outside the Rich Content Editor. This includes items such as:

• Color contrast errors in internal or external CSS
• Embedded third-party tools (like LTI tools or external learning apps)
• Custom JavaScript or interactive widgets
• Iframes and externally hosted content
• Interactive elements such as simulations, quizzes, or drag-and-drop activities

Common Canvas Issues

These are the seven most frequently flagged accessibility problems in CMC Canvas courses, with explanations and fixes:

1. Untagged PDFs (most common issue).

   PDFs created by scanning or exported without accessibility settings lack the structural tags that screen readers require. Fix PDFs in Adobe Acrobat Pro using the Accessibility Checker and Make Accessible wizard before uploading to Canvas. See the Making PDFs Accessible guide for full instructions.

2. Images on course pages without alt text.

   When inserting an image on a Canvas course page, the Rich Content Editor presents an Alt Text field. Fill it in before clicking Save. For purely decorative images, check the "Decorative image" checkbox to suppress the alt text requirement.

3. No heading structure on course pages.

   Bold text looks like a heading but is not a heading — screen readers treat it as emphasized body text. Use the Format dropdown in the Rich Content Editor and select Heading 2 or Heading 3 for section titles. Reserve Heading 1 for the page title (Canvas applies it automatically).

4. Tables used for layout rather than data.

   Tables should only appear when presenting tabular data with clear row/column relationships. When inserting a table, set the Header Row property so screen readers can associate data cells with their column headers. Never use a table purely to create a multi-column visual layout.

5. Videos without captions.

   All video content in Canvas must have accurate captions. Auto-generated captions are a starting point but must be reviewed and corrected. See the Video & Captions guide for platform-specific instructions for Zoom, YouTube, and Box.

6. "Click Here" and "Read More" link text.

   Screen reader users navigate pages by cycling through links. "Click Here" provides no information about the destination. Rewrite links to describe the destination: "Download the syllabus PDF" or "View assignment rubric."

7. Color-only formatting to convey meaning.

   If you use color to highlight required readings or flag important notes, add a text label too — "Required:" or "Important:" — so colorblind students and screen reader users receive the same information.

Pre-Publish Course Checklist

Before publishing your course for student access, verify the following:

• All uploaded PDFs are required to undergo an Adobe Acrobat Accessibility Checker review, and all identified accessibility issues must be resolved prior to publication.
• All course page images have meaningful alt text filled in.
• All videos have reviewed and corrected captions.
• Content pages use proper heading structure (Heading 2/3 via Format dropdown).
• All data tables have header rows set.
• All hyperlinks use descriptive text — no "click here" or "read more."
• Use the Canvas Accessibility Checker. Check that all critical course materials display a “No Issues” checkmark.

Faculty Support

ITS and the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) provide the following accessibility support for Canvas courses:

• One-on-one Canvas accessibility review: Submit a ticket to help@cmc.edu with the subject "Canvas Accessibility Review." An ITS specialist will review your course and provide a prioritized list of issues.
• Complex PDF remediation assistance: For scanned syllabi, journal articles, and other difficult PDFs, ITS can provide hands-on remediation support. Contact the Help Desk to discuss scope and timeline.
• CTL workshops: The Center for Teaching and Learning offers Canvas accessibility workshops throughout the semester. Check the CTL calendar for upcoming sessions.
• New faculty orientation: An accessibility session is included in new faculty onboarding each year in late August, covering Canvas, PDFs, and video captions.