Accessible Instructional Materials

When we talk about Accessible Instructional Materials, we are not talking about whether your students can access your files online or in Canvas. Rather we are talking about content that has been formatted in such a way that it can be used by a variety of users, including users with disabilities who may be using assistive technologies, such as screen readers, screen magnification and text-to-speech software, and users who are using tablets and e-readers or who are working from a remote location with a slower Internet connection.

Accessible formatting includes elements such as section headers, alternate text for images, table headers for tables, and setting title and language in documents.

Accessibility can be accomplished retroactively (after content is created, purchased, or distributed) or proactively (while content is identified, before content is purchased, before content distributed).

It is easiest to add accessible formatting to your documents as you create them. Retrofitting documents for accessibility can be time consuming, but can best be accomplished when you have the original editable format of the file, such as Word or PowerPoint. We find that adding accessibility to PDF documents can be challenging.

Just in Time Training Courses

Our team has created a series of courses to help you get information on accessibility in popular applications. Whether you want to do the full self-guided course or get answers just in time, these courses are a great place to start learning how to make you files more accessible from the start.

Note that although they overlap, accessibility and universal design are not equivalent. Accessibility for learners with disabilities is an integral part of universal design. However, as the name implies, universal design concepts apply universally, with the goal of making education more effective for ALL learners.

What are the “Dials” I See In My Course?

Accessible content can be used by a variety of users, including users with disabilities who may be using assistive technologies, such as screen readers, screen magnification and text-to-speech software, and users who are using tablets and e-readers or who are working from a remote location with a slower Internet connection.

Canvas now helps you assess the accessibility of the of the materials you upload into your course; including Word, PDF, and PowerPoint files.

The green, orange, and red dials give you a quick view of the accessibility of your files. Click the dial to get feedback on how to make your files more inclusive for all of your students.

• The dials are only visible to you. Your students do not see the dials or feedback.
• Your students can access your materials no matter the accessibility score.

Want to move the dials toward green?

Have a lot of red dials in your course? Don't worry, most of us do. Ensuring your instructional materials are accessible to all of your students is a process that takes time. We're here to help with some teamwork and tips.

• Start by making any new files you create accessible from the start. It is easiest and least time consuming to design accessible materials from the outset, rather than retrofitting accessibility after the fact.
• Tackle materials you have created. It is easiest to improve files in their original format, particularly Word and PowerPoint files.
• PDFs can be challenging. We find that many full text articles and other PDF based materials have a low accessibility score. We can work with you to assess strategies and alternatives, but you may want to start with your files in Word and PowerPoint formats.
• Let us help. Our team can teach you techniques for improving file accessibility, assess the materials in your course and help to create an action plan, and in some cases help to fully remediate the materials in your course. Inquire to find out more.
• Get help just in time from our online courses.