Course Accessibility
Accessibility is an issue for all courses. Here are some tips to help make your course accessible by all.
- Use alt tags for all images
- What's an alt tag? It's the text that shows up when you hover your cursor over an image.
Here's an example (hover your cursor over the picture and you will see the Alt Text that describes the picture):
- Try to use descriptive tags so that a sight-impaired student will know exactly what the image is displaying. For ex., a graph showing the population growth in San Antonio from 100,000 in 1910 to 1.4 million in 2013 should be titled just like; a tag that is too generic (for ex., “a graph” or “population growth”) will not be helpful.
- How do you add an alt tag? Instructions are on this page.
- If you use video and/or audio files in your course, then you will need to provide captions or transcripts for these files.
- All TED.com videos contain a transcript. Look for these icons:
- Most YouTube videos now have a transcript. Look for this icon:
Click it to read the transcript.
Some transcripts are created by actual people; they are usually pretty good. But some were created automatically, and they are often terrible. Here are two examples on the same topic (folding clothes):
Whether you are using your own video, one you created in Canvas, one you located on YouTube, or a video from another source, you may need to create your own transcript. It can be added to the video site, or it can be as simple as an attached document.
- Use descriptive text descriptions for hyperlinks (for ex., Please watch this video of mitosis—how a cell divides
Links to an external site., rather than “click here”)
- Avoid using bright color or images for background that will make text difficult to read
- Images, audio and video files should be clear--both pictures and sound
- Avoid using blinking, animated text / images to minimize impact on students with seizure conditions
- Minimize use of underlining text as a screen reader may mistake it for a navigation link
- Include detailed descriptions for charts and tables; use descriptive titles, a key, and x/y axis labels
- Use color-blind friendly colors
- Most color blind people have trouble distinguishing between red/green and/or blue/yellow
- Try to avoid using colors to identify specific content; for ex., don't color all important words red; instead, use text styles such as bold or text sizes (h2, h3, or h4).
- On a chart or graph, try using shading or texture rather than color to distinguish between various content.
Imagine how difficult it would be for a color blind person to interpret this graph. This graph is well-labeled and access-friendly.
- Use clear descriptions in instructions (for ex., rather than “What would you call this style of architecture?” describe the building and ask “What style of architecture would you call a large building with a rounded portico, massive columns, and turret windows?”)
- If you have activities in your course that require use of a mouse, webcam, stylus, or other tool, consider how you might alter those if you have a movement-disabled student.
- Finally, don't be afraid to ask your students what they need or how you can make your course more accessible!
Resources:
Improving the Accessibility of Your Course - Canvas Guide
"Improve Accessibility in Tomorrow's Online Courses by Leveraging Yesterday's Techniques Links to an external site." by Emily A. Moore
How Do I Embed Images? - Canvas Guide
Canvas Accessibility Statement Links to an external site.
Many terrific articles Links to an external site. on various aspects of accessibility from WebAIM.org.
Accessibility Standards Links to an external site. - pdf
A conference presentation talking about course accessibility:
