Getting started on your Canvas Course's Accessibility
Making your Canvas courses WCAG compliant can be a heavy lift. UC Davis provides a number of tools, training, and support staff to help mitigate this workload. The checklist below is a good starting point for ensuring all your Canvas content has been considered for Accessibility.
1. Canvas Course Structure & Navigation
Module Organization
- Modules are organized consistently (weekly or by topic)
- Syllabus module created in rich text editor, including Accessibility statement
- Sample statement: "I make every effort to ensure all content in this course is Accessible and meets WCAG 2.1 guidelines. If you find any content in this course to be inaccessible, please notify me as quickly as possible. If you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation, please contact the Student Disability Center."
- Module titles and page names are descriptive and meaningful
- Unused pages/files are removed or hidden
Canvas Tools
- Canvas Rich Content Editor Accessibility Checker used on all pages
- SensusAccess Canvas LTI
2. Accessible Content Creation (Pages, Docs, Slides)
Headings & Structure
- Headings use true semantic structure (H1 → H2 → H3…)
- Lists use proper list formatting (not manual spacing)
- Tables include header rows and simple structure
Links
- All links use descriptive text (“Download syllabus” vs. “Click here”)
- No broken or outdated links
Color & Visual Design
- Sufficient color contrast (WCAG 2.1 AA minimum)
- Color is not the only method for conveying meaning
- Text is not embedded inside images unless necessary and made accessible
Documents & Files
- Word, PowerPoint, PDF files checked with built-in accessibility tools
- PDFs are tagged, selectable (not scanned images), and accessible
- File names are descriptive and meaningful
3. Multimedia Accessibility (Images, Audio, Video)
Images & Graphics
- All non-decorative images include meaningful alt text
- Complex graphics/charts include longer explanations or data tables
- Decorative images marked as decorative
Video / Audio
- Captions included for all pre-recorded videos using AggieVideo.
- Transcripts available for audio-only content
- Audio description or text alternative available for essential visual info
- Live sessions use captioning if required or requested
4. Assessments, Interactivity & Tools
Canvas Quizzes & Assignments
- Form fields labeled clearly
- Activities can be completed using keyboard-only navigation
- No drag-and-drop or mouse-only actions without an accessible alternative
- Timed assessments allow accommodations (extended time, alternative formats)
Third-Party Tools / External Content
- External publishers, websites, and apps are checked for accessibility
- If inaccessible, alternative accessible materials are provided
- Instructions for external tools are clear and screen-reader friendly
5. Communication & Course Policies
- Communication methods are accessible (Canvas announcements, readable PDFs, captioned videos)
- Alternative contact methods provided for students needing assistance
- Office hours (in person or virtual) are accessible for all students
6. Ongoing Accessibility Maintenance
- Accessibility is reviewed each semester
- Any new files or media added during the course are checked for accessibility
- Accessibility issues reported by students are resolved quickly
- Instructors receive periodic accessibility training
Training resources from The Wheel.
The Wheel is UC Davis's instructional Technology blog, offering a number of training resources to get started with these WCAG compliance checkpoints.