Tools & Resources

UC Davis Canvas

UC Davis Canvas is the official campus-wide learning management system (LMS). Use the Course Materials checklist for additional guidance on how to make your course content accessible.

Get Started

1. Use Ally in UC Davis Canvas
   • Starting in fall 2026, Ally is integrated into every UC Davis Canvas course and works automatically in the background. It scans and scores your course materials against current accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA), flagging issues and giving you clear, actionable feedback to implement at your own pace.
   • Ally also generates downloadable alternative formats for students (audio, HTML, ePub, tagged PDF, electronic braille and more) supporting Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
     • What do I need to know to get started with Ally?
     • How do I use Ally in UC Davis Canvas to increase the accessibility of my course?
     • How do I download alternative formats of Canvas course content using Ally in UC Davis Canvas?
     • Ally for LMS Help Center website 
        
2. Review the following resources to make individual files more accessible.
   • Provide Meaningful Descriptions of Images
   • Carefully Select the Language for Links
   • Transcripts, Captions and Audio Descriptions in Videos
   • Create Accessible PDFs 

Campus Websites

Members of the UC Davis community responsible for website(s) in one of the two web content management systems, SiteFarm and Faculty Sites, may consider the steps below:

Get Started

1. Run your site(s) through SiteImprove. SiteImprove will rate your site's accessibility and flag accessibility and usability issues. SiteImprove is available for SiteFarm and Faculty (WordPress) websites. Email [email protected] to request access.
    
2. Depending on your web content management system, follow the steps outlined below:
   • SiteFarm Accessibility: Moving Forward Together
   • Faculty Sites: Improve Your Site's Accessibility
      
3. Review files on your site(s), paying close attention to PDFs. The following resources will get you started in creating accessible PDFs, but consider whether that file format is really necessary or if can be converted to a document or web page.
   • Create Accessible PDFs
   • Quick Checks: PDF Accessibility
      
4. Use best practices for Alt text, images, heading order, and more from the UC Davis Web Accessibility Guide.

Videos & Recordings

When creating instructional videos on AggieVideo or sharing recordings from Zoom or Teams meetings in Box, OneDrive, or Google Drive, there are several key accessibility steps you can take before making the content available to others.

Get Started

1. Provide captions for dialogue. When using automatic captioning tools in AggieVideo or other platforms, review captions for quality and accuracy. For details, see: Digital Accessibility Training.
    
2. Include video descriptions. When creating videos that have no dialogue, i.e., music and visuals only, consider video descriptions to provide context about what is happening on screen.
    
3. Identify speakers whenever possible. If you are lecturing, be sure to introduce yourself, and call on any other speakers out loud. Additional guidance is available at Providing Audio Descriptions for Videos.
    
4. Optimize text on screen. Keep text on screen brief and simple. Make sure it meets accessibility standards and has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1. Consult the SiteImprove color checker to ensure adequate contrast.
    
5. Warn viewers about flashing imagery. If your video has strobing effects or flashing images, add a disclaimer at the beginning of your video.
    
6. Refer to theUC Davis Video Accessibility GuideandVideo Best Practices to learn more about video captions, descriptions, text on screen, flashing imagery and more.

For videos already posted to AggieVideo, UC Davis recommends prioritizing captions for videos that are public-facing, embedded in Canvas for a large class or where one or more students using disability accommodations. 

• UCOP Guide to Transcripts and Captioning
• Does YouTube qualify for the social media exception?