Accessibility: A Required Best Practice 

Accessibility benefits all learners. While creating accessible course content has always been a pedagogical best practice, it’s also soon to be required. New Title II web accessibility guidelines require public entities such at Tech to have accessible web content – including Canvas sites and files – by April 26th, 2026. 

Center faculty Ameya Sawadkar wants to help Georgia Tech instructors tackle course accessibility one step at a time. To help streamline the process, Sawadkar created the Accessibility in Canvas Courses Checklist. The checklist, which is available through Service Now, walks instructors through common accessibility issues in Canvas as well as ways (and tools) to fix each issue. 

“Whether you’re updating existing materials or designing a new course, this checklist will guide you in improving readability, navigation, and compliance with the latest WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards,” said Sawadkar. “Use it as a working tool — start small, make iterative improvements, and refer to it regularly throughout the semester to ensure a more accessible learning experience.”

Canvas Accessibility Tools 

The checklist recommends three accessibility tools for Georgia Tech instructors: Ally, TidyUp, and the Canvas Accessibility Checker. 

Ally 

Blackboard Ally automatically checks Canvas course content for common accessibility issues and offers detailed guidance on how to resolve problems. Ally can also automatically generate alternative forms of digital content, including audio and electronic braille. 

Ally offers instructors an “accessibility score,” a colorful meter showing how accessible or inaccessible course materials are. 

Learn more about Blackboard Ally. 

TidyUP 

TidyUp helps instructors remove course clutter by quickly identifying outdated, unused, or duplicate materials in Canvas. Instructors can then delete those files to create a more accessible course. 

Learn more about TidyUp. 

Canvas Accessibility Checker 

The Canvas Accessibility Checker is a part of the Rich Content Editor. This tool allows instructors to run an accessibility check on any content created in the Editor, identifying issues such as missing alternative text, improper headings, or tables without captions. The Checker explains each issue and offers a recommended way to fix each problem.

Learn more about the Canvas Accessibility Checker. 

Using the Checklist 

The Accessibility Canvas Course Checklist is divided into seven sections: 

1. Text Formatting
2. Hyperlinks
3. Images and Alternative Text
4. Document Accessibility
5. Tables
6. Video and Audio
7. Navigation and Course Structure 

Each topic includes common issues, ways those issues can be resolved, and Georgia Tech-approved tools that can be used to assist.  

 Sawadkar encourages instructors to use all the tools available to them as they work through each topic on the checklist. While making Canvas courses accessible may feel daunting at first, there are many, many tools to make the job easier.  

Accessible Content Benefits All Learners 

“Accessibility benefits all learners — not just those with disabilities. Clear structure, consistent formatting, readable text, and navigable content make it easier for everyone to find, understand, and engage with course materials,” said Sawadkar. He noted that whether a student is using a screen reader, watching lectures in a noisy environment, or accessing content on a mobile device, accessible design removes barriers and creates a flexible and meaningful learning experience for all.

Accessibility is a mindset, not a checklist. By embedding inclusive design into your Canvas courses, you can help all of your students thrive. For more information, check out our five tips for creating web accessible courses.