{"686549":{"#nid":"686549","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Canvas Accessibility: A Checklist for Success","body":[{"value":"\u003Ch2\u003EAccessibility: A Required Best Practice\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccessibility benefits all learners. While creating accessible course content has always been a pedagogical best practice, it\u2019s also soon to be required. New Title II web accessibility guidelines require public entities such at Tech to have accessible web content \u2013 including Canvas sites and files \u2013 by April 26th, 2026.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECenter 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 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech.service-now.com\/home?id=kb_article_view\u0026amp;sysparm_article=KB0044934\u0022\u003EAccessibility in Canvas Courses Checklist\u003C\/a\u003E. 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.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhether you\u2019re updating existing materials or designing a new course, this checklist will guide you in improving readability, navigation, and compliance with the latest \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/WCAG22\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\u0022 id=\u0022menur1vhq\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/www.w3.org\/tr\/wcag22\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\u0022\u003EWCAG 2.2\u003C\/a\u003E accessibility standards,\u201d said Sawadkar. \u201cUse it as a working tool \u2014 start small, make iterative improvements, and refer to it regularly throughout the semester to ensure a more accessible learning experience.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ECanvas Accessibility Tools\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe checklist recommends three accessibility tools for Georgia Tech instructors: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech.service-now.com\/home?id=kb_article_view\u0026amp;sysparm_article=KB0028516\u0022\u003EAlly\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cidilabs.com\/landing\/tidyup-for-canvas-cleanup\/\u0022\u003ETidyUp\u003C\/a\u003E, and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/community.canvaslms.com\/t5\/Canvas-Basics-Guide\/How-do-I-use-the-Accessibility-Checker-in-the-Rich-Content\/ta-p\/618238\u0022\u003ECanvas Accessibility Checker\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EAlly\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlackboard 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.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlly offers instructors an \u201caccessibility score,\u201d a colorful meter showing how accessible or inaccessible course materials are.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech.service-now.com\/home?id=kb_article_view\u0026amp;sysparm_article=KB0028516\u0022\u003ELearn more about Blackboard Ally\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ETidyUP\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETidyUp 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.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cidilabs.com\/landing\/tidyup-for-canvas-cleanup\/\u0022\u003ELearn more about TidyUp\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECanvas Accessibility Checker\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 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.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/community.canvaslms.com\/t5\/Canvas-Basics-Guide\/How-do-I-use-the-Accessibility-Checker-in-the-Rich-Content\/ta-p\/618238\u0022\u003ELearn more about the Canvas Accessibility Checker.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EUsing the Checklist\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Accessibility Canvas Course Checklist is divided into seven sections:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EText Formatting \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHyperlinks \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EImages and Alternative Text \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDocument Accessibility \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETables \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EVideo and Audio \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENavigation and Course Structure\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach topic includes common issues, ways those issues can be resolved, and Georgia Tech-approved tools that can be used to assist.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u202fSawadkar 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. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAccessible Content Benefits All Learners\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAccessibility benefits all learners \u2014 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,\u201d 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.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccessibility 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, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/blog.ctl.gatech.edu\/2025\/09\/12\/title-ii-web-accessibility-canvas-what-the-new-guidelines-mean-for-you\/\u0022\u003Echeck out our five tips for creating web accessible courses\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Introducing the Accessibility in Canvas Courses Checklist"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAccessibility benefits all learners. While creating accessible course content has always been a pedagogical best practice, it\u2019s also soon to be required. New Title II web accessibility guidelines require public entities such at Tech to have accessible web content \u2013 including Canvas sites and files \u2013 by April 26th, 2026.\u0026nbsp;By using the Accessibility in Canvas Courses Checklist, Georgia Tech instructors can ensure their Canvas materials are accessible prior to the deadline.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Ameya Sawadkar, CTL\u0027s Learning and Technology specialist, wants to help Georgia Tech instructors tackle course accessibility one step at a time; to streamline the process, he created the Accessibility in Canvas Courses Checklist."}],"uid":"36601","created_gmt":"2025-11-20 14:06:40","changed_gmt":"2025-11-20 14:11:13","author":"bharris317","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-20T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-20T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678687":{"id":"678687","type":"image","title":"accessibility_checklist.jpg","body":null,"created":"1763647617","gmt_created":"2025-11-20 14:06:57","changed":"1763647617","gmt_changed":"2025-11-20 14:06:57","alt":"Students study in the Price Gilbert Library.","file":{"fid":"262748","name":"Blog--feature-image--18-.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/20\/Blog--feature-image--18-.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/20\/Blog--feature-image--18-.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":165097,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/20\/Blog--feature-image--18-.jpg?itok=Q3KyDqgl"}}},"media_ids":["678687"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/blog.ctl.gatech.edu\/2025\/11\/11\/canvas-accessibility-a-checklist-for-success\/","title":"Learn About the Checklist."},{"url":"https:\/\/gatech.service-now.com\/home?id=kb_article_view\u0026sysparm_article=KB0044934","title":"View the Checklist."}],"groups":[{"id":"1268","name":"Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"360","name":"accessibility"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["bethany.harris@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}