Instructors who use Canvas or other digital content such as electronic documents, videos, and e-textbooks, need to make these digital course materials compliant with Title II regulations under the American with Disabilities Act to help improve the learning experience of all students. These materials must meet these regulations when made available to students, not just available upon request. All digital course materials must be ADA Title II compliant by April 24, 2026. Over the next few months, training will be made available to faculty to assist with this requirement.
Instructors are encouraged to review the Canvas Course Accessibility Checklist in preparation for the new requirements.
The checklist is broken down into 8 key areas, guiding you through best practices for:
- Formatting: Ensuring logical heading structures (H1, H2, H3, etc.) and consistent design for readability and navigation.
- Lists: Properly using numbered and bulleted lists to convey information clearly.
- Tables: Making sure tables are used for data, not layout, and include proper headings and captions.
- Links: Crafting descriptive and meaningful links, avoiding generic "click here" phrases.
- Color: Adhering to color contrast ratios and ensuring color isn't the sole means of conveying meaning.
- Images: Appropriately applying alternative text, describing complex images, and marking decorative ones.
- Media: Ensuring videos have captions, audio files include transcripts, and auto-playing media is user-controlled.
- Other Considerations: Guidance on making PDFs, embedded content, and other documents accessible.
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