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Create an Accessible Course

Updated

UCLA Extension has compiled an ADA Compliant Checklist to help ensure that your course content meets accessibility guidelines (WCAG 2.0 at Level AA).

To explore accessibility guidelines for various elements of your course, click the tabs below.

Text Headers

  • Text is a size of at least 12 points.
  • A sans-serif font style is used for reading clarity.
  • Text is not underlined unless it is a hyperlink.
  • Text styling is not overused or distracting (e.g., too many font colors, highlights, styles, and sizes).
  • Content is clearly written, searchable, and readable with assistive technology. You can learn more about assistive technology with this article: What is AT?
  • Proper heading styles are used to organize content on the page. Subheadings have been selected and nested appropriately. (Add headings to Canvas pages using its Rich Content Editor.)
  • Bulleted or numbered lists are created using the Rich Content Editor.

Links

  • Text is used for hyperlinks rather than URLs.   
  • Hyperlinks use descriptive text to provide meaning and context for links. Avoid designating links as “read more” or “click here.”
  • Links work properly when clicked. (Validate links within Canvas using the Course Link Validator.)

Slide Decks / Documents

  • Scanned PDFs (which are essentially images) are not used. All text must be searchable within the document.
  • Proper heading styles and structure are used throughout documents.
  • Presentations are created using predefined templates and slides.
  • Each presentation slide includes a unique title.  
  • Presentations have simple, non-automatic transitions between slides.
  • Documents contain content that follows your intended reading order and passes accessibility checks:

Tables

  • Tables are used for tabular data, not for layout purposes. When possible, information is displayed in a linear format instead of a table.
  • Descriptive column and row headings are assigned to tables. (Create tables directly within Canvas using the Rich Content Editor.)
  • Complex tables with merged or split cells have been broken down into simpler tables.

Colors

  • There is enough contrast between text and background color for the content to be easily viewed. (You can test color contrast using WebAIM's Contrast Checker.)
  • Color alone is not used to indicate meaning (e.g., having a list of items and saying that the items in red are overdue).

Images

  • Graphics and images are understandable when viewed without color.
  • Graphics and images do not blink, flash, or show flickering animation.
  • Images of text are only used when the image is essential to the information being conveyed.
  • Images, charts, and graphs that contain information also have alternate text or text descriptions that convey the same information. (Alt text can be added to an image using the Rich Content Editor).

Multimedia

  • Audio and video quality is clear. Audio has minimal background noise, clear pronunciation, and consistent volume. Video has minimal movement or blurring.
  • All audio and video content includes closed captions or transcripts that can be downloaded. (You can add captions using the Panopto video recording and hosting tool, which is integrated directly with Canvas.)
  • Files are in a compatible format (e.g., mp3 or mp4) with most operating systems. (Use the Panopto audio and video recorder for direct integration into your Canvas course).

Additional Tools and Resources

In addition to the checklist above, you can explore a variety of accessibility tools and resources:

Additional Canvas Resources

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