Guide Accessibility Checker

Sample Accessibility Dashboard

Canvas includes an accessibility tool that detects common accessibility errors within the course. The Accessibility Checker scans Pages, Assignments, Discussion Topics, and Announcements. You can use the Accessibility Checker to design the course while considering accessibility attributes.

Click the tabs below for more information.

Overview

The Accessibility checker tests against a curated selection of WCAG 2.1 Level A, AA, and AAA success criteria. Rather than a checklist for total level-specific compliance, it focuses on the high-impact rules that most frequently affect users.

The accessibility checks do not cover all issues that may occur in complex or interactive content created outside the Rich Content Editor. This includes items such as color contrast errors in internal or external CSS, embedded third-party tools (like LTI tools or external learning apps), custom JavaScript or interactive widgets, iframes and externally hosted content, and interactive elements such as simulations, quizzes, or drag-and-drop activities.

These rules are a WCAG requirement and part of accessibility standards that educational content must meet to be inclusive for all learners, including those using screen readers.

What's Checked

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The Accessibility Checker checks for the following common accessibility issues in the Rich Content Editor:

Missing image alternative (alt) text: An image does not include descriptive alt text. Alt text is important as it is used by screen readers to describe the content of an image. The only time you would not have alt text is if the image is purely decorative and not related to any content. Then you would check the Decorative Image option.
Alt text length: Image alt text exceeds 200 characters. Keep it short and to the point.
Image filename used as alt text: The alt text matches the image filename instead of describing the image. Rename it with a short description.
Tables without headers: A table does not include at least one header. Headers are important as they help students understand the data in the table.
Table header scope: A table header does not define appropriate scope.
Tables without captions: A table does not include a descriptive caption. Captions can be a simple title to help students understand the data in the table.
Duplicate or broken links: Multiple links point to the same URL, or spaces break a single link into multiple links.
Misformated lists: Content appears to be a list but is not formatted using list structure.
Skipped heading levels: Heading levels are not sequential (for example, H2 followed by H4).
- Note that the tool does not check if the first header starts with H2 or whether the headings are sequential with the rest of the content in the page.
Heading length: A heading exceeds 120 characters. This usually means the information is supposed to be a paragraph. Headers are short and to the point.
Heading 1 in content: An H1 heading is used within the page content.
Small text contrast: Small text does not meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA color contrast requirements (inline CSS). Watch the colors you use for font and highlights. Bright colors are not readable. For example, use a maroon color instead of bright red to make a point.
Large text contrast: Large text does not meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA color contrast requirements (inline CSS). Watch the colors you use for font and highlights. Bright colors are not readable. For example, use a maroon color instead of bright red to make a point.

How to Use

For specific steps, click the tabs below.

Step 1: Scan Course

Open Accessibility

Open Accessibility Checker

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In Course Navigation, click the Accessibility link [1]. Then, click the Scan Course link [2] or the Scan Course button [3].
Note: The scan can take anything from a few seconds to a few minutes depending on the size of the course.

Manage Filters

Filter Resources

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You can filter what is scanned within Filter Resources. In the drop-down menu, you can filter resources by Last edited [1], Resource type [2], State [3] or With issues of [4]. Then, click the Apply filters button [5].
This would be useful for a course with a ton of unpublished pages that may not be used, but you don't neccessarily want to delete.

Step 2: View & Fix Issues

Dashboard Display

View Issues

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The central interface displays high-level information, including the total number of active issues on the course, and a bar chart illustrating their distribution by issue type [1].
It also lists the scanned resources, showing the number of issues found on each of them [2].

Remediation Wizard

Fix Issues

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Instructors can see the number of issues for each resource [1]. To launch the remediation wizard for viewing and resolving issues on a resource, click the Fix button [2].
A tray then displays one issue at a time, showing the problem area and issue description [3]. Select a remediation option [4]. To correct the issue, apply the change [5].
To apply the changes and proceed to the next issue, click the Save & Next button on the bottom right.

Dismiss or

Exclude Issues

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To dismiss or exclude issues and resources you do not wish to remediate (i.e., something doesn't look right), press the Skip button to bypass within the checklist and then click the Close remediation button at the end.

IMPORTANT!

Take your time when fixing issues and make sure to carefully select what you want to fix. Quickly clicking through and just applying all fixes is not the best method for using this tool. For example, some items like Headers may appear "fixed" in the checklist but look off in the overall design. Try to focus on alt. text for images, tables, broken links, and contrast.
Once a course has been scanned, the tool automatically scans new and edited resources.
Canvas Resource Article