{"id":639,"date":"2024-11-25T14:56:10","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T14:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/?page_id=639"},"modified":"2025-12-02T10:13:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T10:13:29","slug":"accessibility","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/accessibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Accessibility"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This section contains useful guides on how to create accessible learning content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here at the University of Manchester, we are committed to ensuring all students, including those with disabilities and who rely on assistive technologies, can fully engage with educational content. Adhering to legal requirements, such as the Equality Act 2010, we prioritise accessibility and digital inclusion considering these essential in online learning design and in so doing, we foster an inclusive learning environment that offers equal opportunities for all students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this in mind, use the information on this page to help you ensure your Canvas content is accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Fixing Accessibility Issues with the Rich Content Editor\u2019s Checker<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Ally Course Accessibility Report<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. The Ally Content Checker<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Math Equation Accessibility<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Fixing ‘Untagged’ PDFs<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Canvas Accessibility Features<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    Fixing Accessibility Issues with the Rich Content Editor\u2019s Checker<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    The Rich Content Editor (RCE) features an accessibility tool that helps you identify and correct accessibility issues while creating content in the editor. By using this accessibility checker, you can create course content with accessibility considerations in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Rich<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The tool checks for compliance with the following accessibility rules:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Component<\/div><\/th>
    Accessibility Rule<\/div><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Heading paragraphs<\/strong><\/div><\/td>
    Headings should not contain more than 120 characters.<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
    Sequential headings<\/strong><\/div><\/td>
    Heading levels should not be skipped (e.g. H2 to H4). However, 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. Tables do not begin with H1, which is designated for the page title.<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
    Image alt text<\/strong><\/div><\/td>
    Images should include an alt attribute describing the image content.<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
    Image alt filename<\/strong><\/div><\/td>
    Image filenames should not be used as the alt attribute describing the image content. Currently, files uploaded directly to Canvas create a redirect that does not properly verify image filenames.<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
    Image alt length<\/strong><\/div><\/td>
    Alt attribute text is recommended to contain fewer than 120 characters.<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
    Large text contrast<\/strong><\/div><\/td>
    Text larger than 18pt (or bold 14pt) should display a minimum contrast ratio of 3:1.<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
    Small text contrast<\/strong><\/div><\/td>
    Text smaller than 18pt (or bold 14pt) should display a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1.<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
    Tables<\/strong><\/div><\/td>
    Tables should contain at least one header, indicate scope and the appropriate structure, and should include a caption describing the contents of the table.

    View the Canvas Community page \u2018Table Accessibility in Canvas<\/a>\u2018 for a step-by-step guide on the above.<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
    Lists<\/strong><\/div><\/td>
    Lists should be formatted as lists (e.g. bullet points).<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
    Adjacent links<\/strong><\/div><\/td>
    Adjacent links with the same URL should be a single link. This rule verifies link errors where the link text may include spaces and break the link into multiple links.<\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    How to Use the Accessibility Checker<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    When an issue is detected, an accessibility indicator notification will appear below the rich content editor, showing the number of problems found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In the example below, the checker is identifying 4 issues within this content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Clicking this indicator opens a sidebar that lists each issue and provides clear instructions on how to resolve it. For example, if an image is missing appropriate alt text, the sidebar will highlight the image within the editor and explain what needs to be added and\/or changed. Simply enter the correct alt text and click Apply<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Once you fix an issue, the checker automatically moves to the next one. You can also navigate through all identified issues using the Previous<\/strong> and Next<\/strong> buttons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    When all issues have been resolved, a success message will appear, and the accessibility issue indicator will disappear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Accessibility<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    If new issues are introduced later, the indicator will reappear, allowing you to repeat the process and keep your content accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Visit the ‘How do I use the Accessibility Checker in the Rich Content Editor<\/a>‘ page for Canvas’ own guidance on utilising the accessibility checker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    It is also possible to create and upload caption files to a video<\/strong> uploaded using the Rich Content Editor. For a detailed guide on how to do this, view this Canvas page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Ally Course Accessibility Report<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    In the left-hand course menu of every Canvas course, you\u2019ll find a link to the Ally Course Accessibility Report<\/strong>. This tool provides a comprehensive overview of all accessibility issues across your course and gives you options to correct them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When you first open the tool, the Overview<\/strong> page displays:<\/p>\n\n\n\n