Canvas Accessibility Checker

Stanford provides access to the Accessibility Checker through Canvas

  CANVAS

Canvas Accessibility Checker

The Accessibility Checker provides a course-level interface that provides instructors with an overview of accessibility issues and guided tools for quick remediation.  It supports scanning Pages and Assignments, enabling faster fixes. 

While Canvas has a built-in Accessibility Checker that detects common accessibility errors within Pages and Assignments, some instructors have commented that this tool does not always provide clear guidance on how to fix the identified issue(s). Stanford’s Office of Digital Accessibility (SODA) recommends using the Instructor Accessibility Guide (IAG) instead.

Accessibility Checker in Canvas

The Course Accessibility Checker scans Pages, Assignments, Discussions, Announcements, and Syllabi for common accessibility errors typically occurring in content created with the Rich Text Editor (RTE). The tool will scan for errors in image alt text, table and list formatting, headings, text contrast (in content created with the RTE), and duplicate links. The tool does not check new quizzes, videos, or uploaded files such as PDFs, or linked external content like Google Docs. The tool does not scan for errors with interactivity and complex layouts created outside of the RTE.

The Accessibility tool is available and visible in the left-hand tool menu within the Canvas course.

1. In the Course navigation menu on the left side of the screen, click "Accessibility", then click "Scan course".
   1. The scan can take a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the size of the course.
2. Search Resources
   1. Use the "Search resources" bar to search for specific content.
3. Manage Filter Resources
   1. In the drop-down menu, users can filter resources by last edited, resource type, state, or with issues, then click "Apply filters".
4. View Issues
   1. 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.
   2. The interface will display a list of scanned resources and issues.
5. Fix Issues
   1. The number of issues for each resource is displayed.
   2. Click the pencil-shaped icon "Fix" to view and resolve issues on a resource, then click the "Fix" button.
      1. A tray displays one issue at a time, showing the problem area and issue description.
      2. Click "Reformat" to view the proposed changes.
      3. Click "Save and Next" to save the proposed changes.

Artificial Intelligence Features

There are currently no generative artificial intelligence features within this tool.

Additional Resources 

• For a detailed Video tutorial, please visit gocanvas.stanford.edu and navigate to the Video Tutorials tab. The Canvas Accessibility Checker tutorial is approximately 9 minutes long.
• To learn more about the Instructor Accessibility Guide best practices, please visit Stanford’s Office of Accessible Education. Sign up for Instructional Accessibility Modules, which provide an overview of how to use the Instructor Accessibility Guide and other accessibility strategies.
• For scanned .pdfs, we recommend utilizing SCRIBE.
  • For a detailed Video tutorial, please visit gocanvas.stanford.edu and navigate to the Video Tutorials tab. The SCRIBE video tutorial is approximately 6 minutes long. 

To learn more about SCRIBE best practices, please visit Stanford’s Office of Accessible Education SCRIBE Conversion Best Practices. 

Questions?

• For technical support and troubleshooting related to the Canvas Accessibility Checker within Canvas, please contact canvashelp@stanford.edu.
• For other accessibility resources, please contact the Office of Digital Accessibility at instructional-accessibility@lists.stanford.edu.
• For additional details, please read the How do I use the Accessibility Checker in Canvas?