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Canvas Accessibility

Canvas is the Learning Management System used by the University of Houston-Downtown. All content and files within each published course must be accessible.

UHD uses Anthology Ally to monitor accessibility for digital content and files. Ally scans each course and provides reports of each detected issue and notes on how to remediate the issue.

Video: Overview for Instructors of Ally for LMS

Image alt text during course copy

Issue: When copying a course, the inputted alt text for images are not carrying over into the new course. This lowers the Ally score for the new course.

Adding image alt text

When adding alt text for images, ensure to add it using Canvas' Rich Content Editor.

Adding alt text in Canvas' Rich Content Editor via the Image Options or Accessibility Checker keeps the alt text when copying courses.

Canvas Rich Text Editor interface. Arrows pointing to Image Options and Accessibility Checker

Adding alt text in Ally's interface does not keep the alt text when copying courses.

Ally's interface to add alt text

Copying Courses

When copying a course, ensure to "import" course content. Importing will copy the course content and files as well as the alt text.

Recommendations

  • If content or files are not needed (and therefore "unpublished") for a section, download and delete it.
  • If you are re-teaching the same course, ensure that all content and files are accessible after the "course copy." Please delete old and unneeded files.
  • Check the Ally scores regularly and fix issues.
  • When developing new course content, use an unpublished shell and then copy to a published shell once content meets accessibility expectations; a sandbox is the perfect staging area for any materials that are not ready to be shared with students. To request a sandbox, submit the request form or contact [email protected].

Instructional Design and Course Assistance

All UHD faculty are encouraged to contact the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence for an accessibility consultation.

If you require assistance in your course, you may reach out to the TTLC trainers at [email protected] or 713-221-2786, or come in-person at ACAD700. All TTLC trainers are TxDLA Digital Accessibility certified.

Canvas Accessibility Course for Content Creators

University of Houston System has created an optional Canvas course for UHS faculty. The course covers Canvas' accessibility features and accessibility in course content and media. All UHD faculty are enrolled in this course.

File Remediation Assistance

If faculty need assistance with document remediation in a Canvas course, please submit a Document Remediation Request to the Accessible Education Center.

Resources