Digital Accessibility in Canvas

Montana State University Accessibility Requirements

Canvas course content must be accessible to all students, including content created in a Canvas Page, PDFs, videos, and any other online resources. For official guidance on digital accessibility requirements, standards, and university policies, visit the Montana State University Digital Accessibility page.

Accessibility does not require a full course redesign. Focus on using accessibility best practices and tools to remove common barriers that may prevent students from accessing your content.

The Rule of 5: Quick Accessibility Check

Before publishing your Canvas course, keep these five things in mind:

1. Use accessible documents — avoid scanned PDFs

2. Use headings and lists to structure Canvas Pages

3. Add alt text to meaningful images

4. Caption videos and provide transcripts when needed

5. Review and address major issues flagged by YuJa Panorama

For more information, visit the MSU Digital Accessibility page and see The Digital Accessibility Rule of 5.

General Best Practices for Canvas

• Avoid scanned PDFs — instead, use documents with selectable text, such as Word documents.
• Address major issues flagged in YuJa Panorama.

Canvas Pages

• Use headings, not just bold text, to organize topics and improve scannability.
• Use lists to organize content.
• Write descriptive links and avoid phrases like “click here.”

Images in Canvas

• Add alternative (alt) text to meaningful images.
• Keep descriptions brief.
• Mark decorative images appropriately when they do not convey instructional meaning.
  
  

Tutorials:

• • Add alt text to images in Canvas 
  • W3C Alt Text Guide

Video & Audio in Canvas

• Include captions in videos.
• Provide transcripts for audio-only content and when additional text support is needed.
  
  

Tutorial: Edit Captions with Panopto

YuJa Panorama

YuJa Panorama is a tool designed to identify and improve accessibility issues directly within a Canvas course.

Use YuJa Panorama to: Scan Canvas pages and uploaded documents. Highlight accessibility concerns. Provide suggestions for improvement. Accessibility indicators: 🔴 Red = major issues to address first. 🟡 Yellow = improvements recommended. 🟢 Green = major issues addressed.

Document Accessibility

Learn how to make these common documents accessible.

Need Help?

• Email University Information Technology (UIT) for Microsoft and Adobe accessibility tools
• Visit the Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE) Webpage for guidance on developing accessible course materials and professional development for inclusive teaching and learning
• Email the ECAT Team in Academic Technology and Outreach (ATO) for assistance with accessibility in Canvas using YuJa Panorama