The Accessibility Checker in Canvas helps ensure that your content is readable and accessible for all users, including those using screen readers or other assistive technologies. It's built into the Rich Content Editor, making it easy to check for accessibility issues as you create or edit content.
This tool is available anywhere the Rich Content Editor appears—Pages, Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes, Announcements, and more.
Where to Find the Accessibility Checker
Open any content area that uses the Rich Content Editor (e.g., a Page or Assignment).
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In the toolbar at the bottom-right corner, click the Accessibility Checker icon.
How the Accessibility Checker Works
When you click the icon:
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Canvas will scan your content and display a sidebar with any accessibility issues it finds.
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Each issue includes a brief description and an option to fix it directly within the sidebar.
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The checker walks you through each issue one at a time.
Common Issues the Accessibility Checker Flags
Here are some of the things it helps you fix:
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Missing or vague alternative text for images
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Low contrast between text and background colors
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Table headers that aren’t defined properly
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Heading structure that’s skipped or out of order
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Links that don’t have meaningful text
Fixing Issues
The Accessibility Checker provides a built-in form or dropdown for each issue. You can make the fix right from the panel—no need to edit HTML manually.
Once you fix an issue, the checker will automatically move to the next one until you're done.
Best Practices
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Use the Accessibility Checker each time you update or create content.
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Combine it with your own judgment—while the tool catches many issues, it’s still good to consider the readability and layout of your content.
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Remember that alt text should be brief but descriptive, and headings should follow a logical structure (H2 → H3, etc.).
Related Resources