Making Tables Accessible in Canvas

Overview

When creating tables in Canvas, it is important to mark which rows or columns are headers. This helps students using screen readers follow the information accurately.

Steps to Create Accessible Tables in Canvas

  1. Open the Rich Content Editor in your Canvas page or assignment.

  2. Click the Table button and choose the number of rows and columns you need.

  3. Right-click the table and choose Table Properties or open the Table menu in the toolbar.

  4. Under Headers, choose First Row, First Column, or both depending on your data layout.

  5. Add a caption above or below the table to describe what the table shows.

  6. Avoid using tables for layout or spacing. Use them only for displaying data.

  7. When finished, click the Accessibility Checker icon in the Rich Content Editor to confirm the table is set up correctly.

Example

If your table lists assignment names and due dates, set the first row as the header row so the screen reader can identify each column correctly.

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