According to the CDC, more than 1 in 4 adults in the United States had a disability in 2024, making digital accessibility more relevant than ever. Clemson University is committed to promoting accessibility across all aspects of teaching and learning. As an instructor, you are responsible for ensuring your course meets accessibility standards. Fortunately, Canvas provides tools that make it easier to meet these standards.
What is Digital Accessibility?
According to Michelle Tuten of Clemson Online, accessibility is the practice of designing better user experiences for everyone by first improving the experience of people with disabilities. As instructors, you should proactively create content, products, and environments that people with a wide range of hearing, vision, mobility, and cognitive abilities can use, understand, contribute to (when applicable), and benefit from.
Digital Accessibility for Canvas
Teaching Tips for Digital Accessibility
- Check for multiple means of access
- Seek to remove barriers to accessibility early
- Reducing barriers does not reduce rigor
Accessible Text
Textbooks, articles, Canvas pages, PowerPoint text, assignment descriptions, PDFs, and external resources should all contain accessible text. Be sure to use properly formatted headings and lists to improve accessibility. It is also important to create meaningful hyperlinks instead of displaying full URLs, as they are more helpful for students using assistive technologies. Additionally, avoid using color alone to convey meaning, as this can create barriers for individuals with color vision deficiencies.
Accessible Audio and Video
For any videos in your course, ensure that synchronized captions are available and accurate. Additionally, provide a complete transcript for all audio-only content so that it is accessible to all students.
Accessible Images
To ensure that all images in your Canvas course are accessible, include alt text or an image description for any pedagogically important images, such as infographics or demonstrations that support learning. Alt text is not required for purely decorative images. Additionally, use actual text instead of images of text whenever possible, as screen readers may not interpret images of text correctly.
Accessible Tables
Tables can be useful in a Canvas course, but they can also create accessibility challenges if not used properly. Avoid using tables for page layout, as they can cause problems for screen readers and keyboard navigation. When using tables to present data, ensure they include clear titles and properly designated header rows or columns that accurately describe the content. Additionally, avoid merging cells whenever possible, as doing so can make tables more difficult for assistive technologies to interpret.
Accessible Math
Accessible math is an increasingly important aspect of digital accessibility. To create accessible math content in Canvas, enter equations directly into the Rich Content Editor (RCE) equation editor or use MathML. Recommended practices in other formats are being updated frequently, so reach out to us if you would like more information on how to increase the accessibility of your math content.
Accessibility Checkers
Canvas has a built-in accessibility checker that scans all content entered into the Rich Content Editor on Pages, Assignments, Quizzes, etc. It will evaluate most of the features discussed above and flag any errors detected. The Panorama accessibility checker also scans attached files for accessibility in addition to Canvas content. Click on either icon at the bottom of the RCE when editing a page to resolve any errors.
If you are interested in learning more, watch the full training video.
If you have any questions about how to create an accessible Canvas course, make a consultation with Clemson Online!
Upcoming Events
Workshop Wednesday: Online Tools for Student Collaboration
July 22nd, 1:30-2:30 PM
Facilitated by Sharyn Emery, PhD, Digital Learning Manager.
This training will cover several tools and techniques you can use to help your students collaborate in an online space. Whether you are teaching on Zoom or in an asynchronous Zoom classroom, this training has you covered!
Click here to register for this Workshop Wednesday!
Quick Hits: Grade Weights, Extra Credit, and Canvas Gradebook Settings
July 30th, 3-4 PM
Facilitated by John Dickinson, IT Services Specialist.
This quick hit will cover helpful settings in the Canvas gradebook, including utilizing grade weights effectively and incorporating extra credit in your course. We’ll focus on practical strategies to streamline your workflow and save time managing grades.
Click here to register for this Quick Hits!
Clemson Online Summer 2026 Events Calendar
Review our Summer 2026 Events Calendar to see what Online Instruction Development opportunities await!
We have a robust lineup of topics and live training formats to support your use of Canvas and other e-learning tools. Topics cover demonstrations of using Kaltura, engaging your students, and workshops to get your Canvas site ready to teach!
All of our live training is recorded. Registrants will automatically receive a link to that day’s video after it has been processed.
Contact Millie Tullis with any questions regarding these sessions.
Clemson Online – Where Tech and Teaching Meet
