Document Accessibility Requirements

All documents uploaded to Canvas or otherwise shared digitally for educational purposes must be accessible. Documents can be created on a variety of software platforms and each offers its own set of formatting controls to aid the development of accessible content. 

For questions or to request document remediation for your course materials, contact the ATS Remediation team.

Microsoft and Adobe Applications

The information below addresses common accessibility issues with Microsoft and Adobe applications typically used for creating instructional learning materials. Short videos, sourced from the site are provided to help better understand details of the requirements. 

Headings

  • Add headings and formatting so assistive technology can infer meaning from the structure and characters using built-in styles.
  • (3 mins)

Lists

  • Use built-in features to create lists so assistive technology can identify the relationship to the page content.
  • (3:58 mins)

Tables

  • Use built-in features to create tables so assistive technology can read the information in a meaningful manner.
  • (4:18 mins)

Document Language

  • Use the proofing language settings to programmatically set the document language and enable assistive technology to read and correctly pronounce content.
  • (2:41 mins)

Links

  • Add links to a document so that each link has a unique and descriptive name to allow assistive technology users to determine the destination, function or purpose of a link.
  • (3:32 mins)

Images

  • Apply 鈥渁lt text鈥 to objects to ensure equivalent access to the visual information such as pictures, images of text, images of tables, shapes, and icons with hyperlinks.
  • (6:03 mins)

Text Boxes 

  • Ensure information within a text box is accessible.
  • (2 mins)

Color Contrast 

  • Ensure there is enough color contrast between the foreground and background.
  • (4:36 mins)

Embedded Files 

  • Embed audio-only, video-only or multimedia files into your document so individuals with disabilities have comparable access to the information.
  • (2:10 mins)

Overview

  • Learn the minimum steps needed to ensure your PowerPoint presentation is Section 508 conformant.
  • (3:50 mins)

Logical Reading Order

  • Establish a logical reading order when creating your presentation.
  • (9:03 mins)

Color Contrast

  • Ensure that there is sufficient color contrast between the foreground and background. Textured or graphic backgrounds can also reduce readability and should be used mindfully.
  • (2:38 mins)

Columns

  • Ensure that content is read in the proper reading order when using columns.
  • (2:13 mins)

Lists

  • Use lists to organize and structure content so that assistive technology can identify it
  • (2:29 mins)

Tables

  • Use the built-in table features so that assistive technology can read a data tables information in a meaningful manner.
  • (3:48 mins)

Images

  • Apply 鈥渁lt text鈥 to objects to ensure equivalent access the information.
  • (3:13 mins)

Links

  • Add links to a document so that each link has a unique and descriptive name to allow assistive technology users to determine the destination, function or purpose of a link.
  • (3:07 mins)

Language

  • Format text for the intended language to enable assistive technology to infer and correctly pronounce content.
  • (2:22 mins)

Media Descriptions

  • Embed audio-only, video-only or multimedia files into your presentation so that individuals with disabilities have comparable access to the information.
  • (2:20 mins)

Flashing Objects

  • Avoid using flashing objects
  • (1:27 mins)

PDF Accessibility Elements Overview

  • Learn about the elements of a PDF and tag types, how best to convert documents to PDF, and how to test a PDF for accessibility.
  • (9:11 mins)

Test PDF for Accessibility

  • Discover how set up a document鈥檚 properties, evaluate the accessibility of a document鈥檚 content, and how to use Acrobat鈥檚 Accessibility Full Check tool.
  • (9:08 mins)

Fix PDF Properties

  • Learn how to fix a PDF document鈥檚 properties, add and adjust tags, adjust the reading and tab order, add alternative text to images and objects, and set document鈥檚 language properties.
  • (18:38 mins)

Scanned Documents

  • Learn about the techniques used by advanced users to identify and correct text from scanned pages and signed memorandums as conformance PDFs.
  • (12:38 mins)