How To Get Started
To begin, take stock of your content using the following strategies:
Make a list or spreadsheet of the content you need to assess. This list could include reports, textbooks or course resources, websites, video or audio files, slide decks, online forms, etc. If you are actively using it and it is within your control, then you have a responsibility to ensure that it is accessible.
For each item on your list, make a plan to assess whether it is accessible, and take note of what would resolve accessibility problems within those materials. For example:
- If you use PDFs: Would it be better to post these materials directly to a Canvas page or website, reducing the need to modify inaccessible PDFs?
- Are you using images that are unneeded or that don’t have alt text added?
- Do your documents have tables or other graphics that cannot be interpreted correctly by a screen reader?
- Are your websites accessible?
- Leverage accessibility checkers such as Ally inside Canvas, the checkers built into Microsoft 365, and Grackle for Google Workspace.
- Review the Keep C.A.L.M Campaign (Choose Accessible Learning Materials) suggestions and resources when creating and updating your content.
- Review the tools and training section, and access tools that will help you review each of your content types, as well as training that will show you how to remediate your existing content or create new content that is accessible from the start.
- Ensure that the appropriate members of your team are aware of this regulatory change and their responsibilities related to it.