UNK is committed to helping faculty and staff create accessible digital materials that can connect meaningfully with students, peers, and the general public.
Use the Ally Accessibility course Report as a guide.
Remove what you no longer need by deleting or archiving outdated files and pages.
Focus first on high-impact, high-use content (syllabi, weekly modules, core readings).
Use built-in Canvas tools like heading styles and lists to format text.
Check accessibility in Word, PowerPoint, or Google Docs before uploading files.
Always add alternative text to images that convey information.
Avoid using raw URLs and make all hyperlinks descriptive.
Caption all videos, even short ones and review auto-captions for accuracy.
Email Signatures: Avoid images for essential information (name, title, phone number); if images are used, include alt text or repeat the information in text.
Attachments: Make attachments accessible (proper headings, readable tables, descriptive links, sufficient color contrast) before sending and use clear, meaningful file names.
Event Posters: Don’t rely on image-only flyers; include all event details in the email body.
Video and Audio: Caption all videos and review auto-captions for accuracy.
Emojis: Use emojis sparingly and avoid them in subject lines or mid-sentence.
Email Subject Line: Use clear, descriptive subject lines that summarize the message and avoid using acronyms as they can trigger Spam filters.
Use built-in tools like heading styles and lists to format text in MS Word.
Tables in Excel need to be identified as such by ‘marking them up’.
Check your PowerPoint reading order pane to ensure they match how content is presented on slides.
If possible, use the built-in PowerPoint slide templates as they have all been considered for accessibility, as well as how easy screen readers can read the slide content.
Ensure all PDFs are tagged to provide structural information (like headings and reading order).
Convert all scanned documents into searchable and readable text by applying OCR (Optical Character Recognition).
Include captions on all videos, even short clips and Stories.
Avoid image-only posts; put key information in the post text.
Avoid flashing or rapidly animated content that may trigger photosensitivity.
Place hashtags at the end of posts and use CamelCase (e.g., #LoperLife).
Use high-contrast visuals and readable font sizes in graphics.
Limit the use of emojis and never use them as the only way to convey meaning.
UNK Resources & Support
These offices provide training, consultations, and guidance on accessible teaching practices, course design, document remediation, and digital accessibility compliance.
