Using the DesignPLUS Sidebar to Check for Accessibility in Your Canvas Course

The DesignPLUS sidebar includes an accessibility checker to ensure that your course pages meet accessibility standards. The accessibility checker checks the page you are editing in real-time, and it provides feedback and suggestions on how to correct any issues that it finds.

The ET+I team at CCS recommends try this tutorial in your Canvas “sandbox” course. Once you are comfortable using the accessibility checker in your “sandbox” course, you can begin using it in your semester course(s).

  • Your Canvas “sandbox” course typically has a course name of [YourFirstName]’s Sandbox. You may need to go to your Courses >> All Courses screen in Canvas to locate this “sandbox”. Your “sandbox” course is available for you to try out things in Canvas before you implement them in your semester course(s). No CCS students are added to “sandbox” courses in Canvas. However, a dummy student account, “Alfred Student”, is added to each “sandbox” course.
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DesignPLUS vs. UDOIT Accessibility Checkers

Unlike the UDOIT accessibility checker, the DesignPLUS accessibility checker only checks the current page you are editing. UDOIT, on the other hand, can scan an entire course for accessibility concerns and provide assistance to correct any issues it finds.

  1. In your “sandbox” course, create a new, blank Canvas page.
  2. Click on the ✏️ Edit button at the top right-hand corner of the screen.
  3. Click on the 🚀 rocket ship icon at the top right-hand corner of your screen to open the DesignPLUS sidebar.
    • Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Alt/Option + Shift + D.
  4. Follow along with this video tutorial from Cidi Labs to learn more about making your course content accessible.