Course Accessibility Standards
It's everyone's responsibility to ensure course content is accessible. See ASU's accessibility policies here: https://eoss.asu.edu/accessibility/policies
- 19.4% of U.S. undergrads have a reported disability.
- 25% of student veterans have a disability.
- More than 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has a disability.
Spring 2026 federal mandate on accessibility
- All course content must be accessible by Spring 2026
- Faculty Resource for Accessibility Media Essentials (from the Provost’s Office)
- FRAME slides - overview of accessibility resources for teaching and learning
- FRAME Canvas shell - how to make course content accessible
- accessibility.asu.edu - ASU’s accessibility website
Digital accessibility
Digital accessibility means making your course, website, and other online content accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities or the device they are using. Often, simple changes can improve access to digital content for people with disabilities, including:
- Visual (e.g., blindness, low vision, color blindness)
- Auditory (e.g., deafness, hard of hearing)
- Motor (e.g., paralysis, cerebral palsy, missing/damaged limbs, other injuries)
- Cognitive (e.g., learning disabilities, neurological and developmental disorders, brain injury, psychiatric disorders)
How to get started with course accessibility
Start small and make a few improvements. Try using Canvas' Accessibility Checker or Ally in your Canvas shells.
Some of the most helpful improvements for users are fairly simple to make:
- Work with an instructional designer to make sure your Canvas shells and instructor-created materials are accessible.
- If you use videos in your courses, host them on MediaAmp or Wistia, edit the automatic captions for accuracy, and generate transcripts.
- Check that all your images have equivalent alternative text.
- Make sure all your Canvas pages are keyboard accessible.
- Work with the ASU library to digitize copyrighted course content in accessible formats, including film, book chapters, and various published resources using the Library Resource Organizer (formerly "Reading List"): https://libguides.asu.edu/resource-organizer
More accessibility resources
- Student Accessibility and Inclusive Learning Services (SAILS): https://eoss.asu.edu/accessibility
- Faculty and Staff accessibility services: https://eoss.asu.edu/accessibility/faculty-staff
- Generate alt-text for images: https://teachonline.asu.edu/image-accessibility-generator/
- ASU's Introduction to Accessibility 30-minute Canvas course: https://canvas.asu.edu/enroll/R8MHY6
- Digital accessibility at ASU: https://accessibility.asu.edu/
- Creating accessible course content from Teach Access: https://teachaccess.org/resources/creating-accessible-course-content/
- ASU Learning Experience Accessibility quick tips and Ally: https://lx.asu.edu/accessibility
ASU Libraries - accessible course content
Not only do the ASU libraries provide services in collections, learning, and technology, but they also develop innovative solutions that support the learning goals of university faculty and students.
The Dean's Office highly recommends faculty connect with a librarian to source learning content that is accessible (per ADA standards) and free.
Using the Library Resource Organizer (LRO), librarians can assist faculty with creating a comprehensive list in your Canvas course of readings, videos, and media that aligns with learning objectives. They can also digitize just about any resource, even if it's out of print (including those dusty VHS tapes!) in accessible formats for students with common and unique learning needs. It's truly a wonderful and invaluable resource.