Accessibility Checklist for Course Delivery

For Virtual Delivery

  • Wear headphones and a microphone
  • Turn on Live Transcripts in Zoom
  • Mute microphone when not speaking
  • Reduce background noise
  • Choose a well-lit area so everyone can see you clearly
  • Clearly state the agenda for the class and outline which technologies will be used during the virtual delivery
  • Pause often for students to catch up on notes or so that the live captions catch up
  • If using the chat feature in Zoom, read comments aloud for all students to hear
  • Verbalize images, charts, or graphics that you share on screen
  • Alert students when you are about to launch a poll

Resources: Zoom Accessibility Features [article]

For PowerPoint Presentations

General Considerations

  • Use pre-programmed or themed layouts
  • Apply appropriate colour contrast for easy visibility
  • Opt for sans-serif fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, etc.)
  • Select font sizes that are large enough to be seen in the classroom and on screens
  • Avoid using Word Art
  • Avoid using text shadows or glow effects
  • Use PowerPoint’s built-in Accessibility Checker to ensure your slide deck meets accessibility requirements

Alternative Text

  • Apply alt-tex to provide text for all images, charts, graphics and visuals
  • Consider the content and function of your image when creating alt-text
  • If the image provides content, ensure the content is included in the alt-text

Links and Call-to-Actions

  • Hyperlinks should have context and describe where it leads
  • Avoid using ‘Click here’ and opt for a more descriptive verb or short phrase
  • A screen reader will read slides in a particular order; verify the order in which each slide is arranged to ensure the information is read in a logical order

Resources:

For Microsoft Word

  • Use Styles in the Home tab which help when using screen readers
  • Use alt-text with all images
  • Wrap text around images as ‘in line with text’
  • Use the Columns function on the Layout tab
  • Insert page numbers using the Page Number function on the Insert tab
  • Identify table headings in the Design tab when inserting a table
  • Ensure Hyperlinks describes where it leads; avoid ‘Click here’
  • Avoid using text boxes, Quick Parts, Word Art and drop caps as they don’t work with screen readers
  • Use Word’s built-in Accessibility Checker

Resources: Make Your Word Documents Accessible [article]

Other Accessibility Considerations

Emails accessibility tips:

  • Use HTML format, where possible
  • Use appropriate fonts (style and size)
  • Provide structure by using Styles in the Format Text tab
  • If inserting an image, provide alt-text for each image
  • Wrap text ‘in line’ with images
  • Ensure hyperlinks communicate to the reader where the link will take them
  • Ensure Signatures are accessible
  • Use the Check Accessibility feature under the Review tab

Video

  • Use closed-captions/life transcription

PDF Documents

  • Ensure PDFs are fully accessible by conducting an accessibility check – See more tools.

Universal Design for Learning

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. UDL provides flexible approaches that can be customized and adjusted for individual needs. Key principles include offering multiple means of engagement, representation, and action and expression to support diverse learners. The Quality Criteria for Digital/Online Learning were developed with UDL principles in mind.

  • Explore the UDL Guidelines for more detailed information and resources.

Additional Resources: