Creating Accessible Courses at WSB
Proactive. Inclusive. Required by April 2026.
Why Accessibility Matters
- Ensures equal access for all learners
- Complies with ADA standards (websites, videos, PDFs, Canvas, apps)
- Goes beyond accommodations — builds inclusion in from the start
More information is available at Accessibility @ UW Madison
Core Concepts
Accessibility vs Accommodation
- Accessibility: Proactive design to remove barriers
- Accommodation: Individualized support beyond standard accessibility
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- Inclusive teaching method
- Provides multiple means of learning & engagement
- Examples: alt-text, captions, flexible assessments
Accessible Content Tips
Documents & Slides
- Use sans serif fonts (e.g., Arial, Red Hat)
- Add unique titles to each slide
- Use 1.5 line spacing, strong color contrast
- Include alt text for all visuals
- Avoid scanned PDFs when possible
Multimedia
- Ensure captions & transcripts are available
- Prefer professional captioning over auto-generated
- Add alt text to images in Canvas
More information is available in the Guides for Accessibility @ UW-Madison
Tools & Practice
UDOIT Accessibility Checker in Canvas
- Scan your course for accessibility issues and get guided feedback for necessary corrections
Additional Services
Canvas Course Quality Review:
- Boosts course quality & SET scores
- Includes full UDOIT scan & review
- Available from WSB Teaching & Learning, contact teaching@wsb.wisc.edu
