As we wrap up this blog post series and head into summer, this is a good time to plan your next steps for digital accessibility. We will continue updating guidance and resources, including improvements to the accessibility landing page informed by this series. For now, this post highlights what you can focus on this summer, including:
- Remediation for future courses using Panorama
- Navigating and documenting accessibility challenges
- Creating accessible materials from the start
Remediation for Future Courses Using Panorama
Summer is a good time to work on updating your teaching materials for the upcoming academic year. Using Panorama in Canvas can help you identify accessibility issues in your course materials.
The Panorama Accessibility Report , available from the Panorama link in your course navigation helps you by:
- Flagging accessibility issues in Canvas pages, Word documents, PowerPoint slides, and PDFs
- Identifying which materials need attention first
- Supporting remediation directly in Canvas for certain issues
Panorama is most effective when used as a triage tool. It helps you see patterns, prioritize work, and fix many common issues without starting from scratch.
See our Getting Started with Panorama guide for specifics about the tool.
A note about PDFs
PDFs often require more time and judgment than other file types. Some are relatively easy to fix, while others, especially scanned documents, or complex layouts, may require significant remediation or a change in format.
See our post on Understanding the Accessibility Barriers and Spectrum of PDFs
Summer is a good opportunity to identify which PDFs are essential to your courses and plan your next steps. Please see our Accessible PDFs guide that includes guidance on what to do before you remediate and our current minimum expectations for PDFs.
Important areas Panorama does not cover
Panorama is a helpful starting point, but it does not address all accessibility needs. You will still want to review:
- Video and audio content, including captions, transcripts, speaker identification, and audio description. See the Audio & Video accessibility guide.
- External tools and applications such as publisher platforms or third‑party applications
- Course navigation and structure, including modules, page titles, and overall organization. See the post on Canvas Course organization for tips.
Navigating and Documenting Accessibility Challenges
Not every accessibility issue has an immediate solution. As you review course materials, continue to note and document complex or unresolved issues, especially those outside your control. This supports good‑faith effort and helps us focus on areas where we need improvement
External Media
When using media you do not own, consider whether it is essential, look for accessible or equivalent alternatives when possible, and document the steps you took. Refer to our separate guidance on using external media as needed:
Accessibility When You Do Not Own the Video post
Third Party Tools and Platforms
Some accessibility areas, including third‑party tools and platforms, are still being addressed at the institutional level. For now, note where these tools are used, document known limitations, and focus on reducing barriers where you have control.
Creating Accessible Materials from the Start
One of the most effective ways to reduce future accessibility work is to apply what you have learned as you create new content, using the built‑in features of the tools you already have.
As you build or revise materials, focus on a few key habits that are easy to skip:
- In Canvas, use built‑in headings instead of bold text, write descriptive link text, and keep pages and modules clearly organized.
- In Word and PowerPoint, start with accessible templates, use heading styles rather than manual formatting, add alt text to images, and give slides clear titles.
- In Microsoft Applications, run built‑in accessibility checkers before sharing content.
See our guides for more detailed guidance:
When these practices become part of your normal workflow, creating accessible content takes less effort and becomes more consistent. As tools continue to evolve, our guidance and best practices will evolve as well, so stay tuned to updates and new recommendations.
Get Support
If you have questions about accessibility you can:
- Book an Accessibility Consultation
- Send an e-mail to t2access@umw.edu