We know that creating accessible digital content can raise a lot of questions. In addition to our resources, we’ve gathered answers to some of the questions we hear most often. If you don’t see your question addressed here, please feel free to reach out to us at ctl@umsl.edu. We’re always happy to help.

According to the US Department of Justice, Title II applies to all state and local programs, including institutions of public education, such as UMSL. Under this policy, instructors are required to provide reasonable accommodations, such as remediating materials (e.g., adding tags to PDFs), to provide equal access to digital materials. This includes any content created by outside parties, such as journal articles, YouTube videos, etc. For help remediating materials, please review our training offerings (link) and guides (link) sorted by tools.

 

For more information, please visit the State and Local Governments page on the ADA website.

Digital accessibility encompasses all electronic materials used for teaching and learning:

  • Canvas course sites and integrated tools
  • Documents and presentations (Word, PDF, PowerPoint)
  • Videos and multimedia, including synchronous online meetings
  • Third-party applications and platforms
  • Electronic communication with students

Just as physical spaces are designed with accessibility in mind, our digital learning spaces require the same thoughtful consideration. Digital accessibility is not just about compliance – it is about creating learner-centered experiences that benefit all students.

When you design with accessibility in mind:

  • Students with disabilities can engage fully with your course materials
  • All students benefit from clearer organization and multiple ways to access content
You build flexibility into your teaching that accommodates varied learning needs and preferences
Ally scans all content in your Canvas course, whether it is published and/or in a module. In TidyUP, filters can be used to show only Unused Files or Content not in a Module. However, when materials are deleted from a module, they still exist within the Canvas course until that exact file or page is deleted from the course shell. Similarly, if a file, such as an image, is on a page TidyUP sees the file as used, even if that page is unpublished or not in a module. Please see review these guides for deleting pages and files in Canvas.

We have compiled a list of common errors in Ally. For each error, there is a short suggestion for fixing the issue as well as some resources on the issue for further support. If you can't find the error you are seeing in Ally, please contact us at ctl@umsl.edu. 

Additional Resources:

Ally: Common Accessibility Issues - University of Houston