Course Accessibility | Office of Digital Learning

In addition to promoting quality online learning, our staff consult with departments and faculty on universal design and accessibility. We offer a variety of resources and workshops designed to help faculty make course content accessible for all students. Creating course content with usability and accessibility in mind creates a better learning experience for everyone. Check out our support articles for accessibility tips and resources:

Interested in a workshop? We offer sessions on universal design and accessibility, including how to use Bb Ally to make course content in Canvas accessible. See our Training & Workshops page for more information.

Learning Accommodations in the Online Environment

Need strategies for providing disability accommodations in an online environment? Below you'll find suggestions to help you address a variety of learning accommodations.

Expand/Collapse

Ability to audio record lectures

For lecture recording accommodations, live synchronous lectures can be recorded in Zoom. You can also record a lecture offline and then upload it to Kaltura. Both options provide lecture audio for the student.

Ability to use Zoom or MS Teams for meetings

If you intend to hold remote meetings, be sure to conduct them via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, making use of both audio and video. Avoid audio-only meetings (e.g., via telephone).

Adaptive technology

It’s important that students who use adaptive technology (such as a computer that renders text to speech) can access course materials. To help these students, be sure your course material is in text format and follows accessibility guidelines. The accessibility tool Ally is enabled in all Canvas courses to assist you with this. Ally reviews your course material and provides feedback on accessibility and options for improvement. For help with course material remediation, contact Dr. John L. Crow at the Office of Distance Learning or the Office of Accessibility Services.

Allow student to participate via chat/text box

For students who prefer not to appear on video or be heard via audio during Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings, please allow participation using the chat function.

Alternate assignment format - paper

If your student has an accommodation to receive assignment instructions and materials in writing on paper, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services for assistance.

Alternate text formats

It’s important that students who use assistive technology (such as a computer that renders text to speech) can access course materials. To help these students, be sure your course material is in text format and follows accessibility guidelines. The accessibility tool Ally is enabled in all Canvas courses to assist you with this. Ally reviews your course material and provides feedback on accessibility and options for improvement. For help with course material remediation, contact Dr. John L. Crow at the Office of Distance Learning or the Office of Accessibility Services.

Alternative testing

If you have proctored exams, see this support article for Online Alternatives to In-Person Proctored Exams.

Attendance accommodation

Follow the same attendance accommodation policy as your in-person course when conducting online synchronous lectures and discussions.

Breaks during class sessions

Follow the same breaks during class sessions as your in-person course when conducting online synchronous lectures and discussions.

Clarification of expectations and instructions

Instructors should use the Canvas announcement tool, detail assignment descriptions, and/or create short explanation videos using Kaltura to clearly articulate assignment instructions and expectations.

Closed captioned films, videos, and/or YouTube

All recorded videos provided to students by instructors are required to have correct captions that fully match the speech of the people in the video. Usually films and videos have captions files. This requirement also applies to YouTube videos and instructor-created videos. Because YouTube video captioning is generally not accurate, review these captions to ensure they are correct, especially if test content is coming from the videos. Machine captions are created for content uploaded to Kaltura and are easily editable by the content creator. If you have media that is missing captioning options or you need live captioning/transcription during synchronous course delivery, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services.

Closed captioning

Do not call on student unless the student volunteers

For students who have an accommodation to not be called on unless volunteering, follow the same policy as your in-person course.

Early access to syllabus

Provide students with a copy of the syllabus prior to the beginning of the semester.

Ensure accessibility of web-based content

Extensions on assignments when needed for disability related reasons

See this support article to meet accommodations for extended due dates for assignments, discussion boards, and quizzes.

Extra time for in-class written work

To meet accommodations for extra time for in-class written work, see the support article for extending due dates for assignments, discussion boards, and quizzes.

Face covering exemption

If a student enrolled in a flex course has a face covering exemption, follow the same accommodations as you would for a student taking a fully in-person course.

Face shield in place of face mask

If a student enrolled in a flex course has a face shield exemption, follow the same accommodations as you would for a student taking a fully in-person course.

If possible, allow student to turn off camera during live sessions when needed

For students who prefer not to appear on video during Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings, please allow participation using audio and/or the chat function.

Instructor to face class when speaking

For students who read lips when people are talking, it is important to remember to face the camera and ensure your full face is visible when delivering online course lectures.

Instructor to provide directions and/or instructions in a written/typed format

In addition to any spoken instructions, provide students in online and flex classes with instructions in written format.

Instructor to work with student for options for group work

For students who have an accommodation for modifying group work, follow the same policy as your in-person course, being flexible to give students suitable alternatives.

Instructor to work with student on modifying public speaking/presentation requirements

For students who have an accommodation for modifying public speaking/presentations, follow the same policy as your in-person course, being flexible to give students suitable alternatives.

Leniency with spelling and grammatical errors

For students with accommodations for leniency with spelling and grammatical errors, follow the same policy as your in-person course.

Notetaking services

For notetaking accommodations, live synchronous lectures can be recorded in Zoom. You can also record a lecture offline and then upload it to Kaltura. If you use Kaltura, the lecture will be automatically machine captioned at the 75% accuracy level. Once created the captions will need to be reviewed and corrected in the Kaltura caption editor.

Provide all course materials/information in accessible electronic format

Provide class schedule of due dates for assignments, quizzes, and exams

It is important to add due dates to Canvas assignments, quizzes, and exams, especially when students have accommodations requiring a class schedule of due dates for assignments, quizzes, and exams. Due dates will appear under Course Summary on the Syllabus page of the Canvas course site, on the student’s Canvas dashboard, and in the Canvas calendar.

Provide copies of directions, and/or instructions in auditory format (read information on the board)

For students who need assignment instructions read aloud, you can use Kaltura to create short videos that discuss assignment directions, expectations, and instructions. An alternative is to have the accessibility tool Ally, which is activated in all Canvas courses, convert textual documents into speech in MP3 format. See the support article for more information on Ally’s text-to-speech conversion capabilities.

Provide copies of instructor notes and/or handouts

Notes, handouts, slides, and other materials can be uploaded into Canvas and shared with students to access at any time. It is best to do this before the class or lecture if possible.

Provide lecture/instructor notes, PowerPoints and/or handouts prior to class

Notes, handouts, slides, and other materials can be uploaded into Canvas and shared with students to access at any time. Some accommodations require that the student receive copies of the material prior to the class.

Supplemental notetaking assistance, especially when absent

For supplemental notetaking accommodations, live synchronous lectures can be recorded in Zoom. You can also record a lecture offline and then upload it to Kaltura. If you use Kaltura, the lecture will be automatically machine captioned at the 75% accuracy level. Once created, the captions will need to be reviewed and corrected in the Kaltura caption editor.

Use of sign language interpreter

If your student requires sign language interpretation, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services for assistance.

Questions?

If you have general questions about accessibility, please contact Dr. John L. Crow at ODL or the Office of Accessibility Services. For technical assistance, please contact ODL Technical Support at 850-644-8004 or canvas@fsu.edu or submit a support ticket.