Why Accessibility Matters
Have you noticed at the start of the semester, students often begin full of enthusiasm and motivation but as the term progresses they gradually lose momentum? Generally, the issue isn’t due to a lack of effort but hidden barriers built into the way materials are created and organized. A confusing file structure, inconsistent navigation or inaccessible formats can create unnecessary challenges especially when content becomes more complex. Over time, these small frustrations can drain students’ energy and focus.
Accessibility is a pedagogical strategy and a usability practice that removes obstacles and barriers. When implemented, students will be able to concentrate on the big picture: gaining insights, mastering concepts and making meaningful connections. For faculty, this also means fewer repetitive questions, fewer late-night “Where do I find this?” emails and smoother day-to-day teaching. Everyone benefits: students thrive when they know how to navigate the course and instructors regain valuable time and energy.
At U‑M, we align with SPG 601.20, Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility, ensuring all students can interact and engage in the course. However, accessibility goes further than meeting standards. Accessibility ensures equal access to course materials for students with disabilities, cultivating an environment that supports active participation. It also benefits students with different learning styles by offering multiple ways to engage and interact with the material and by providing them with the flexibility to choose what works best for their learning. Additionally, for English language learners (ELL), accessibility features provide clarity, consistency, and alternative formats that strengthen understanding and contribute to overall success. In short, accessibility creates a learning environment where all students regardless of ability can reach their full potential.
Three Easy Tricks to Try Today
Looking for a simple starting point? Try these three quick, high-impact practices to help students maximize their learning time and keep their momentum strong through the final days of classes.
- Organize your content clearly by using the built-in function for ordered (bulleted) and numbered lists alsong with heading styles in numeric order such as (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) in Microsoft, Google, or Canvas to structure information. This creates a logical hierarchy, improves navigation and enables screen readers to tab through documents efficiently.
- Provide alternative text (Alt text) when including charts, diagrams, or images. Be concise (about 125 characters) so the alt text conveys essential information and context. This ensures all students can access and understand the image, even without seeing it.
- Prioritize readability by choosing sans serif fonts (e.g., Arial, Roboto, Open Sans) and use at least 12-point size for body text. This improves clarity and reduces strain for all learners.
Meet Your Accessibility Support Team
Hi! My name is Mariam Abdelsalam, and I am an Instructional Consultant with a focus on course accessibility. I work alongside Erin Gavalier, a Course Content Remediation Consultant, and Emily Huang, a Digital Accessibility Specialist. We bring a wealth of technical experience and knowledge of accessibility best practices. We specialize in supporting instructors in creating accessible course content whether Canvas pages, documents or presentations. Our accessibility team is dedicated to helping you take small but intentional steps to make your course content accessible for all learners. Together, we ensure that accessibility becomes an integrated and achievable part of your teaching methods. Our approach focuses on progress over perfection.
We want to partner with you to incorporate simple, sustainable accessibility practices into your course design that best fit your needs and those of your students. This could mean updating your syllabus or converting assignments and reading guides into accessible formats. We’ll guide you through the process and explain why these steps are necessary to enhance both accessibility and the academic rigor you have established.
Accessibility ‘Treats’: Support We Offer
Designing content with accessibility in mind from the outset enhances efficiency and lessens the workload required for later remediation. Whether you’re just beginning your accessibility journey or in the process of enhancing existing materials, we offer comprehensive services and resources to support your work and help you make meaningful, incremental improvements.
We are happy to provide assistance with:
- Accessibility Checklists: Step-by-step documents for designing accessible course content in Word, Google and Canvas.
- Accessible Templates: Pre-designed materials that follow accessibility best practices so that you can easily insert your information into it, saving you time and effort.
- Manual Remediation (Limited Availability): Hands-on support for correcting complex accessibility issues within existing materials.
- Workshops and Demos: Practical sessions that build skills and confidence in accessible course design and tools.
- One-on-One Consultations: Personalized guidance and provide unique solutions tailored to your specific course needs.
- Curated Resources: Expansive collection of recommended tools, readings, and practical examples to support your learning and development in accessibility.
- Canvas & Panorama Support: Assistance with Canvas accessibility features and Panorama, a tool that identifies barriers and can automatically correct some issues.
If you have questions, need support, or want to brainstorm ways to bring accessibility into your courses, please email us at LSATechnologyServices@umich.edu or submit a consultation request. The LSA Learning and Teaching Consultants are here to help!
Accessibility Resources
Digital Accessibility at the University of Michigan
