Instructors use the syllabus to communicate basic information in the course, and in some cases include the entire weekly plan with reading assignments and exam dates as well. Students review your syllabus and make decisions about their course schedule based on the schedule, workload and topics covered.

It is critical that all of this important information is accessible to all students, including those who may use screen readers. 

To make your syllabus accessible to everyone, follow the these recommendations:

General Usability

• Use straightforward and concise language.
• Maintain a consistent layout throughout the syllabus by using the styles available in the Format menu. Start with a Title.
• Include sufficient spacing between sections for easier reading.
• Make sure there is a printable version of your syllabus available in Canvas Files.

Document Format

• Use formats that are compatible with screen readers, such as Word documents (DOCX) Avoid using scanned images of text.
• Use headings and styles (e.g., H1, H2, H3) in MSWord and Canvas to create a logical structure.
• Word document or created using an authoring tool that supports accessibility.

Text

• Use sans-serif fonts like Arial or Calibri with a minimum size of 12 points for readability.
• Ensure high contrast between text and background.
• Don’t rely on color, bold, or italics alone to convey information.

In Canvas

Use the Accessibility Checker to see if there are any areas in your Canvas Syllabus Rich Text Editor that can be improved. The tool will alert you any areas of the document that need attention. Canvas Accessibility Checker Instructions

In Microsoft Word

Use the Check Accessibility tool to see if there are changes you need to make to the format and structure of your syllabus. Make your Word Documents Accessible.

In Google Docs

Here are some tips for making Google Docs more accessible: 

• Give the file a clear title and file name, and identify the document's language. 
• Use a hierarchical structure with only one Heading 1 per document. 
• Choose the text format tags by expanding the format pulldown.
• Use a sans serif font, set line spacing to 1.5, and keep text left-aligned. 
• Use bulleted or numbered lists to organize content. 
• Keep alt text for images short and descriptive, and avoid including "image of" or "photo of". 

References:

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Basics-Guide/How-do-I-use-the-Accessibility-Checker-in-the-Rich-Content/ta-p/618238

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/make-your-word-documents-accessible-to-people-with-disabilities-d9bf3683-87ac-47ea-b91a-78dcacb3c66d

https://www.boia.org/blog/creating-accessible-documents-in-google-docs