Canvas: How to use the Accessibility Checker

The Canvas Accessibility Checker is a built-in tool that scans content created within the Rich Content Editor (RCE) to ensure it meets WCAG 2.1 standards. As of February 21, 2026, Canvas is also launching a new Course Accessibility Checker, providing a centralized dashboard for instructors to manage accessibility across an entire course.

Canvas is introducing a new course accessibility checker in the Feb 21,2026, production release. 

 

How to Use the RCE Accessibility Checker

This tool is used while editing individual Pages, Assignments, or Discussions to catch errors in real-time.

1. Open the Editor: Navigate to any content area (like a Page) and click Edit.
2. Locate the Icon: Look for the Accessibility Checker icon (a small person in a circle) located in the bottom right of the editor window.
   • If issues are found, a numbered notification will appear next to the icon.
3. Review Issues: Click the icon to open a sidebar. The tool will highlight the specific area of concern in your text.
4. Apply Fixes: Follow the prompts in the sidebar (e.g., adding alt text or adjusting colors). Click Apply for each change to save it.

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New: Course-Level Accessibility Checker

To be released in late February 2026, this tool expands beyond the editor to provide a course-wide view of accessibility.

• Location: Found in the Course Navigation Menu as a tab titled "Accessibility" (visible to instructors only) or the right hand course navigation in a tab titled "Check Accessibility" (also visible to instructors only).
• Functionality: It allows you to identify, remediate, and validate issues across all Canvas-created content, such as Pages and Assignments, from one interface.
• AI Integration: Some institutions may have IgniteAI features enabled to help automate remediations through June 2026.

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What the Checker Scans For

The tool specifically verifies the following common accessibility components:

• Color Contrast: Checks if text color is distinct enough from the background.
• Image Alt Text: Ensures images have descriptive text or are marked as decorative.
• Headings: Verifies that heading levels are not skipped (e.g., jumping from H2 to H4) and stay under 120 characters.
• Tables: Checks for descriptive captions and properly designated header rows/columns.
• Lists: Ensures lists are formatted using the editor's list tool rather than manual symbols.

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Known Limitations

While powerful, the checker does not identify every possible issue:

• External Files: It cannot scan PDFs, Word documents, or PowerPoints uploaded to the course.
• Video/Audio: It does not check for the presence of closed captions or transcripts.
• Alt Text Quality: It only catches missing alt text; it cannot determine if existing alt text is accurate or helpful.

 

Further Readings

How do I use the Accessibility checker in the rich content editor?

 

Need additional help?

Submit a Canvas (myCourses) support request or visit the Technology Help Desk Support page to locate your local campus contact information or to submit an online technology support request.  For password issues you must call or visit the Help Desk in person.