UDOIT Accessibility Checker in ISU Canvas for Faculty

canvas ISU-itrc accessibility

Description

UDOIT (Universal Design Online Content Inspection Tool) Advantage is a Canvas-integrated accessibility checker developed by CidiLabs. It scans course content and provides actionable feedback to help instructors identify and fix accessibility issues.

Key features include:

Automated scans of Canvas course content
Easy-to-read reports with recommended improvements
Guides to fixing issues directly within the Canvas interface
Support for improving text contrast, alt text, table formatting, heading structure, and more
Proactive design support aligned with accessibility and UDL principles

Instructions

Enabling and launching UDOIT Accessibility Checker

Log in to Canvas and open the course where you want to run UDOIT Advantage.
In the course navigation menu, locate and click UDOIT Advantage.
- If the link does not appear, contact the ITRC to have the tool enabled for your course.
The UDOIT Advantage tool will launch in a new window or tab.
Click Scan Course to begin analyzing your course content for accessibility issues.
Once the scan is complete, review the results grouped by content type (pages, assignments, quizzes, etc.).
Follow the provided guidance to address accessibility issues and improve course usability for all students.

Why Accessibility Matters

Digital accessibility ensures that all students, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities can access and engage with course content. It is also a legal requirement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

By designing with accessibility in mind, instructors support:

Equitable learning experiences
Compliance with federal accessibility laws
Improved usability for all students, including those using mobile devices or assistive technology

What Can You Do with UDOIT Accessibility Checker?

Run a full accessibility scan of your course
View a dashboard of issues sorted by severity and type
Click to preview the problem and apply guided fixes
Receive accessibility tips and best practices along the way
Re-run scans to confirm your updates improve accessibility

How UDOIT Accessibility Checker Supports Universal Design

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) promotes inclusive teaching by removing barriers and offering flexible options for engagement, representation, and expression. UDOIT Advantage aligns with UDL by helping instructors: