# The Innovative Instructor

**Source**: https://ii.library.jhu.edu/2026/01/30/starting-the-semester-with-accessibility-in-mind/
**Parent**: https://ii.library.jhu.edu/

As the semester gets underway, this is a gentle reminder that faculty are responsible for creating course materials that are accessible to all students. While the start of the term is often packed with course preparation, Canvas/LMS setup, and student communication, building accessibility into materials from the beginning can prevent barriers before they arise. [University-wide guidelines](https://accessibility.jhu.edu/guidelines-and-responsibilities/) were published in 2021 to ensure that all new content aligns with [Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA](https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/quickref/?versions=2.1#col_customize&levels=aa&showtechniques=pageinfo,122,123,311,312). Faculty are expected to make a good-faith, proactive effort to ensure their materials meet these standards and support equitable access for all learners.

A few best practices to help you get started:

- Use built-in formatting tools for styles, headings (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.), and lists (bullets, numbers, etc.) to provide structure and easier navigation.
- Ensure PDFs are searchable and selectable (not scanned images).
- Provide meaningful text for all hyperlinks, describing the link’s destination or purpose.
- Use tables for displaying data, not for page layout; be sure to include header rows and defined borders in tables.

For multimedia:

- Use high contrast visuals: dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background; avoid using color as the only way to distinguish highlighted areas of your document/slide.
- Provide Alt Text (short written descriptions) for all non-decorative images, graphs, charts, or other non-textual elements.
- Include captions and transcripts with all videos, including short clips and instructor-created recordings.

Other considerations:

- If you use Canvas, take advantage of the [built-in accessibility checker](https://community.instructure.com/en/kb/articles/662936-how-do-i-use-the-accessibility-checker-in-the-rich-content-editor) as well as [Ally](https://canvas.jhu.edu/faculty-resources/third-party-tools/ally-guidelines-for-faculty/), a third-party tool that flags accessibility issues course-wide, including those found in uploaded external content (such as PDFs).
- In addition to accessibility, applying [Universal Design for Learning (UDL)](https://hudl.jhu.edu/) principles can further support diverse learners by offering flexible ways to engage with course content and demonstrate learning:
  - Provide materials in more than one format when possible, such as text, images, or video.
  - Offer a choice in how students demonstrate their learning: essay, group presentation, written vs. oral exam, etc.
  - Provide multiple opportunities for students to engage with course content; some examples include case studies, class discussion, collaboration with peers, guest speakers, and field trips.

*This is not a complete list* – faculty are encouraged to explore in more detail the university’s resources on how to create an accessible learning environment:

- [Accessibility Guidelines for Course Materials from CTEI](https://ctei.jhu.edu/teaching/accessibility-guidelines-for-course-materials/)
- [JHU’s Guide to Digital Accessibility](https://accessibility.jhu.edu/guidelines-and-responsibilities/)
- [Teaching Toolkit from BSPH](https://www.ctltoolkit.com/teachingandlearning/udl%2C-jedi-%26-accessibility)
- [Checklist for Making Accessible MS Office and PDF documents](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/z4bi5fwlhfhzgroq8cbhp/Checklist-20for-20Making-20Accessible-20Microsoft-20Office-20and-20PDF-20Documents.docx?rlkey=r2tei4ey4vfdm4nxr91t5wdb7&e=1&dl=0)
- [Hopkins Universal Design for Learning (HUDL)](https://hudl.jhu.edu/)

Do you have additional questions about accessibility? Contact your division’s [teaching and learning center](https://provost.jhu.edu/about/digital-initiatives/centers/) for more assistance.

Amy Brusini, Senior Instructional Designer\
Center for Teaching Excellence and Innovation 

Image source: magele-picture – stock.adobe.com, Canvas screenshot