Ramping Up Accessibility in Course Materials

Here are additional ways to increase accessibility in your teaching.  When you’re ready to go beyond Accessible Teaching Basics, consider implementing one or two Ramping Up practices that suit your context. Aim for progress, not perfection. 

• Create instructional materials that are accessible so that your materials can be used by the majority of students and be readily converted to an alternate format if needed for accommodations. 
  • To learn more:  
    • Refer to Tips for Creating Accessible Materials (UWCAG Additional Resources) 
    • Refer to Enhancing Accessibility in Teaching and Learning Series 1: Accessibility Basics [video] 
• Select sourced materials that are accessible so that they can be used by the majority of students and be readily converted to an alternate format if needed for accommodations, where possible. 
  • To learn more: 
    • Refer to Tips for Creating Accessible Materials (UWCAG Additional Resources) 
    • Refer to Enhancing Accessibility in Teaching and Learning Series 1: Accessibility Basics [video] 
• Avoid creating PDFs because inaccessible PDF documents cannot be read by accurately by assistive technologies.  
  • Rather than providing assignment instructions as a PDF, provide them on an HTML page in LEARN, or as a Word document. 
  • Use a PDF if it is the only way to ensure that important formatting is retained when the document is opened (e.g., formulas in STEM materials).  
  • When PDFs are necessary ensure that the original document meets accessibility guidelines before converting the original to a PDF.

To Go Further

"I also think having more opportunities to try out or test alternative formats of learning activities and assessments would help me be more comfortable with using them and benefit me as a student." (Student Quote from Zaza, 2025).

• Give students time to learn and practise educational technologies (e.g., online quiz, etc.) before having to use them in learning activities, assessments, including off-campus experiential learning activities 
• Select educational technologies that are accessible so that they can be used by the majority of students.