Digital Learning Resources
Accessibility
important Digital Accessibility updates
Beginning in April 2027, digital course materials and online learning environments will be subject to enhanced accessibility requirements under federal ADA regulations. More importantly, digital accessibility helps ensure that every student and faculty member can fully engage with and benefit from learning and course content.
In response to these requirements, the university has invested in several key platforms designed to optimize course accessibility, including and .
Join the Pilot
We are currently piloting a fully online workshop that provides up-to-date digital accessibility concepts, practical guidance, and hands-on instruction for YuJa and Studio. Faculty interested in participating in the pilot can email facultysupport@usf.edu.
Laws and Policies
US Laws
USF Policies
Student Accessibility Services Resources
Student Accessibility Services have a variety of resources to help you provide the access to course content that your students need.
Canvas Accessibility
Document Accessibility Checkers
Make your online course materials accessible: organize PDFs and docs with clear titles, headings, and alt text. Screen readers can then relay content effectively to students with visual impairments. Check the SAS Accessibility Guide for tips on pages 10-12, and the following resources for different document types.
Microsoft Office 365
Office 365 Accessibility Checker
MS Word
MS PowerPoint
PDF Documents
Auto-captioning Tools
Improve multimedia accessibility with concise, 10-minute content with closed captions and transcripts. This can also increase play and review rates. Contact Student Accessibility Services for assistance if captioning tools from Kaltura, Teams, or Canvas don't meet your needs.
- Canvas Studio Basics
- Editing Captions in Kaltura (limited to online courses - AD or PD)
- Captions in Teams
Image Files
Alternative text (Alt text) provides descriptions of images, allowing screen readers to convey their content to users who are visually impaired. Instead of displaying file names, screen readers read the Alt text to provide meaningful context.
Below are resources on how to add Alt text in common file types:
What About Color?
Color is an important consideration when determining the accessibility of your content. Check out our video about it and some tools to help.