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Accessibility Checklist for Online Courses

Created by Rachel Wildner (Unlicensed)
Last updated Apr 19, 2018

Please use the checklist below to check your Blackboard Course for Accessibility. Explanations for each point can be found below the checklist. Email Acadtech@pace.edu with any questions


  • Accessibility Statement is stated in the Syllabus
  • A size of at least 12 point font is used throughout the course
  • High color contrast is used between text and background
  • The course contains no blinking, flashing, or sparkling animated images
  • Course is organized in a logical matter with proper headings
  • All video media is captioned
  • All audio media is transcribed
  • Every photo has Alt/Descriptive Text
  • There are no scanned PDFs
  • All PDFs are accessible or an additional Word Doc is provided
  • All Microsoft Office Documents are formatted in an accessible way
  • External Websites linked in the course are accessible
  • All External Website Links are labeled correctly
  • Provide clear instructions to plugins/applets when required (Flash,Shockwave, Java)


Accessibility Statement is stated in the Syllabus:

Every Syllabus should include Pace University's Accessibility Statement.

Please Copy and Paste the Statement below:

Procedure for Students with Disabilities Who Wish to Obtain Reasonable Accommodations for a Course:

The University's commitment to equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities includes providing reasonable accommodations, including access to technologies,for the needs of students with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a qualified disability, a student with a disability must self-identify and register with the Office of Disability Services for his or her campus. No one, including faculty, is authorized to evaluate the need for or grant a request for an accommodation except the Office of Disability Services. Moreover, no one, including faculty,is authorized to contact the Office of Disability Services on behalf of a student. For further information, please see Resources for Students with Disabilities at www.pace.edu/disability.

Accessible Technology Statement:

Additionally, the University’s commitment to equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities extends to providing access to technological course components, such as (but not limited to): Blackboard, videos, and PDFs.  If students experience difficulties accessing technology required for class, please alert the Office of Disability Services for assistance.


A size of at least 12px is used throughout the course:

Font should not be smaller then 12px on Blackboard and on any other document used throughout the course ( word, power point,etc)


High color contrast is used between text and background:

The two colors used for background and text should not be similar. To check if colors used are high contrast please use an external web page tool linked below

Color Contract Tool: https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/


The course contains no blinking, flashing, or sparkling animated images

Avoid websites with excessive animated text


Course is organized in a logical matter with proper headings:

Keep you course modules and content organized in a consistent matter. Make sure every document, module, and media element has a proper title. Avoid combining titles into one word ( Ex: weekonepaper).

Remember, if using uncommon abbreviations, it may be confusing for screen readers.


All video media is captioned:

Captions must be present when using video in your course. NBC learn videos are automatically captioned. If you would like your Panopto video recordings captioned please reach out to Educational Media.

For Kaltura video captions and other related captioning questions please reach out to acadtech@pace.edu

If captioning your own video, please be aware that they must be 98% or more accurate.


All audio media is transcribed:

A transcript is required for all audio. A transcript is a word or .txt document that has time stamps matched up to the script.

For transcript requests please reach out to acadtech@pace.edu


Every photo has Alternative/Descriptive Text:

Alternative/Descriptive text provides a textual alternative to non-text content in web pages.

The key principle is that computers and screen readers cannot analyze an image and determine what the image presents. Text must be provided to the user which presents the CONTENT and FUNCTION of the images within your web content.

In Blackboard, there is an option to add ALT text

Screenshot of Blackboard showing Alt Text Box

There are no scanned PDFs:

Normal scanned PDFs are not accessible. They cannot be read by screen reader

The Computer Resource Center in PLV has a scanner equipped to make documents accessible.


All PDFs are accessible or an additional Word Doc is provided:

To make your PDF's accessible when saving from Microsoft Office:

Office 2016- PC

  1. Click File > Save As and choose where you want the file to be saved.

  2. In the Save As dialog box, choose PDF in the Save as type list.

  3. Click Options, make sure the Document structure tags for accessibility check box is selected, and then click OK.

Save an accessible PDF with Mac for Office

  1. Select File > Save As (or press Command+Shift+S), type the file name in the Save As text box, and then choose where you want the file to be saved.

  2. In the Save As dialog, go to the File Format drop down box. Use the Down Arrow to browse through file types, and select PDF.

  3. Select the radio button "Best for electronic distribution and accessibility (uses Microsoft online service)." This ensures the PDF is tagged.

  4. Select Save.

If you are unable to create an accessible PDF, you may also include a Word Document version of the document in your Blackboard Course


All Microsoft Office Documents are formatted in an accessible way:

External Websites linked in the course are accessible:

When asking students to visit other web pages outside of Blackboard please check it's accessibility.

The website listed below is a resource to help check a website's accessibility.

http://wave.webaim.org/


All External Website Links are labeled correctly:

Make sure all web links work and go to the correct page. Avoid using Click "here". "Here" does not provide enough context.


Provide clear instructions to plugins/applets when required (Flash,Shockwave, Java):

When using applications the may require plugins/applets, please provide or link the students with proper instructions.