LEDstudio Blog

Learning Experience Design Studio Blog

Making Your Canvas Course More Accessible with UDOIT

by Smita Jain
image of person looking at computer

As instructors and instructional designers, we strive to remove barriers of learning. And one way of doing that is ensuring our content meets accessibility standards. But ensuring all our online content meets accessibility standards can feel daunting—especially if we are not sure where to start. Enter UDOIT—an accessibility checker built right into Canvas. And as the name implies “You Do It” helps you to get started to make your course content more accessible to all students.

What Is UDOIT?

UDOIT stands for Universal Design Online content Inspection Tool. It scans your Canvas course content—things like pages, announcements, discussions, assignments, and quizzes—and flags any potential accessibility issues. It also provides recommendations and quick fixes, so you’re not left wondering what to do next.

Why Should You Use It?

Because accessibility isn’t optional. With the new DOJ accessibility rule accessibility is now a legal requirement, and the deadline for compliance is fast approaching (2026 for larger institutions such as us)

  • Meets legal and institutional requirements – Accessibility laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 mandate equitable access to education.
  • Makes your course better for everyone – Clear structure, headings, alt text, and color contrast improve usability for all students, not just those with disabilities.

How to Use UDOIT in Canvas

Here’s a quick overview:

  1. Find UDOIT in your Canvas course navigation.
     If you don’t see it, you may need to enable it via Settings > Navigation.
  2. Run a scan.
     UDOIT will check for things like:
    • Missing alt text on images
    • Inadequate heading structure
    • Low contrast text
    • Broken links
    • Nondescriptive URLs
    • Improper table formatting
    • Closed Captions
    • Older file formats
    • Missing titles
    • Untagged Files
  3. Review the results.
    After the first scan, UDOIT will generate an accessibility score for your course. A higher score indicates a more accessible course. You’ll also get a list of flagged items, each with a brief explanation.
  4. Fix issues directly.
    Many issues can be fixed in the UDOIT interface itself. Others will give you guidance to make edits in Canvas or outside Canvas.
  5. Re-run the scan as needed.
    Accessibility is an ongoing process. Think of UDOIT as part of your regular course tune-up.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of UDOIT

  • TidyUp your course before using UDOIT.
  • Use it early and often. Don’t wait until your course goes live—run a scan during development.
  • Requires manual checks and fixes. UDOIT is great, but it doesn’t catch everything (e.g., whether your alt text is meaningful).
  • Involve IDs at LEDstudio. They can help interpret results and find solutions that may work.

Final Thoughts

Accessibility isn’t just a checklist—it’s a mindset. With UDOIT, VCU gives you a user-friendly tool to build courses that are inclusive, compliant, and easier to navigate. So the next time you’re polishing up your course, run “UDOIT” and show your students you care about all of them.

Need help getting started? Reach out to VCU LEDstudio or come see us during our office hours

Happy course-building! 🎓

Categories Accessibility, article, moving online, teaching online, tech tools