Use Accessible Course Materials in Perusall

Quick Links: | Prerequisites | Instructions | Troubleshooting | Next Steps |

Introduction

Faculty are responsible for ensuring that instructional materials used in Perusall are accessible to students with disabilities. Adding a document, video, image, webpage, or presentation to Perusall does not automatically make the content accessible. Materials delivered through the Perusall integration should meet the same accessibility expectations as materials provided directly through Canvas.

Perusall provides accessibility features for using the platform, but those features cannot correct accessibility problems within uploaded course materials. Faculty should review and correct accessibility barriers before publishing Perusall assignments so students can participate at the same time and with substantially equivalent access.

Prerequisites

Before preparing content for Perusall:

• Obtain instructional materials from an accessible and legally authorized source.
• Have access to the original document, presentation, media file, image, or webpage whenever possible.
• Allow time to review and correct accessibility issues before students need the material.
• Have access to appropriate accessibility-checking tools, such as Canvas Ally for PDFs or the Microsoft Accessibility Checker for Word and PowerPoint files.

Prepare Accessible Materials for Perusall

There are several types of content that can be assigned through Perusall. Review the accessibility requirements for the type of material you plan to use, correct identified barriers, and then verify the material before publishing the assignment.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Review PDF Documents

To prepare a PDF for Perusall, do the following:

1. Confirm that the PDF contains selectable and searchable text rather than only scanned images of printed pages.
2. Verify that headings, paragraphs, lists, and tables are properly tagged.
3. Confirm that the document has a logical reading order.
4. Add alternative text or an equivalent description for meaningful images.
5. Verify that links use descriptive text that identifies their purpose.
6. Check that text and other meaningful elements have sufficient color contrast.
7. Confirm that information is not communicated through color alone.
8. When available, upload the PDF to a Canvas course space and review its Ally accessibility score before adding it to Perusall.
9. Correct identified accessibility issues before uploading the PDF to the Perusall Library.

A scanned book chapter or article is generally not accessible until searchable text, document tags, reading order, and other accessibility issues have been addressed.

Review Word and PowerPoint Files

To prepare a Microsoft Word document or PowerPoint presentation for Perusall, do the following:

1. Use built-in headings, styles, and slide layouts to provide document structure.
2. Add alternative text for meaningful images.
3. Use meaningful link text that describes the destination or purpose of each link.
4. Verify that text and other meaningful elements have sufficient color contrast.
5. Identify header rows and columns in tables where appropriate.
6. Confirm that content has a logical reading order.
7. From the Review tab, select Check Accessibility.
8. Correct unresolved accessibility issues identified by the Microsoft Accessibility Checker before uploading or converting the file.

Converting an inaccessible Word document or PowerPoint presentation to PDF does not make the content accessible. Accessibility issues should be corrected in the original file whenever possible.

Review Video and Audio

To prepare video or audio content for Perusall, do the following:

1. Confirm that videos include accurate, synchronized captions.
2. Review automatically generated captions and correct errors before students are expected to use the content.
3. Provide an accurate transcript for audio-only content.
4. Confirm that important visual information is communicated through narration or an accessible alternative.
5. Verify that students can operate the media player using a keyboard.

Review Images, Charts, and Diagrams

To prepare meaningful visual content for Perusall, do the following:

1. Determine what information a student needs to understand from the image, chart, or diagram.
2. Provide an appropriate text equivalent, such as alternative text, a nearby description, or a detailed text explanation.
3. For charts and graphs, provide an accessible data table when needed to communicate the underlying data.
4. Confirm that the description communicates the meaningful information rather than relying on a filename or a generic label such as "chart."

Review Webpages and External Resources

To prepare a webpage or external resource for Perusall, do the following:

1. Confirm that the webpage can be navigated using a keyboard.
2. Verify that headings and links are used appropriately.
3. Check that meaningful images have appropriate text alternatives.
4. Confirm that videos include captions and audio content includes transcripts when appropriate.
5. Check for obvious barriers that could prevent a screen-reader user from navigating or understanding the page.
6. Confirm that the resource remains available to all enrolled students without an additional purchase or an inaccessible account-creation process.

Linking to instructional content on another website does not remove the responsibility to select accessible materials.

Verify Content Before Publishing

To complete the accessibility review before publishing a Perusall assignment, do the following:

1. Correct identified accessibility barriers before adding the material to Perusall.
2. Add the accessible version of the material to the Perusall Library.
3. Open the assignment from the student perspective and confirm that the content is readable and navigable.
4. Provide an accessible alternative if a barrier cannot be corrected before the assignment begins.
5. Publish the assignment only after the required materials have been reviewed for accessibility.
6. Respond promptly if a student reports an accessibility problem with assigned content.

Whenever possible, review instructional materials before the semester begins. Planning early provides additional time to obtain assistance or create an accessible version when significant remediation is required.

Troubleshooting

Do not assume that content is accessible because Perusall accepts or displays the file. Avoid assigning scanned PDFs without searchable text and document tags, photographs of textbook pages, PDFs with incorrect reading order, videos with missing or inaccurate captions, images containing text without an equivalent text alternative, inaccessible publisher files, or materials downloaded from the internet without an accessibility review.

Perusall's platform accessibility and the accessibility of instructor-provided content are separate considerations. Features such as text-to-speech can help students operate or interact with Perusall, but they cannot correct every accessibility problem in an uploaded document or media file.

Faculty who need assistance reviewing or preparing instructional materials can contact the Technology and Learning Program for instructional technology and course-design support. For questions involving student accommodations, contact the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC). Questions or concerns about digital accessibility, including document and file accessibility, should be directed to the Office of Digital Accessibility (ODA).

Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, public institutions must provide people with disabilities equal access to programs, services, and activities, including those provided through web content and mobile applications. Faculty should prepare accessible required course content proactively rather than waiting for a student to request an accommodation.