Pope Tech Canvas Accessibility Tools

Two accessibility tools by Pope Tech are available in all Western Canvas courses. 

What are the Pope Tech accessibility tools in Canvas? 

  1. Pope Tech Accessibility Guide is a page editing tool accessed via each content page.
    This is a quick and easy-to-use accessibility remediation tool in Canvas that allows you to test and repair various accessibility issues in any Canvas content that has the page editing tools (pages, discussions, announcements, and quiz/assignment descriptions). The Accessibility Guide was integrated in Canvas thanks to the Disability Access Center. 

    View an overview of the Canvas Accessibility Guide by Pope Tech:

 

  1. Pope Tech Accessibility Dashboard is for course scanning accessed via Pope Tech Accessibility in the Canvas navigation.
    • Instructor Dashboard quickly identifies accessibility errors and alerts within your entire course, enabling you to drill down to make remediations with the Accessibility Guide tool on each content page.
    • My Dashboard allows instructors to view and scan all their active Canvas courses, accessed in the same window.

      View an overview of the Pope Tech Instructor Dashboard by WWU's AJ Barse:
Pope Tech Dashboard Video Player

Why is web accessibility important? 

Incorporating accessibility into Western Washington University’s culture is not only the right thing to do, but also provides many benefits to the campus community. Accessible technologies allow all members of the university to learn, work, and contribute in their own way.    

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice recently updated it regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The final rule has specific requirements about how to ensure that web content and mobile applications (apps) are accessible to people with disabilities.  These rules apply to active courses contained in a learning management system.

For more information, please see Canvas Accessibility.

Accessing the Pope Tech Accessibility Dashboard in Canvas

While the Pope Tech Accessibility Dashboard will be installed by default in all Canvas courses starting in Summer 2025, instructors are able to install the Dashboard in courses manually now.

  1. Navigate to your course in Canvas, then click the “Settings” link at the bottom left of main course navigation. 

    An image showing the "Settings" link in the main course navigation.

  2. Click the “Navigation” link at the top of the “Settings” page. 

    Image showing the “Navigation” link at the top of the “Settings” page

  3. Scroll to the bottom of the “Navigation” section, then click the three dots (“Edit Course Navigation”) to the right of the “Pope Tech Accessibility” item.   

    Image showing the three dots (“Edit Course Navigation”) to the right of the “Pope Tech Accessibility” item

  4. Click “Enable” from the two options. 

    Image showing the "Enable" option

  5. Lastly, click “Save” at the bottom of the page. 

    Image showing the "Save" button

  6. The Pope Tech Accessibility navigational item will be added to your course for instructor view only, and will give access to your Dashboard views. Students will not see Pope Tech Accessibility in their course navigation menu.

    Image showing the “Pope Tech Accessibility” link in the main course navigation

  7. Following is an example of what the Dashboard looks like: 

    Image showing an example of the Pope Tech Accessibility Dashboard

Accessing the Pope Tech Accessibility Guide in Canvas content

The Accessibility Guide features are available on any content that is generated using the Canvas rich text editor, such as course content pages, discussions, announcements, and quiz/assignment descriptions.  A button is available at the bottom right of the rich text editor next to the save and publish buttons with the "P" logo. 

Pope Tech interface

Additional resources 

Support 

For additional support with Pope Tech tools in Canvas, please contact: CanvasHelp@wwu.edu
 

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