Lists

Overview

Formatting lists properly (using actual list structures rather than just typing dashes or numbers) is very important for accessibility for the below reasons.

Screen Reader Navigation

• Screen readers announce when a list starts, how many items it has, and when it ends. This helps users understand structure and skip through items efficiently.

• If you just type " - item" or "1) item" without using list formatting, screen readers treat it as plain text and don’t provide that helpful context.

Cognitive Clarity

• Lists break down information into smaller, scannable chunks.

• This benefits people with dyslexia, ADHD, or cognitive processing differences.

✅Checklist for Writing Accessible Link Text

• Use the Canvas editor and apply bullets or a numbered list. (Don't type item dashes, numbers or symbols yourself.)

• If you copy another list, clear the format (or paste without formatting) then reformat as list using the editing tools in Canvas

Besides options described in the Accessibility Tools in Canvas page, you can use the Canvas Rich Content Editor and visually scan and fix issues with links.

*Always use the editor in Canvas to reformat copied and pasted lists from other locations.