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

Site Scanning Tools: UDOIT & Ally Course Accessibility Report

About: Entire site scans are great for a comprehensive look at all the issues on your site and track your improvements through the scores generated. One recommended strategy is to choose one of the accessibility core areas and use the tools' filters to target a selected one of them at a time. 

❌ Neither of these tools identify issues with lists.

Selected Content Scanning in Canvas Edit Mode: Ally, Canvas, and DesignPLUS Accessibility Checkers

About: These three tools to do scans, not of an entire course, but on individual items of Canvas content such a page, assignment description, announcement, etc. They can be accessed anytime you are in Canvas Edit mode. Many users find these tools useful for quick clean ups of selected content and in tandem with site scanning tools. Making a habit of using these to check and fix content every time you're working in Canvas will go a long way in the ultimate goal of creating content that's accessible for all from the start! 

✅Only the Canvas Accessibility Checker will identify issues with lists.

Manual Fixing with the Canvas Rich Content Editor

Canvas has native features for fixing virtually all of the accessibility core issues--and avoiding creating those issues from the start when you are aware of them. 

• Visually scan your course content and replace any inaccessible list using the editing tool. *Always use this tool to reformat copied and pasted lists from other locations.