Let’s ride! We begin our mission by tackling the two-headed demogorgon, Text and Typography!
Your Assignment for the next two weeks (between now and September 14) is to learn about and repair Text and Typography errors in your online student materials and in your Canvas Shell.
What are Text and Typography Errors?
When text is too small or has insufficient color contrast, or when pages don’t use appropriate headers, we create barriers for users with visual impairments, dyslexia, and other reading challenges.
Why do Text and Typography Errors matter?
- Twenty-eight percent of the global population has some form of vision impairment
- Poor typography affects users with low vision, color blindness, and cognitive differences
- Accessible text improves readability for everyone, including users in bright sunlight or on mobile devices
- It’s required by WCAG guidelines and accessibility laws
Avoiding Text and Typography Errors
- Choose a standard, sans serif font such as Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, and Verdana. Choose a readable font-size no smaller than 9-point. (Serif fonts have decorative “feet” that present accessibility challenges.)
- When creating a document or assignment in Canvas, instead of organizing ideas or defining sections with color, boldface type, italics, or font size (i.e. ‘style’), define these sections with the help of the Header Menu. For example, use the Title option for the title of the page, Headings 2 , 3, and 4 to define subsections. Choose the paragraph option for content text.
- Avoid using color for emphasis or conveying information.
- Use sufficient color contrast ratios, and If the idea of a color ratio makes your forehead crinkle, never fear, Canvas tools, Panorama and UDOIT, will identify such errors and assist you in making this simple fix.
If you are a lone wolf where battling accessibility is concerned, this week, check out MCLI’s self-paced courses under “Creating Readable Content.”
If you’d prefer to battle the accessibility upside down with a team, join us this week from 1:30 to 2:00 on Thursday or from 9:00 to 9:30 on Friday for a workshop exploring ways to repair text and typography mishaps in your Canvas courses, including how to utilize the Panorama and UDOIT Canvas tools. (Sign up for workshops on the CTLE home page.) In addition, pop in any Friday between 12:00 and 1:00 PM for virtual Accessibility Support Hours.