This page/course is presently under development. Please revisit on 1 June 2025 for the updated version.
Designing accessible digital content ensures that all learners, including those with disabilities, can fully participate in lessons, engage with materials, and demonstrate their learning. For example, a student who is blind can use a screen reader, such as NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access), to hear a description of an imageâsuch as a diagram showing safe tool handlingâread aloud, if the image includes alternative text. Adding accessibility features to your digital content, such as captions and alternative text (alt text), helps remove barriers and creates an equitable learning experience by enabling access through screen readers.
- Captions are text displayed on videos that provide a written version of spoken content, helping deaf or hard-of-hearing students follow along. (For example, many YouTube videos show captions at the bottom of the screen so viewers can read what is being said.)
- Alternative text (alt text) is a brief written description of an image, allowing screen readers to convey visual information to learners who are blind or visually impaired. (For example, alt text for a safety poster might say, “Poster showing five steps for safe tool handling.”)
The next section provides simple steps and video tutorials to help you apply these accessibility featuresâlike alt text and captionsâusing tools such as Canva, OBS, and Powtoon in your trade teaching materials.
Adding Accessibility Features
Use the table below to quickly find which tool supports which accessibility feature and access a short tutorial video to guide you through the process.
| Tool
|
Accessibility Feature
|
Video Tutorial
|
| Canva
|
Alternative text (Alt Text)
|
How to Add Alt Text in Canva
|
| OBS
|
Captions (for recorded videos)
|
How to Add Captions to Videos [link]
|
| Powtoon
|
Powtoon (for animations)
|
How to Add Captions in Powtoon [link]
|
Try It Yourself: Create a simple, inclusive learning resource using Canva and alt text.
- Watch the How to Add Alt Text in Canva video tutorial to learn adding alt text.
- Create a Canva infographic for a trade lessonâe.g., a safety poster on using a lathe or hand tools.
- Click on the key images and enter a short description in the alt text field. Example: âPoster showing five steps for safe lathe operation.â
- Download your design as a PDF (Standard) to preserve the alt text.
- Check that the alt text works by using NVDA or another screen reader. If the alt text doesnât read correctly, revise it using simpler, clearer descriptions. You can then share the resource with your students.
Self-Reflection: What benefits might your students gain from accessible content? How does it compare with the UDL strategies you explored in Module 2?
This page/course is presently under development. Please revisit on 1 June 2025 for the updated version.
Designing accessible digital content ensures that all learners, including those with disabilities, can fully participate in lessons, engage with materials, and demonstrate their learning. For example, a student who is blind can use a screen reader, such as NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access), to hear a description of an imageâsuch as a diagram showing safe tool handlingâread aloud, if the image includes alternative text. Adding accessibility features to your digital content, such as captions and alternative text (alt text), helps remove barriers and creates an equitable learning experience by enabling access through screen readers.
The next section provides simple steps and video tutorials to help you apply these accessibility featuresâlike alt text and captionsâusing tools such as Canva, OBS, and Powtoon in your trade teaching materials.
Adding Accessibility Features
Use the table below to quickly find which tool supports which accessibility feature and access a short tutorial video to guide you through the process.
Try It Yourself: Create a simple, inclusive learning resource using Canva and alt text.
Self-Reflection: What benefits might your students gain from accessible content? How does it compare with the UDL strategies you explored in Module 2?
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