Think accessible – five tips to get started

1. Prioritize breaks

Anything lasting more than an hour must include a break! Never compromise on this – don't ask students or participants if they prefer to skip the break and finish earlier. Clearly state from the start when the break will happen.

2. Use a microphone

Always use a microphone! All larger teaching spaces (for more than 48 people) should have a microphone available. If a microphone isn’t available, contact your local IT support for portable equipment. Clear sound helps everyone focus.

3. Distribute materials in advance

If you're using a presentation or handouts to structure a meeting or lecture, share them in advance. If participants or students need to prepare by reading something, make sure to distribute the materials well ahead of time so they can review them at their own pace. Avoid handing out materials to be read on-site.

4. Tailor PowerPoint presentations to your audience

A PowerPoint should serve as a simple visual aid for those present at a meeting or lecture. When designing your presentation, don’t focus on people who might read it later. Aim for no more than six lines of text with six words per line as a general rule. If you want to support absent participants, consider supplementing the slides with notes.

5. Structure your Canvas course

Make your course clear and easy to navigate! Here are a few examples of steps you can take (each point is clickable and links to a section in the Canvas guide):

• Remove any unused functions from the course menu.
• Explain how you’ve designed the course layout.
• Decide how you want to communicate with students – announcements, discussion threads, or Canvas inbox – and be consistent.
• Use descriptive headings in both module lists and pages.
• Check how the course appears in the student mobile app.