Why Is This Important?

By using appropriate color contrast and meaningful hyperlinks, you reduce potential barriers to learning and ensure all students have adequate access to the materials they need to succeed in your course.

Item #35 – Color Contrast

Color coding should not be used as the only means of conveying information, giving calls-to-action, prompting a response or distinguishing a visual element. Instructors can use the WebAIM Color Contrast Checker to ensure accessible color contrast. Ensuring adequate color contrast on documents and in Canvas courses is beneficial for a variety of student populations, not just the visually impaired.

Students can easily focus on the content rather than the distraction of color.
Students without a color printer can print off documents and still understand important areas.
Content can be easily moved from different document file types and computers without losing highlighted portions. Not all computers have the same colors available.

Item #36 – Meaningful Hyperlinks

When providing hyperlinks in documents, emails or your Canvas courses, it is important to use meaningful hyperlinks instead of giving the full link (e.g., "Access UM System Resources for Students" instead of “ https://keeplearning.umsystem.edu/students .”). Avoid non-informative link phrases like "Click here," "Here," "More," "More information," "Read more," and "Continue." Using meaningful hyperlinks in your documents, emails and Canvas courses is beneficial for a variety of student populations, not just the visually impaired.

Meaningful hyperlinks keep your documents clean and easy to read.
Students can search through links to locate specific information for review and jump from link to link for easy navigation.
Students using screen readers do not need to reach each character in a long hyperlink.

Item #37 – Disability Services Information

Each institution has its own accessibility office where students may register for accommodations. While a link to the institution's disability services office is included in the Support & Policies link in a course's navigation menu, instructors may choose to include this information in the course syllabus or introductory module of the course. The list of each institution's disability services follows:

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