This Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, or VPAT, is a tool that administrators and decision-makers can use to evaluate Canvas Studio conformance with the accessibility standards under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and WCAG 2.1 AA.
Accessibility Statement
Instructure is committed to ensuring its products are inclusive and meet the diverse accessibility needs of our users. Canvas Studio strives for WCAG 2.1 Level A/AA and Section 508 conformance. Regular testing (both internal and by a third party) is conducted to identify conformance issues, with processes in place for timely remediation of accessibility issues that are identified. Canvas Studio is a complex and broad system. The statements below are accurate as of the date indicated.
Canvas Studio has been evaluated by Instructure and WebAIM according to WCAG 2.1 standards. Testing is regularly conducted using automated tools, assistive technology (such as screen readers, keyboard testing, etc.), and coding best practices. Third party accessibility evaluation occurs regularly with internal audits conducted with each release. Mechanisms are in place for logging and fixing accessibility defects.
Third Party Conformance Statement
WebAIM, an independent authority in web accessibility, evaluated the Canvas Studio by Instructure application and certifies its conformance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1 Level A and AA.
A representative sample of the frequently used aspects of Canvas Studio, including but not limited to general navigation, uploading and consuming audio and video, and administration (in both Student and Instructor roles), and related content was examined to evaluate conformance.
WebAIM cannot verify the conformance or accessibility of content beyond the scope of the sample, nor content changed after November 19, 2021.
Canvas Studio Accessibility Conformance Report
(Based on VPAT® Version 2.4)
Name of Product: Canvas Studio
Date: February 2022
Contact Information: accessibility@instructure.com
Evaluation Methods Used: Manual and automated testing by Instructure and by WebAIM with supported screen readers and other accessibility technologies.
Applicable Standards/Guidelines: This report covers the degree of conformance for the following accessibility standard/guidelines:
- Revised Section 508 standards as published by the U.S. Access Board in the Federal Register on January 18, 2017
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (Level A/AA)
Terms
The terms used in the Conformance Level information are defined as follows:
- Supports: The functionality of the product has at least one method that meets the criterion without known defects or meets with equivalent facilitation.
- Partially Supports: Some functionality of the product does not meet the criterion.
- Does Not Support: The majority of product functionality does not meet the criterion.
- Not Applicable: The criterion is not relevant to the product.
WCAG 2.1 Report
This table documents conformance of Canvas Studio (including web content, electronic documents, software components, and authoring systems) with WCAG 2.1
Table 1: Success Criteria, Level A/AA
|
Criteria |
Conformance Level |
Remarks and Explanations |
|
1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio provides text alternatives to default non-text content. |
|
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not contain audio-only or video-only content by default. Canvas Studio does support adding captions and transcripts. |
|
|
1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not contain audio or video by default. Users are responsible for accessibility of content they upload, and Canvas does support adding captions. |
|
1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not contain audio or video by default. Users are responsible for the accessibility of content they upload. |
|
1.2.4 Captions (Live) (Level AA) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not contain live audio or video functionality. |
|
1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) (Level AA) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not contain prerecorded video. Users are responsible for the accessibility of content they upload. Canvas Studio does not currently provide functionality for alternate audio tracks on a single video, but additional files can be independently uploaded. |
|
1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio information, structure, and relationships can be programmatically determined or are available in text. |
|
1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio maintains consistent structures allowing correct reading sequences to be programmatically determined. |
|
1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics (Level A) |
Supports |
Instructions for using Canvas Studio do not rely on sensory characteristics. |
|
1.3.4 Orientation (Level AA 2.1 only) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not restrict usage to a single display orientation. |
|
1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose (Level AA 2.1 only) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio input field purposes can be programmatically determined. |
|
1.4.1 Use of Color (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not convey information by color alone. |
|
1.4.2 Audio Control (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not contain prerecorded audio, and user-generated content does not auto-play. |
|
1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) (Level AA) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio provides a 3:1 contrast ratio by default and a 4.5:1 contrast ratio via the High Contrast UI feature option. This feature option overrides all custom styling, ensuring a compliant experience for all users. |
|
1.4.4 Resize text (Level AA) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio text can be resized to 200 percent without loss of content or functionality. |
|
1.4.5 Images of Text (Level AA) |
Supports |
Images of text are not provided by Canvas Studio. Users are responsible for accessibility of content they upload. |
|
1.4.10 Reflow (Level AA 2.1 only) |
Partially Supports |
Most Canvas Studio pages can be presented at 320x256 resolution without loss of information or functionality. An exception exists when a Studio frame is embedded in some Canvas content. |
|
1.4.11 Non-text Contrast (Level AA 2.1 only) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio graphical objects and user interface elements meet or exceed minimum 4.5:1 contrast when the High Contrast UI feature option is enabled. This feature option overrides all custom styling, ensuring a compliant experience for all users. |
|
1.4.12 Text Spacing (Level AA 2.1 only) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio users can change text spacing without loss of content or functionality. |
|
1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus (Level AA 2.1 only) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio content is dismissible via the escape key and persistent while hovered. |
|
2.1.1 Keyboard (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio functionality is keyboard-operable, including providing alternative keyboard-optimized interfaces for some features. |
|
2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not trap focus when navigated by keyboard. |
|
2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts (Level A 2.1 only) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio character key shortcuts are only active on focus for certain elements. |
|
2.2.1 Timing Adjustable (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not time-out interface elements or content by default. |
|
2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not contain moving, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating content. |
|
2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below Threshold (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not contain any blinking content. |
|
2.4.1 Bypass Blocks (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio has “Skip to Content” links to allow users to easily bypass navigation elements. |
|
2.4.2 Page Titled (Level A) |
Supports |
Pages in Canvas Studio have appropriate titles to describe their purpose. |
|
2.4.3 Focus Order (Level A) |
Supports |
Navigating Canvas Studio by keyboard or screen reader occurs in consistent and logical sequence, generally top-to-bottom and left-to-right. When used with languages with right-to-left writing, the Canvas Studio navigation sequence is appropriately mirrored. |
|
2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) (Level A) |
Supports |
The purpose of each link in Canvas Studio is clearly identified by its text, supplemented with labels when necessary. |
|
2.4.5 Multiple Ways (Level AA) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio pages can be navigated in multiple ways, following consistent layouts in global and page navigation. |
|
2.4.6 Headings and Labels (Level AA) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio pages contain a single H1 header describing the purpose of its content, and additional headers always follow single-steps and maintain logical structure. |
|
2.4.7 Focus Visible (Level AA) |
Supports |
Focus is visible throughout Canvas Studio when navigated by keyboard. |
|
2.5.1 Pointer Gestures (Level A 2.1 only) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not require navigation by multipoint or path-based gestures. |
|
2.5.2 Pointer Cancellation (Level A 2.1 only) |
Supports |
No actions in Canvas Studio complete on mouse-down, and thus can be aborted by moving the mouse away from the button or target area before mouse-up. |
|
2.5.3 Label in Name (Level A 2.1 only) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio visible and accessible labels match, and any interactive controls that use icons or symbols are given consistent accessible labels. |
|
2.5.4 Motion Actuation (Level A 2.1 only) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not contain any motion operations. |
|
3.1.1 Language of Page (Level A) |
Supports |
All Canvas Studio pages contain a defined language value. |
|
3.1.2 Language of Parts (Level AA) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not contain multi-language content, nor does it permit tagging any user-added content as a different language. |
|
3.2.1 On Focus (Level A) |
Supports |
Moving focus when navigating Canvas Studio never results in an action or change of context. |
|
3.2.2 On Input (Level A) |
Supports |
Modifying input fields in Canvas Studio does not automatically initiate any action or navigation. |
|
3.2.3 Consistent Navigation (Level AA) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio contains consistent navigation patterns across all pages and content. |
|
3.2.4 Consistent Identification (Level AA) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio components are labeled and behave consistently across the application. |
|
3.3.1 Error Identification (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio forms are validated and errors are properly identified and described to the user. |
|
3.3.2 Labels or Instructions (Level A) |
Supports |
Labels, cues, and instructions for required interactive elements within Canvas Studio are provided. |
|
3.3.3 Error Suggestion (Level AA) |
Supports |
When errors are encountered in Canvas Studio, an announcement is made including suggestions for correcting the error. |
|
Supports |
If a user can change or delete legal, financial, or test data, the changes or deletions can be reversed, verified, or confirmed. |
|
|
4.1.1 Parsing (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio is constructed to proper HTML 5 standards. |
|
4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A) |
Supports |
Canvas Studio UI components use HTML and ARIA best practices. |
|
4.1.3 Status Messages (Level AA 2.1 only) |
Supports |
Updates to content, status changes, and notifications that display visually have corresponding audio announcements for screen readers. |
Section 508
Chapter 3 Functional Performance Criteria (FPC)
|
Criteria |
Conformance Level |
Remarks and Explanations |
|
Without Vision |
Supports |
Canvas Studio has been optimized to work well with screen readers such as JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver. |
|
With Limited Vision |
Supports |
Canvas Studio supports screen magnification and browser-provided zoom functionality. |
|
Without Perception of Color |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not require color perception for operation. |
|
Without Hearing |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not use any audio for its default operation. Users can upload their own content and are responsible for ensuring the accessibility of the uploaded content. |
|
With Limited Hearing |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not use any audio for its default operation. Users can upload their own content and are responsible for ensuring the accessibility of the uploaded content. |
|
Without Speech |
Not Applicable |
Canvas Studio does not require speech for operation. |
|
With Limited Manipulation |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not require fine motor control or simultaneous actions. It is accessible via keyboard and touch devices. |
|
With Limited Reach and Strength |
Supports |
Canvas Studio does not require fine motor control or simultaneous actions. It is accessible via keyboard and touch devices. |
|
With Limited Language, Cognitive, and Learning Abilities |
Supports |
Canvas Studio supports adaptation of content by end users and provides an easy-to-use interface for users with cognitive or learning disabilities. |
Chapter 4 Hardware
Note: These criteria are all Not Applicable because Canvas Studio is not a Hardware Product.
Chapter 5 Software
Note: These criteria are Not Applicable as Canvas Studio is a web application that does not directly access platform accessibility services.
Chapter 6: Support Documentation and Services
|
Criteria |
Conformance Level |
Remarks and Explanations |
|
602 : Support Documentation |
||
|
602.2 Accessibility and Compatibility Features |
Supports |
Canvas Community Documentation lists and explains accessibility features and compatibility with assistive technology for Canvas Studio. |
|
602.3 Electronic Support Documentation |
Partially Supports |
Canvas Studio documentation is hosted in the Canvas Community which is hosted on the Khoros Platform. Khoros WCAG 2.1 Statement |
|
602.4 Alternate Formats for Non-Electronic Support Documentation |
N/A |
|
|
603 : Support Services |
||
|
603.2 Information on Accessibility and Compatibility Features |
Supports |
Canvas Customer Support can provide information about accessibility features of Canvas Studio. |
|
603.3 Accommodation of Communication Needs |
Partially Supports |
Canvas Studio allows institutions to determine the support route for their users, which can include direct support from Canvas Customer Support and/or their institution's helpdesk. For users whose institution utilizes Canvas Customer Support, customers can contact Canvas Customer Support via email, accessible chat services or phones. Hearing-impaired customers who wish to speak to a Canvas Customer Support representative may use a telecommunications relay service (TRS). Information about the TRS is available at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/trs.html, and a list of telephone numbers is available at https://www.fcc.gov/general/telecommunications-relay-services-directory. |