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Digital Accessibility - UDOIT Error Grid
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ALT Text/Images | Color | Headings | Tables | Page Structure | Links | Media Links | Embedded Media | Mobile Devices | Files Errors
ALT Text/Images
Image does not include an “alt” attribute
UDOIT definition
If the image is decorative, leave the alternative text blank and check the "Mark image as decorative" box. This will properly mark the image as decorative for screen readers.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
An image is missing alternative text, which provides a description for screen readers.
How to remediate
Insert an alt text onto the image or mark it as decorative.
Why is it an issue
When a screen reader comes across an image or if a user disables image loading, the alt text will be read aloud by the screen reader or the alt text will appear in place of the image.
Alternative text uses the filename rather than a descriptive label
UDOIT definition
Alternative Text (Alt Text) is an alternative (non-visual) way to describe the meaning of an image. Please provide a brief description of the image for a screen reader user. Note: It should not be the image file name and should be 150 characters or less.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
In Canvas, the file name is automatically used as the alt text by default. So that means the alt text was not edited. Note: When an image that has been uploaded to Canvas and embedded in the course content, Canvas automatically puts the filename as your alt text.
How to remediate
Add an alt text to the image or mark it as decorative if the image has no meaning or significance.
Why is it an issue
A file name is not specific and doesn’t contribute to the meaning of the image. File names can be confusing and don't convey the purpose of the image.
Alternative Text appears to be a generic placeholder
UDOIT definition
Images must not use placeholder alternative text (e.g., "image," "photo," or "spacer"). Use a meaningful description or mark the image as decorative if it's purely for styling.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
Alt text is text you input on images, charts, or graphs to describe them. The image alt text may have been originally intended as a placeholder for the actual alt text and was not updated or replaced.
How to remediate
Add a short (no more than 150 characters), concise, meaningful alt text to the image.
Why is it an issue
Screen reader users rely on alt text to understand the image’s purpose. When images fail to load, the alt text will display in its place. This ensures the content remains understandable to all site visitors.
Input image may be missing an “Alt” attribute
UDOIT definition
Every form image button which has text within the image (say, a picture of the word 'Search' in a special font), should have the same text within the 'alt' attribute.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
When using an image with text as a button on a form, make sure the alt text of the image matches the text in the image.
How to remediate
Update the alt text of the image being used as a button to match the text in the image.
Why is it an issue
Each image must have an alt attribute. Without alternative text, the content of an image will not be available to screen reader users or when the image is unavailable.
Image Description is identical to alt text
UDOIT definition
The long description should provide additional information that cannot fit into the alternative text, such as complex visual details, charts, or diagrams.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
The alternative text for an image is too similar to its filename.
How to remediate
Avoid repeating the same content in both the alternative text and the long description. Note: This issue cannot be fixed from the UDOIT interface. It requires an HTML editor to fix.
Why is it an issue
Having identical image descriptions and alt text is a problem because it leads to redundancy for users of assistive technologies, as a screen reader will announce the same information twice. While image descriptions provide a more detailed explanation for the body of the content, alt text serves as a brief, concise alternative for those who cannot see the image, so it's better to have unique content for each.
Decorative image does not have an empty alternative text
UDOIT definition
This image was marked as decorative in the Rich Content Editor, but it contains alternative text. Decorative images should not include alternative text.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
You should either add a descriptive alt text to the image or mark the image as decorative. Do not do both.
How to remediate
Remove the alt text or mark it as decorative.
Why is it an issue
A decorative image without an empty alt text will be announced by a screen reader, frustrating or confusing users who rely on assistive technology to navigate the web.
Alternative Text is too lengthy for optimal screen reader experience
UDOIT definition
Alternative Text (Alt Text) is an alternative (non-visual) way to describe the meaning of an image. Please provide a brief description of the image for a screen reader user. Note: It should not be the image file name and should be 150 characters or less.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
The alt text is too long and should be reduced. Some screen readers will stop reading the alt text after its limit is reached. The alt text should not be more than 150 characters.
How to remediate
Shorten the alt text. Examine your graphic and see if it can be simplified to improve clarity. If you are having difficulties making the alt text shorter, consider putting part of the alt text before or after the image.
Why is it an issue
Long alternative text should be used to help clarify points you wish to make. However, if it is too long it will overwhelm screen reader users.
Image long description is identical to alternative text
UDOIT definition
The long description should provide additional information that cannot fit into the alternative text, such as complex visual details, charts, or diagrams. Avoid repeating the same content in both the alternative text and the long description.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
When you are coding an image in Canvas (editing the HTML code), make sure “longdesc” is not the same as the alt text. The “longdesc” attribute is meant to allow you to have additional space to describe the image.
How to remediate
Remove the “longdesc” attribute if it is the same as the alt text.
Why is it an issue
Having both the image long description and alt text the same is redundant and provides the same information twice, which slows down and confuses users who rely on screen readers and makes the content less accessible.
Color
Potential use of color alone to communicate information
UDOIT definition
Color can enhance content aesthetics, but it shouldn't be the only way of conveying meaning. Use color to prompt responses, distinguish content, or convey meaning with sufficient contrast and another visual cue like bold text, icons, or descriptive wording. This ensures users with color blindness or screen readers can understand the emphasis.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
This message means that there was some font color present. Review the message and ensure you are not using color alone for emphasis or meaning.
How to remediate
Modify by adding bold/italics as needed. Text color should be easily viewable and should not be the only indicator of meaning or function.
Why is it an issue
Color is subjective, so while it can contribute to the aesthetics of a page, it should not be used to convey meaning or as a call to action. Note: UDOIT will sometimes flag insufficient color contrast for any text styling (e.g. bold, italic). Ignore if it's a false positive.
Insufficient text color contrast with the background
UDOIT definition
Text color should be easily viewable and should not be the only indicator of meaning or function. Color balance should have at least a 4.5:1 ratio for small text and 3:1 ratio for large text. Note: Using UDOIT to fix one section of text may invalidate the contrast in nested sections of text that are not the same color.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
The color of the font and background has low contrast and does not meet accessibility standards. Don’t rely on color alone to bring attention to the text. Note: Using UDOIT to fix one section of text may invalidate the contrast in nested sections of text that are not the same color.
How to remediate
Adjust the color of the font and background so it passes the minimum accessibility standard.
Why is it an issue
Some users may not be able to distinguish text color from background color. Some people cannot see faint text.
Headings
Heading levels have been skipped
UDOIT definition
Headings should follow a clear hierarchy. Start with <h1> (or <h2> in course content) and move to deeper levels (<h3>, <h4>, etc.) as you create subsections. Avoid skipping heading levels to help screen readers and all users navigate your content easily.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
You skipped a heading level. Review the heading hierarchy to ensure it is sequential and doesn’t skip levels.
How to remediate
-
Start with a heading level 1 for the title.
-
In Canvas, the names of pages, assignments, discussions, etc., are automatically heading 1, which is why heading 1 is not available as an option in the Rich Text Editor.
-
-
Use heading 2 for major topic sections.
-
Use heading 3 for subtopics that fall under the heading 2 topic, and so on.
-
Use heading 2 again to introduce another major topic.
-
Don’t skip headings.
-
Don’t choose headings based on how they look.
-
After the heading levels are set, you can always return to style them visually as you like, such as font size or color.
-
Why is it an issue
Headers in web pages - including Canvas pages - are essential for accessibility, acting as signposts for assistive technologies and organizing content logically. A proper hierarchy moves from H1(main title) to H6 (smallest subheading), where all H2s, H3s, etc. have the same level of importance. This heading structure ensures clarity and ease of navigation.
Styles might be used instead of semantic markup for structure
UDOIT definition
Bold and italics can help draw attention to words or phrases, but they do not provide a meaningful structure for the page. This can create accessibility and navigation issues for screen reader users. Consider using proper headings (<h1>–<h6>) to define the structure of your content so that all users can navigate it more easily.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
Bold and italics can help draw attention to words or phrases, but they do not provide a meaningful structure for the page. Note: In Canvas, the page or assignment title is automatically set as heading level 1. Start at level 2 for headings in the text editor.
How to remediate
Use proper headings (<h1>–<h6>) to define the structure of your content so that all users can navigate it more easily.
Why is it an issue
This can create accessibility and navigation issues for screen reader users.
Avoid using styles for document structure.
UDOIT definition
What does this really mean? Plain language.
This message means that a font color or style might be used for document structure. Use Header styles to identify sections and develop structure.
How to remediate
UDOIT will provide options such as assign a header level or remove color or emphasis.
Why is it an issue
Bold or colored print used to separate sections of content makes navigation difficult for many and impossible for screen readers.
One or more heading elements do not contain text
UDOIT definition
Use headings to provide a clear structure for both sighted users and those using assistive technology. Headings should not be empty and should represent an accurate outline of the content.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
Don’t put non-text elements in a heading tag, such as an image or video. Sometimes this issue occurs by accident, and the user doesn’t realize a non-text element was in a heading tag.
How to remediate
Remove the heading tag from the non-text element
Why is it an issue
If a heading has no text, there are problems that can arise. All of these problems stem from the fact that you cannot see the empty heading. If the heading has text, you may be able to better determine if the heading belongs in the webpage or should be deleted.
Tables
No table headers are found.
UDOIT definition
Use table headers to clearly describe the table’s structure for both sighted and screen reader users.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
Marking the row and/or column headers helps screen readers and other assistive technologies understand the structure of the table.
How to remediate
Mark the row and/or column headers in the table. If given the option, have UDOIT fix this.
Why is it an issue
Tables without properly identified header cells can be hard to interpret and navigate for programs, text-to-speech, or screen readers to convey visual information.
The table does not include header rows or columns
UDOIT definition
Use table headers to clearly describe the table’s structure for both sighted and screen reader users.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
Table headers provide a description of the table structure by row/column for sighted and screen reader users.
How to remediate
UDOIT will prompt you to declare the top row, the first column, or both as headers. Once that is set, a screen reader can reference the associated header cells as needed by the user.
Why is it an issue
A screen reader will read an undefined table left-to-right, row by row. If a header is not defined, the user will easily lose the context of each cell.
No row or column scope declarations found in the headers of the table
UDOIT definition
Use table headers to clearly describe the table’s structure for both sighted and screen reader users.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
Tables are to be used to display data (avoid them for formatting). If you use tables for data, a header row and/or column should be “marked” as a header style to ensure the structure is clear to all users (screen readers included).
How to remediate
Note: Tables should NOT be used for positioning and layout of page elements as the screen reader will have trouble presenting it as linear text. If you have tables that are used for positioning and layout, this will have to be manually fixed in Canvas. UDOIT will not fix this issue.
Why is it an issue
Screen readers can't correctly announce which column or row a piece of data belongs to, making the table nearly impossible to interpret. This can also impact usability for sighted users who benefit from clearly defined headers to comprehend the data.
Table headers are missing row or column scope attributes
UDOIT definition
Scope declarations in headers organize and define table data by row/column for sighted and screen reader users.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
When you create a table, you can add labels to the header cells called “scope”, which tell screen readers which data cells belong to which headers. Adding scope declarations helps screen readers and other assistive technologies understand the structure of the table.
How to remediate
Opt to have UDOIT fix both at same time.
Why is it an issue
Without explicit scope attributes, users of assistive technology may have difficulty associating data cells with their corresponding headers, making the information presented in the table confusing or even incomprehensible
Table without content detected
UDOIT definition
Tables should not be empty. Add content to the table or remove it.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
There is a table with no content.
How to remediate
Add content to the table or delete the table if it is not needed.
Why is it an issue
When sighted users focus on a table cell, they can visually determine which row and column the cell is in by scanning up and down or left and right. This adds context to what the value in a particular cell means.
A screen reader can only read aloud each cell one by one from left to right and top to bottom.
If the table is not formatted correctly, there is no easy way to determine what label a particular value in a cell might have.
Page Structure
Headings may be missing
UDOIT definition
If appropriate, add headings to the page to organize the content for sighted and screen reader users. The headings should represent an accurate outline of the content.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
There are currently no headings on this page. Styling text (such as bolding, italicizing, increasing the font, etc.) to look like a heading doesn’t make it a heading.
How to remediate
If appropriate, add headings to the page to organize the content for sighted users. You will need to mark the appropriate heading level based on the heading hierarchy on a page.
Why is it an issue
Using an organized heading structure helps everyone navigate documents faster. Similar to how a non-disabled person might visually scan the headings in a document, headings enable those using a screen reader to quickly scan and navigate without listening to every word in the document.
Content May exceed Recommended Length for readability (3000+words)
UDOIT definition
If content exceeds 3000 words, consider dividing it into shorter sections or separate pages to improve readability and comprehension.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
The content on this page has more than 3000 words. Too much content can overwhelm students and make it more difficult for students to maintain focus, retain information, and creates cognitive overload.
How to remediate
If content exceeds 3000 words, consider dividing it into shorter sections or separate pages to improve readability and comprehension.
Why is it an issue
This affects cognitive overload - extremely long content negatively impacts usability and comprehension for everyone.
Document reading direction not found
UDOIT definition
Changes in text direction within inline content should be indicated using an HTML element, such as <span> with a dir attribute that specifies left-to-right (ltr) or right-to-left (rtl) direction.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
There is a change in the text direction in mid paragraph or sentence. The HTML code needs to be edited to ensure it is correct.
How to remediate
You will need to modify the HTML and add a <span> tag with the “dir” attribute to define the text direction.
Why is it an issue
If the reading direction isn't specified or is incorrect, the content is read aloud in the wrong order. This means a user might hear a sentence from the middle of a paragraph, followed by a heading, then an image description, making the entire document lose meaning, relay ineffective information, and become unintelligible.
Links
Link has nondescript text
UDOIT definition
Use descriptive link text that clearly identifies the content being linked to (e.g., "Class Schedule" instead of "click here" or "schedule.html").
What does this really mean? Plain language.
Screen readers read all links aloud, as written. Therefore, links written as a web address are difficult to understand. Ambiguous links, such as “click here” or “read more”, are also problematic because the phrase does not provide any information about the destination.
How to remediate
Replace link text with actual words that describe the site that will be accessed.
Why is it an issue
Links like “click here” or “read more” or links that are just the URL address lack predictability and context. If a person using a screen reading encounters this URL, the screen reader will read the link exactly as written - character by character.
Linked image does not have a descriptive alternative text
UDOIT definition
Add alternative text to linked images that describes where the link will lead. Screen reader users rely on link text to navigate, so each link must include meaningful text.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
There's an image being used as a button, but it doesn't have any alt text. For example, a 'Submit' image link is missing its alt text.
How to remediate
Add an alt text to the image being used as a button. Consider using text as the clickable part of a link instead of an image.
Why is it an issue
The absence of descriptive alternative text ("alt text") on a linked image is an accessibility concern because the image's function or destination may be completely inaccessible to users who cannot see it, primarily those using screen readers.
Adjacent links found
UDOIT definition
Combine adjacent links that point to the same URL into a single link using the LMS content editor.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
There are duplicate links. This usually happens when someone is editing the text and unknowingly creates two separate links that go to the same destination, and one of the links is empty or has a space that is linked.
How to remediate
Edit the content and delete the duplicate link. Or if given the option, merge the adjacent/duplicate link.
Why is it an issue
Adjacent links create confusion because they appear to be intended for two different locations.
Link does not contain text
UDOIT definition
Use meaningful text to describe the purpose of the link. If the link uses only an image, include alternative text. If the link is not needed, remove it.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
There may be an image being used as a button, and there isn’t an alt text on the image, for example, using an image that says “Submit” as a clickable link without an alt text.
How to remediate
Add an alt text to the image being used as a link/button. Consider using text as the clickable part of a link (for example, Submit) instead of an image.
Why is it an issue
If you use an image for a link, and the image does not include text, it is difficult for a user - and impossible for a screen reader - to understand the link.
Media Links
Links to Multimedia Require Transcripts
UDOIT definition
Multimedia objects should be accompanied by a transcript of the content.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
Include a written transcript of all multimedia objects.
How to remediate
Create and link to a transcript and provide it with the multimedia object.
Why is it an issue
Transcripts allow those who cannot access content from audio or video to read (or listen to) a text version instead.
Links to Sound Files Require Transcripts
UDOIT definition
Links to a sound file should be followed by a link to a transcript of the file.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
Include a written transcript of all audio files.
How to remediate
Create and link to a transcript of the audio file.
Why is it an issue
Transcripts make it possible for a user who is deaf or hard of hearing to engage with your content. Transcripts can also help clear up confusion caused by regional dialects or unavoidable background noise wherever a listener may be.
Video captions appear to be automatically generated and may contain errors
UDOIT definition
Auto-generated captions are often inaccurate. For educational content, use accurate, manually reviewed captions.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
The captions for this video were automatically created, and the owner of the video did not edit or correct the captions.
How to remediate
Watch the video to confirm whether the video has corrected captions. If you are the video owner, review and correct the captions. If the captions are accurate, you can mark this issue as resolved. If you are not the video owner and cannot correct the captions, you should find an alternative video with edited captions.
Why is it an issue
Video captions ensure content is accessible to a wider audience, fulfilling legal requirements and enhancing user experience for everyone.
Video captions are missing
UDOIT definition
Include captions with all video content to ensure accessibility for users who are deaf or hard of hearing. Captions should cover dialogue, sound effects, and speaker identification.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
There were no captions found for this video.
How to remediate
Watch the video to confirm whether the video has corrected captions. If you are the video owner, review and correct the captions. If the captions are accurate, you can mark this issue as resolved. If you are not the video owner and cannot correct the captions, you should find an alternative video with edited captions.
Why is it an issue
Missing captions on embedded videos is a major accessibility barrier, excluding people who are deaf or hard of hearing, hindering comprehension for non-native speakers or those in noisy environments, and preventing learning for many students who benefit from text reinforcement.
Embedded Media
Embedded Video is Missing Captions
UDOIT definition
All video elements must have a caption using the track element with caption attribute. The caption should convey all meaningful information in the video element; this includes, but is not limited to, dialogue, musical cues, and sound effects. Good captions not only include dialogue but also identify who is speaking and include non-speech information conveyed through sound, including meaningful sound effects.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
This issue usually applies to the <video> HTML5 element. The <video> element is a special container where you can insert a video directly onto a webpage without the need for the viewer to download the video or use a separate video streaming service, such as YouTube or Vimeo. If there are no open (or burned-in) captions, you need to add a captioning track by adding a “caption” attribute to the <video> element.
How to remediate
All video elements must have a caption using the track element with a caption attribute. The caption should convey all meaningful information in the video element; this includes, but is not limited to, dialogue, musical cues, and sound effects. Good captions not only include dialogue but also identify who is speaking and include non-speech information conveyed through sound, including meaningful sound effects.
Why is it an issue
Missing captions on embedded videos is a major accessibility barrier, excluding people who are deaf or hard of hearing, hindering comprehension for non-native speakers or those in noisy environments, and preventing learning for many students who benefit from text reinforcement.
Multimedia object is missing text equivalent
UDOIT definition
All video elements must have a caption using the track element with caption attribute. The caption should convey all meaningful information in the video element; this includes, but is not limited to, dialogue, musical cues, and sound effects. Good captions not only include dialogue but also identify who is speaking and include non-speech information conveyed through sound, including meaningful sound effects.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
This issue usually applies to the <video> HTML5 element. The <video> element is a special container where you can insert a video directly onto a webpage without the need for the viewer to download the video or use a separate video streaming service, such as YouTube or Vimeo. If there are no open (or burned-in) captions, you need to add a captioning track by adding a “caption” attribute to the <video> element.
How to remediate
All video elements must have a caption using the track element with a caption attribute. The caption should convey all meaningful information in the video element; this includes, but is not limited to, dialogue, musical cues, and sound effects. Good captions not only include dialogue but also identify who is speaking and include non-speech information conveyed through sound, including meaningful sound effects.
Why is it an issue
Missing captions on embedded videos is a major accessibility barrier, excluding people who are deaf or hard of hearing, hindering comprehension for non-native speakers or those in noisy environments, and preventing learning for many students who benefit from text reinforcement.
Multimedia Object may not be accessible
UDOIT definition
Multimedia embedded using the 'Object' tag may require the user to install a plugin for their web browser. Consider using an alternative format that the user's browser can display natively.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
The method used to embed multimedia content could require a plugin installation, which could create a range of technical difficulties. It could also be problematic for someone who uses assistive technologies or is trying to access the multimedia content on a mobile device, such as a tablet or smartphone.
How to remediate
Manually check the accessibility of the multimedia content, as well as ensuring that the content works as intended for users of assistive technologies and mobile devices.
Why is it an issue
This can create support and access issues for some users. Additionally, users on mobile devices may not be able to view the multimedia content at all.
Mobile Devices
Embedded Content May Be Inaccessible on Mobile Devices
UDOIT definition
Embedded content may not be properly viewable on mobile devices. Consider mobile users when relying on objects for multimedia content.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
Embedded content may not work properly on mobile devices, such as tablets or smartphones.
How to remediate
Use a mobile device to ensure the embedded content works as intended.
Why is it an issue
This can create support and access issues for some users. Additionally, users on mobile devices may not be able to view the multimedia content at all.
File Errors
Document contains images without alternative text
UDOIT definition
The DOCX file has at least one image without alternative text.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
The Word doc has at least one image that is missing an alternative text.
How to remediate
Download and add an alternative text to the Word document. Consider using Microsoft Word’s built-in accessibility checker.
Why is it an issue
Screen readers have no way of translating an image into words that get read to the user, even if the image only consists of text. As a result, it's necessary for images to have short, descriptive alt text, so screen reader users clearly understand the image's contents and purpose.
File Does Not Include Headings for Structure
UDOIT definition
The DOCX file does not have headings, which help screen reader users navigate a large document.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
There are no properly tagged headings in this Word document.
How to remediate
Download and add headings where necessary.
Why is it an issue
This matters for accessibility because it creates a "wall of text," making it impossible for screen readers to navigate, understand content hierarchy, or skim; this blocks users with visual or cognitive disabilities from efficiently finding information, forcing them to listen to the entire document, which is a major barrier to equal access and usability. Proper headings provide a semantic roadmap for all users, not just assistive technology users, helping everyone quickly grasp content organization and locate sections.
File is missing a title element
UDOIT definition
Add a title using the file’s document Properties.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
The “title” element in a document’s properties refers to metadata information that is important for students using assistive technologies. This is not the same as the file name or the title in the document (usually a Heading 1). You will need to take extra steps to add a title.
How to remediate
Select the appropriate link below to add a title to the document properties:
- In MS Word files,
- Select File
- Select Info, (For Macs, select Properties)
- Enter a title and set the language.
- For PDF files, use Adobe Acrobat,
- Select File
- Select Properties, (For Macs, select Document Properties)
- Select the Description tab
- Enter the title in the Title field
Why is it an issue
A missing or empty <title> element matters for accessibility because it's the first thing screen readers announce, giving users context for the page, and it appears in browser tabs, bookmarks, and history, so without it, users (especially those with visual or cognitive impairments) get lost, confused, and can't easily navigate or identify content, requiring them to read the whole page to figure it out.
File Lacks Tags Needed for Navigation by Assistive Technologies
UDOIT definition
PDF tags provide a logical structure that governs how the content of the PDF is presented through assistive technology.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
Assistive technologies rely on the tags to understand the structure of a PDF file. Examples of tags are headings, paragraphs, lists, images, etc.
How to remediate
For PDFs made from documents you own (such as Word, PowerPoint), make those original documents accessible and share them in their original file formats, or even as a Page in a Canvas course site, rather than in PDF format.
Obtain PDFs that are available through the University Library's databases or indexes.
Why is it an issue
Without tags, assistive technology users cannot understand and navigate a PDF file. For those who do not use assistive technology, a similar experience would be a PDF file that only contains a single block of text.
Image-based File Detected
UDOIT definition
The PDF appears to be a scanned image, which may be completely inaccessible to some users. The DOCX file appears to be a scanned image, which may be completely inaccessible to some users.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
The document is a scanned image, which means the entire document, including text, graphs, images, lists, is a single image on each page. Because of this, assistive technologies are unable to navigate the document.
How to remediate
For PDFs made from documents you own (such as Word, PowerPoint), make those original documents accessible and share them in their original file formats, or even as a Page in a Canvas course site, rather than in PDF format.
Obtain PDFs that are available through the University Library's databases or indexes.
Why is it an issue
"Image-based File Detected" matters for accessibility because these files (like scanned PDFs or photos of text) are just pictures, making them unreadable by screen readers and inaccessible to those who turn off images for focus or slow connections, creating content gaps.
Older file format detected
UDOIT definition
- Description (DOC): DOCX files should be used instead of DOC files. For the best compatibility and usability, consider opening this file in Microsoft Word and saving it as a .docx file."
- Description (PPT): PPTX files should be used instead of PPT files. For the best compatibility and usability, consider opening this file in Microsoft PowerPoint and saving it as a .pptx file.
- XLSX files should be used instead of XLS files. For the best compatibility and usability, consider opening this file in Microsoft Excel and saving it as a .xlsx file.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
The file was created using a software version or format that is considered outdated by the application you are currently using. Your current software might still open the file, but it could have limitations or potential security risks.
How to remediate
Update your MS Software to the latest version.
Update your Microsoft Word files to end in .docx by choosing Save-As in Microsoft Word and selecting the updated .docx file format.
Why is it an issue
An "Older file format detected" warning matters for accessibility because these legacy formats (like .doc, .xls) often lack modern features for screen readers, assistive tech, and future compatibility, creating barriers for users with disabilities by potentially being unreadable, unsearchable, or difficult to navigate, forcing reliance on outdated software or causing data loss, hindering equal access to information.
Table Headers are Missing
UDOIT definition
The DOCX file has at least one table without a table header.
What does this really mean? Plain language.
The Word doc has at least one table that is missing a table header. Marking the row and/or column headers helps screen readers and other assistive technologies understand the structure of the table.
How to remediate
Mark the row and/or column headers in the table.
Why is it an issue
Missing table headers are critical for accessibility because they strip away context, making complex data incomprehensible for screen reader users, who rely on headers to understand which data belongs to which category, preventing them from navigating the table logically and interpreting relationships between cells, essentially rendering the table useless for them.