I came across an issue that I think is a problem with Canvas and I wonder how to address it.
I have a student who, due to diabetes and albinism, has severe sight impairment. Canvas can be helpful for him normally because he can increase the zoom to be able to read information.
I was giving an anatomy test where I had uploaded graphics into a quiz. Trying to increase the zoom on something like this, simply created pixelation, even though I'd uploaded fairly high quality PNG files into the quiz.
It seems that if Canvas could have some type of function where a scalable graphic could be uploaded and the zoom was controlled by Canvas rather than a browser, this type of issue could be avoided. When we are working with the office of disability services and trying to meet ADA standards, I need a way to work with the vision impaired.
Luckily, this course met in person so I was able to print out large graphics for him to use and then email me the answers. If this was an online course, I wouldn't have had this option.
Is there any way to make something like this work?
Hi Michael J Barnes
First and foremost, thank you for thinking of your less enabled students. And, as an UDL feature, this could help more students than just the visually impaired.
Please check out this resource from Community Coach Chris Hofer about creating a "Lightbox Effect" in Canvas.
By the way, when I taught my very first hybrid A&P course many years ago, the first day of class in walks a lady with a white cane helped in by her husband. No help from our DSS office, totally inaccessible LMS, blah, blah blah. We got her through the course quite nicely, but it was a lot of hard work by everybody. I told myself I would never go through that again, and have dutifully studied online Accessibility since. I will also share this question with the Accessibility group in here, and see what other help they may have to offer.
I hope this is helpful.