Accessibility Training Opportunities
Quick Start Accessibility Workshops
June 2026
- Date: June 2, 10 :00 - 11:00 AM
- Facilitator: Lindsey Sharp
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the June 2 Workshop, Make Your Canvas Courses Accessible
Workshop Description:
Canvas websites must be accessible for all students, but don't panic! This hands-on workshop will cover what to look for and several tools to help you find and fix issues.
In this training session, you'll learn how to:
- Use the text editor to create a navigable page structure
- Write effective alt text for images and charts
- Ensure readable color contrast
- Design accessible tables and links.
- Use Canvas accessibility tools, including checkers to find and fix common issues
- Use tools in Illinois Media Space caption videos. We'll also cover how to use a number of accessibility checkers to find and fix common issues.
By the end of this session, you'll have the confidence you need to create Canvas course sites that meet State and Federal accessibility standards
- Date: June 9, 2:00 - 3:00 PM
- Facilitator: Marc Thompson
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the June 9 Workshop, Make Your Math Accessible
Workshop Description:
This hands-on workshop will cover the nuts and bolts of what makes digital math accessible for all learners, including:
- major accessible math formats
- accessible math tools like EquatIO, MathPix, MathType, Desmos, and equation editors in Canvas, Coursera, and MS Office Documents
- best practices for structuring workflows to deliver accessible math
- how different math formats interact with different platforms like Canvas and Coursera, Jupyter Notebook, MS Office documents (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote), and webpages
By the end of this workshop, you’ll have a better idea of how to create accessible math for your specific teaching or professional workflows.
Important: To participate actively in this workshop, you will need to have EquatIO installed. EquatIO is free for UIUC faculty, staff, and students from the University Webstore, Other tools used are free, web-based, and require no installation.
- Date: June 10, 2:00 - 3:00 PM
- Facilitator: Julie Baker and Jay Moon
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the June 10 Workshop, Make Your Moodle Course Accessible
Workshop Description:
In this hands-on workshop, we will cover the key strategies for designing accessible course content in Moodle. Participants will learn how to create accessible headings, tables, lists, and hyperlinks, as well as how to write alt text for images, generate and edit video captions, and incorporate other elements that will help students navigate courses and access information more easily. We’ll also discuss the advantages (and limitations) of using Moodle’s accessibility checker and screen reader helper. Participants will leave this workshop with the knowledge and resources needed to create Moodle sites that meet state and federal accessibility standards.
- Date: June 16, 3:00 - 4:30 PM
- Facilitator: Marc Thompson
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the June 16 Workshop, Make Your PDF Documents Accessible, Part 2
Get up to speed quickly on making your PDF documents accessible for everyone on campus. We'll cover common accessibility challenges in PDF and use practical solutions. You'll learn how to:
- Use Acrobat Accessibility Checker to identify issues
- Repair the PDF and make it accessible
- Determine when to send complex PDFs to a remediation specialist
You'll be on your way to creating inclusive and accessible PDF documents and meeting State and Federal accessibility standards.
Important: To participate actively in this workshop, you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Pro installed (not Acrobat Reader). U of I, UIS, and UIC faculty and staff can obtain Acrobat Pro free from the U of I Webstore.
- Date: June 23, 10:00 - 11:00 AM
- Facilitator: Lindsey Sharp
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the June 23 Workshop, Using the Pope Tech Canvas Accessibility Tool
Workshop Description:
Get up to speed on using the Pope Tech Canvas Accessibility Guide to make Canvas pages more accessible for everyone! In this hands-on workshop, we'll start with an overview of the Pope Tech Canvas Accessibility Guide, how it functions, what the various errors, alerts, structural elements, and features mean, and howM to fix these issues on a Canvas page. Then we'll jump into some hands-on practice using the Canvas Accessibility Guide to evaluate the accessibility of Canvas pages and remediate basic accessibility issues. We'll discuss the limitations of the tool and what still needs to be checked manually using basic digital accessibility principles.
By the end of this workshop, you'll understand how to fix Canvas pages using the Pope Tech Canvas Accessibility Guide tool and be well on the way to creating inclusive Canvas pages that meet State and Federal accessibility standards.
July 2026
- Date: July 1, 1:00 - 2:00 PM
- Facilitator: Lindsey Sharp
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the July 1 Workshop, Make Your Canvas Courses Accessible
Workshop Description:
Canvas websites must be accessible for all students, but don't panic! This hands-on workshop will cover what to look for and several tools to help you find and fix issues.
In this training session, you'll learn how to:
- Use the text editor to create a navigable page structure
- Write effective alt text for images and charts
- Ensure readable color contrast
- Design accessible tables and links.
- Use Canvas accessibility tools, including checkers to find and fix common issues
- Use tools in Illinois Media Space caption videos. We'll also cover how to use a number of accessibility checkers to find and fix common issues.
By the end of this session, you'll have the confidence you need to create Canvas course sites that meet State and Federal accessibility standards
- Date: July 2, 2:00 - 3:00 PM
- Facilitator: Marc Thompson
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the July 2 Workshop, Make Your Math Accessible
Workshop Description:
This hands-on workshop will cover the nuts and bolts of what makes digital math accessible for all learners, including:
- major accessible math formats
- accessible math tools like EquatIO, MathPix, MathType, Desmos, and equation editors in Canvas, Coursera, and MS Office Documents
- best practices for structuring workflows to deliver accessible math
- how different math formats interact with different platforms like Canvas and Coursera, Jupyter Notebook, MS Office documents (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote), and webpages
By the end of this workshop, you’ll have a better idea of how to create accessible math for your specific teaching or professional workflows.
Important: To participate actively in this workshop, you will need to have EquatIO installed. EquatIO is free for UIUC faculty, staff, and students from the University Webstore, Other tools used are free, web-based, and require no installation.
- Date: July 7, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Facilitator: Nancy Hightower
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the July 7 Workshop, Make Your MS Word Documents Accessible
Workshop Description:
Get up to speed quickly on making your Microsoft Word documents accessible for everyone while meeting state and federal accessibility standards. In this hands-on workshop, we'll start with a brief overview of common accessibility challenges in Word and then jump right into practice.
You'll learn how to:
- Use the Styles tool to create a clean, navigable document structure
- Write effective alt text for images and charts, ensure readable color contrast and design accessible tables and links
- Use the MS Word Accessibility Checker to find and fix common issues
By the end of this session, you'll be ready to create inclusive documents for all.
- Date: July 7, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
- Facilitator: Marc Thompson
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the July 7 Workshop, Make Your PDF Documents Accessible, Part 2
Get up to speed quickly on making your PDF documents accessible for everyone on campus. We'll cover common accessibility challenges in PDF and use practical solutions. You'll learn how to:
- Use Acrobat Accessibility Checker to identify issues
- Repair the PDF and make it accessible
- Determine when to send complex PDFs to a remediation specialist
You'll be on your way to creating inclusive and accessible PDF documents and meeting State and Federal accessibility standards.
Important: To participate actively in this workshop, you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Pro installed (not Acrobat Reader). U of I, UIS, and UIC faculty and staff can obtain Acrobat Pro free from the U of I Webstore.
- Date: July 8, 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
- Facilitator: Chrissi Guarnieri
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the July 8 Workshop, Make Your MS PowerPoint Documents Accessible
Workshop Description:
Get up to speed quickly on making your PowerPoint presentations accessible for everyone while meeting state and federal accessibility standards. In this hands-on workshop, we'll begin with a brief overview of common accessibility challenges in PowerPoint and then dive straight into practical solutions.
You'll learn how to:
- Create clear, accessible slide content
- Utilize accessible visuals
- Structure slides for logical navigation, making sure your multimedia content is inclusive
- Use PowerPoint's built-in Accessibility Assistant to find and fix common issues
By the end of this workshop, you'll be crafting inclusive presentations that captivate your audience.
- Date: July 22, 10:00 - 11:00 AM
- Facilitator: Lindsey Sharp
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the July 22 Workshop, Using the Pope Tech Canvas Accessibility Tool
Workshop Description:
Get up to speed on using the Pope Tech Canvas Accessibility Guide to make Canvas pages more accessible for everyone! In this hands-on workshop, we'll start with an overview of the Pope Tech Canvas Accessibility Guide, how it functions, what the various errors, alerts, structural elements, and features mean, and howM to fix these issues on a Canvas page. Then we'll jump into some hands-on practice using the Canvas Accessibility Guide to evaluate the accessibility of Canvas pages and remediate basic accessibility issues. We'll discuss the limitations of the tool and what still needs to be checked manually using basic digital accessibility principles.
By the end of this workshop, you'll understand how to fix Canvas pages using the Pope Tech Canvas Accessibility Guide tool and be well on the way to creating inclusive Canvas pages that meet State and Federal accessibility standards.
August 2026
- Date: August 4, 2:00 - 3:00 PM
- Facilitator: Marc Thompson
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the August 4 Workshop, Make Your Math Accessible
Workshop Description:
This hands-on workshop will cover the nuts and bolts of what makes digital math accessible for all learners, including:
- major accessible math formats
- accessible math tools like EquatIO, MathPix, MathType, Desmos, and equation editors in Canvas, Coursera, and MS Office Documents
- best practices for structuring workflows to deliver accessible math
- how different math formats interact with different platforms like Canvas and Coursera, Jupyter Notebook, MS Office documents (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote), and webpages
By the end of this workshop, you’ll have a better idea of how to create accessible math for your specific teaching or professional workflows.
Important: To participate actively in this workshop, you will need to have EquatIO installed. EquatIO is free for UIUC faculty, staff, and students from the University Webstore, Other tools used are free, web-based, and require no installation.
- Date: August 5, 1:00 - 2:00 PM
- Facilitator: Lindsey Sharp
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the August 5 Workshop, Make Your Canvas Courses Accessible
Workshop Description:
Canvas websites must be accessible for all students, but don't panic! This hands-on workshop will cover what to look for and several tools to help you find and fix issues.
In this training session, you'll learn how to:
- Use the text editor to create a navigable page structure
- Write effective alt text for images and charts
- Ensure readable color contrast
- Design accessible tables and links.
- Use Canvas accessibility tools, including checkers to find and fix common issues
- Use tools in Illinois Media Space caption videos. We'll also cover how to use a number of accessibility checkers to find and fix common issues.
By the end of this session, you'll have the confidence you need to create Canvas course sites that meet State and Federal accessibility standards
- Date: August 11, 2:00 - 3:30 PM
- Facilitator: Marc Thompson
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the August 11 Workshop, Make Your PDF Documents Accessible, Part 2
Get up to speed quickly on making your PDF documents accessible for everyone on campus. We'll cover common accessibility challenges in PDF and use practical solutions. You'll learn how to:
- Use Acrobat Accessibility Checker to identify issues
- Repair the PDF and make it accessible
- Determine when to send complex PDFs to a remediation specialist
You'll be on your way to creating inclusive and accessible PDF documents and meeting State and Federal accessibility standards.
Important: To participate actively in this workshop, you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Pro installed (not Acrobat Reader). U of I, UIS, and UIC faculty and staff can obtain Acrobat Pro free from the U of I Webstore.
- Date: August 13, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Facilitator: Nancy Hightower
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the August 13 Workshop, Make Your MS PowerPoint Documents Accessible
Workshop Description:
Get up to speed quickly on making your PowerPoint presentations accessible for everyone while meeting state and federal accessibility standards. In this hands-on workshop, we'll begin with a brief overview of common accessibility challenges in PowerPoint and then dive straight into practical solutions.
You'll learn how to:
- Create clear, accessible slide content
- Utilize accessible visuals
- Structure slides for logical navigation, making sure your multimedia content is inclusive
- Use PowerPoint's built-in Accessibility Assistant to find and fix common issues
By the end of this workshop, you'll be crafting inclusive presentations that captivate your audience.
- Date: August 26, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
- Facilitator: Lindsey Sharp
- Contact: Marc Thompson (thompso1@illinois.edu)
- Registration: Registration is required.
Register for the August 26 Workshop, Using the Pope Tech Canvas Accessibility Tool
Workshop Description:
Get up to speed on using the Pope Tech Canvas Accessibility Guide to make Canvas pages more accessible for everyone! In this hands-on workshop, we'll start with an overview of the Pope Tech Canvas Accessibility Guide, how it functions, what the various errors, alerts, structural elements, and features mean, and howM to fix these issues on a Canvas page. Then we'll jump into some hands-on practice using the Canvas Accessibility Guide to evaluate the accessibility of Canvas pages and remediate basic accessibility issues. We'll discuss the limitations of the tool and what still needs to be checked manually using basic digital accessibility principles.
By the end of this workshop, you'll understand how to fix Canvas pages using the Pope Tech Canvas Accessibility Guide tool and be well on the way to creating inclusive Canvas pages that meet State and Federal accessibility standards.