Syllabus Accessibility
State law and the Chancellor's Office require that all California State University instructional materials be accessible to all students, regardless of ability. The Technology & Learning Program supports campus achieving the Accessible Technology Initiative goal of making course material accessibility.
What is an Accessible Syllabus?
An accessible syllabus is a document that conveys the goals of your course in a way that all students can read and understand without problems. Whether you create your syllabus in an app like MS Word or directly in Learn, the following features are common to accessible documents because they empower the reader to quickly find information on the screen, on paper, or using a screen reader.
Make Your Syllabus Accessible
Inclusivity, Diversity & Equity:
- CSUN Checklist (Google Doc)
- Inclusive Syllabus Checklist (Google Doc) (tips from the Office of Accessible Technology Services)
Accessibility:
- Accessible Syllabus checklist (Google Doc)
- Download the Accessible Syllabus Template(somewhat dated looking; needs updating)
Basics Of A Strong Syllabus
Heading Styles
Syllabus section titles use Heading styles to provide an outline structure.
Table Headers
Tables are used to organize columns of correlated information or data. Tables have a specified header row containing column labels.
Alternative Text for Images
Alternative text descriptions (alt-text or captions) are provided for any images which convey meaning.
Reading Order
Text should make sense if every line is read from left to right. Tables or text boxes should not be used to position text.
Learner Resources
A syllabus should contain or link to relevant course-specific and campus resources such as the library, academic policies, and disability support services.
Office of Accessible Technology Services Formatting Suggestions