Tagged PDF

An important way to make PDFs accessible is ensuring the document is "tagged." A "tagged PDF" includes the structure of the document, kind of like an internal table of contents with additional information.

PDF tags make it possible to identify content as headings, lists, tables, etc., and to include alternate text for images. Without tags, none of the accessibility software are possible to use, such as text-to-speech or screenreaders.

Unfortunately, not all PDFs are tagged. Therefore it is important to tag your document before uploading it to Canvas, for example in Adobe Acrobat (UiO Program Kiosk).

If your Word or PowerPoint document is untagged and uploaded to Canvas, you can create a tagged PDF by using Ally.

Audio version

Generating an audio version of Canvas content makes it possible for the original content to be read aloud in an mp3 file. In addition to people with visual impairments, an audio version helps:

people who prefer to listen than read, or are more auditory learners
people who want to read and listen to content at the same time
fatigued persons reading large documents
people who want to be free to do other things while they study, for example commuters

The first time you generate an audio version of a file, it can take from a few seconds to a few minutes to generate. There is a limitation for larger documents, which is 100,000 characters or approximately 30 pages of content.

ePub version

If you use a physical e-book reader, you can download the ePub alternative format and send it to your e-book reader. You can also open ePub files on PCs and mobile devices, and the content in ePub files is automatically adapted to your device.

There are many benefits of ePub, such as adjusting the background color to better fit your reading situation, or saving notes, highlights and annotations within your ePub file, or the ability to copy, paste and search text.

Electronic Braille

Ally generates a BRF file that can be read on Braille software and devices. This is extremely helpful for users with visual impairments.

HTML version

Generating an HTML version of your Canvas content includes HTML elements that add meaning and structure, such as paragraphs, headings, quotes, etc. Screen readers typically work best with HTML content, and HTML works well on mobile device because HTML is fully responsive, meaning that it will adapt to any screen size or resolution.

Translated version

This alternative format translates Canvas content to the user's language of choice. This has not been activated for use at the University of Oslo and is currently under review.