Accessible links

Creating accessible and informative links in context.

What are accessible links?

While links can provide access to a wealth of valuable information for students, they can pose considerable barriers for students using screen readers. It is essential that links are accessible to remove those barriers.

A link is considered accessible if students can get the following information about the link destination before they click on it:

The general subject matter of the content

The format of the content, e.g. webpage or file

If the link is to a file, the size of the file and number of pages (if applicable)

If the destination is external or internal

If the link opens a new tab or window

This information can be provided through the link label, the immediately adjacent text, and the location of the link within your content.

Link label

A link consists of two components, the link address or URL and the link label or text.

The link address or URL is what the web browser will use to access the linked content.

The link label is the text that is displayed on the screen for the link.

Label text

Ensure that the label text you apply to your links is informative and clear. Here are two examples of label texts (note that these are not real links), the first is accessible but the second is not.

Registration form for July field trip

The link text associated with a link should be unique, so if you have two links that lead to different places don’t use the same link text and if you use the same link multiple times keep the link label the same each time.

Why is this important? Students using screen readers can move directly from one link to the next in the text or bring up a links list. This has the effect of removing the links from the surrounding text. Using generic link labels such as Click here or Register here or Learn more means students either cannot use their screen reader’s time saving functionality or they must select each link to find out what that link will take them to.

Additionally, links which use the link address as the label, e.g. https://learningandteaching.anu.edu.au/ are not very meaningful and take screen readers considerable time to read out.

This resource collection includes a number of links that you can use as models when thinking about labels for your links.

Link declaration

Link declarations are important signposts as they provide useful information about the link and enable users to make decisions about selecting links. They generally describe what to expect when a link is selected. They are useful for decisions around format and size of the link destination.

Links to websites

Where a link is to an external website, the link declaration should make that clear. In the LMS, external links are created with the external website signpost included. However, if you include external links in documents, PDF, or presentations, you should add text such as (opens an external website) or (external site) at the end of the link label.

Download links

Where the link triggers a download of content, you should also include the file type, size and number of pages if applicable, e.g. PDF, 27 pages, 2.4MB. For example, UDL Graphic organizer v2.2 with numbers PDF, 1 page, 211KB

Link settings in Canvas

There are some specific settings that you should consider when creating links in your Canvas course site.

External links

When adding external links in your course site, they should always be left with the default setting to open within the existing tab, i.e. replaces the current page. This is related to the browser back button.

If a link to opened within the existing tab, students can use the back button to return to the previous page. If the link opens in a new tab, students must swap tabs to get to the previous page. Students using a screen reader may be unaware of having moved to a new tab and will potentially have difficulties navigating your content.

Students who prefer to open content in a new tab can do so by selecting either the ‘Open link in new tab’ or ‘Open link in new window’ option.

Course file links

Canvas allows you to insert links to course files in your content pages. With the default course file link settings, clicking on the file link will preview, i.e. open, the file in an overlay screen viewer. This means it sits ‘over’ the page with the file link.

This option is accessible for students using screen readers. However, you have the option to change the setting to preview the file in line. This opens the file in a screen viewer within the same page. The identical functionality is provided to students, e.g. full screen, zoom etc, but does not require them to return to the previous screen when finished reading. This second option is recommended.

All link setting options enable students to download the file.

Note: when Canvas creates a course file link, it does not include link information such as file type, size and pages. The link must be updated to add this necessary information.

Link location

Wherever possible, include your links within the text they are part of or relate to. Below are two examples of accessible links. The first example includes the accessible link in the text and so is considered more accessible than the second example where the links are separated from the text.

Example of links included in context

CAST is a not for profit education research and development organisation that created the Universal Design for Learning (external site) framework and associated UDL Guidelines (PDF, 210KB, 1 page). The UDL framework and guidelines focus on making education and learning inclusive for all learners regardless of individual differences and needs.

Source: CAST (external site)

Same content with the links provided out of context

CAST is a not for profit education research and development organisation that created the Universal Design for Learning framework and associated UDL Guidelines. The UDL framework and guidelines focus on making education and learning inclusive for all learners regardless of individual differences and needs.

Universal Design for Learning framework (external site)

UDL Guidelines (PDF, 210KB, 1 page)

Source: CAST (external site)

In this collection