How can I make lists of items accessible?
When you have a series of items, making them into a bulleted or numbered list will help assistive technology users navigate and understand the items in the list. Using lists can also make instructions clearer and help break complex concepts down into smaller chunks that are easier to understand.
Assistive technology (opens new window) includes any piece of equipment, product or system that is used to improve the functional capacities of people with disabilities. Keyboards, screen readers, text-to-speech software, and screen magnifiers are commonly used forms of assistive technology. Properly configured lists allow keyboard users to jump from item to item in a list. Screen readers can identify a list and tell someone how many items they will find in it. For example, a screen reader might begin reading a bulleted list containing three items as follows: "List of three items. Bullet 1."
This article answers the following questions about lists:
Tip: For complete steps to add and format text in Canvas, see How do I add and modify text in the Rich Content Editor as an instructor? (opens new window) or How do I add and modify text in the Rich Content Editor as a student? (opens new window).
What is a "true" bulleted or numbered list?
Note: Simply typing numbers with parentheses or periods, such as "1), 2), 3)," or an asterisk in front of each item on a new line or paragraph will not create a list.
Example with a bulleted list
You can create two kinds of lists:
- Bulleted lists, like this one,
- Numbered lists.
Example with a numbered list
You can create two kinds of lists:
- Bulleted lists,
- Numbered lists, like this one.
How do I start a list before adding text?
- Select the Ordered and Unordered Lists button in the Rich Content Editor. This button has a picture of three bullets, each followed by a line that represents text.
- Select the icon for the type of list to use. Options include:
- default bulleted unordered list - bulleted list with solid dot bullets
- circle unordered list - bulleted list with open circle bullets
- square unordered list - bulleted list with square bullets
- default numerical ordered list - numbered list with a number for each list item: "1", "2", "3", etc.
- uppercase alphabetic ordered list - numbered list with an uppercase letter for each list item: "A", "B", "C", etc.
- uppercase Roman numeral ordered list - numbered list with an uppercase Roman numeral for each list item: "I", "II", "III", etc.
- The first bullet, number, or letter will appear in the editor for you to add text. You may use the equivalent of a new paragraph (e.g., press Enter or Return on a keyboard) to add another item to the list.
How do I create a list from existing text?
- If you have already entered text in the Rich Content Editor from which you want to create a list, select the text.
- Select the Ordered and Unordered Lists button. This button has a picture of three bullets, each followed by a line that represents text.
- Select the icon for the type of list to use. Options include:
- default bulleted unordered list - bulleted list with solid dot bullets
- circle unordered list - bulleted list with open circle bullets
- square unordered list - bulleted list with square bullets
- default numerical ordered list - numbered list with a number for each list item: "1", "2", "3", etc.
- uppercase alphabetic ordered list - numbered list with an uppercase letter for each list item: "A", "B", "C", etc.
- uppercase Roman numeral ordered list - numbered list with an uppercase Roman numeral for each list item: "I", "II", "III", etc.
View list.
The selected text will be placed in a list.