How do I create accessible links with UDOIT?
UDOIT can be used to scan and check for nondescript or missing link text that can make links inaccessible. Depending the type of link issue and where it is found in a course, you may be able to update or add link text within UDOIT or you may need to edit the link directly in Canvas.
UDOIT has a SpeedFIXIT Beta feature to help you create accessible links. This feature provides three AI suggestions for each link's text. You may review the suggested options and edit and approve one of them to apply it to the link.
Note:
- If you added a web link (URL) in the Rich Content Editor by typing or pasting in its text without making it a clickable link, the URL will not be included in UDOIT scans.
- Before April 24, 2026, UDOIT automatically added a file named udoit.json to courses to track accessibility fixes across copied content. UDOIT no longer uses this file, so courses scanned after this date will not include it. If the file is deleted from a course where it was added, it will not be restored.
Remediate issues with SpeedFIXIT
Go to the UDOIT Accessibility Report
Select UDOIT Accessibility Report from the Course Navigation Menu.
Select the UFIXIT tab.
Select the UFIXIT tab near the top of the page.
Scan your content. (Optional)
The first time UDOIT is selected from the Course Navigation Menu, it will automatically scan course content. After 24 hours, UDOIT will scan new (previously unscanned) content when accessed again from within the course. You can view when the course content was last scanned and manually start a scan for added or edited content if desired by:
- Reviewing the last scanned date.
- Selecting Scan Now.
Got to SpeedFIXIT Beta.
If there are issues in the course that can be addressed with SpeedFIXIT, a SpeedFIXIT Beta button will appear in the upper-right corner of the UFIXIT tab.
Select SpeedFIXIT Beta.
Filter by Issue Type.
Select Links from the Issue Type drop-down menu.
Use SpeedFIXIT to choose accessible link text.
SpeedFIXIT will generate three AI suggestions for each link's text. You may edit and approve one of the suggestions to apply it to a link, as follows:
- Select the link to the right of Found in: to open a new browser tab or window displaying the potential accessibility issue within the course.
- One of the AI-generated link text suggestions will be displayed in the New Link Text field. To review additional suggestions, use the Previous Suggestion (left arrow) and Next Suggestion (right arrow) buttons. You may choose one of the available options and edit the text as needed in the New Link Text field, enter your own text in the field, or select the checkbox to delete the link.
Tip: You can find more information about making links accessible in How can I make links accessible? (opens new window). - Select Approve to update the link.
Note: You may select Skip to address an issue with another link first. You will be able to return to update the current link's text later.
Tip: For more information on SpeedFIXIT, see: Remediate Content Quickly with SpeedFIXIT (opens in new window).
Remediate Issues without AI Suggestions
If you prefer to not use SpeedFIXIT's AI suggestions, you may remediate alternative text issues in the standard UFIXIT window.
Go to UDOIT Accessibility Report.
Select UDOIT Accessibility Report from the Course Navigation Menu.
Select the UFIXIT tab.
Select the UFIXIT tab near the top of the page.
Scan your content. (Optional)
The first time UDOIT is selected from the Course Navigation Menu, it will automatically scan course content. After 24 hours, UDOIT will scan new (previously unscanned) content when accessed again from within the course. You can view when the course content was last scanned and manually start a scan for added or edited content if desired by:
- Reviewing the last scanned date.
- Selecting Scan Now.
Filter issues.
Select the Filter button to open the collapsible Filters menu.
Filter by Links.
- Scroll down on the Filters menu,
- Select Links from the Issue Types drop-down menu.
Review the filtered issues.
A table will display with the following columns:
- Status: Icons indicating suggestions or errors as follows:
- A red exclamation point in a circle - An error that needs to be resolved
- A blue italicized "i" - A suggestion that needs review
- Title: The title of the item where an issue has been found.
- Type: The content type where the issue was found, for example, a Page or Module.
- Issue: A brief summary of the potential accessibility issue.
- Review: Button to open the UFIXIT interface for the corresponding issue.
Select Review for the desired issue.
Remediate issues.
UDOIT scans for links in:
- Announcements
- Assignments
- Discussions
- Modules
- Pages
- Syllabus
- Content that was entered in the Quiz Instructions field for a Classic Quiz. Note: UDOIT scans do not include question and other text in Classic Quizzes and quizzes created using New Quizzes.
If a link was added as an External URL in Modules or the UFIXIT window displays an issue type of Adjacent Links Found, the link will need to be edited directly within Canvas. Skip to the step to fix an issue in Canvas.
Note: If you added a web link (URL) in the Rich Content Editor by typing or pasting in its text without making it a clickable link, the URL will not be included in UDOIT scans.
Fix a link in UDOIT.
A UFIXIT window will pop up to allow you to review and address the accessibility issue. In this window:
- Select the link to the right of Found in: to open a new browser tab or window displaying the potential accessibility issue within the course.
- The text currently being used for the link is listed under Original Link Text. Update the text in the New Link Text field or select the checkbox to delete the link.
- Tip: Use descriptive link text that clearly identifies the content being linked to (e.g., "Class Schedule" instead of "click here" or "schedule.html"). If a file name is currently used as the link text, and the file name is already descriptive, for example, “Spring 2026 Syllabus.docx,” consider updating the format of the link text. For example: “Spring 2026 Syllabus (Word).” You can find more information about creating accessible link text in How can I make links accessible? (opens new window).
- Select the Save button when you have finished making changes.
- Alternatively, if you fixed the accessibility issue directly in another browser tab or window:
- Select Manual Resolution.
- Select the confirmation checkbox to indicate you fixed the issue.
- When you are finished making changes, select:
- Close to close the window,
- Previous Issue to navigate to the previous item in the issue list,
- Or Next Issue to navigate to the next item in the issue list.
Fix a link in Canvas
If a link was added as an External URL in Modules or the UFIXIT window displays an issue type of Adjacent Links Found, the link will need to be edited directly within Canvas. Open the section below corresponding to the issue type for the steps to fix it.
If the UFIXIT window displays module next to Found in, the link will need to be edited directly within the Modules tool by following the steps below.
Edit the External URL.
- Select the More (three vertical dots) icon for the inaccessible link.
- Select Edit.
Revise the Title.
- Update the text in the Title field with unique and descriptive link text. Tip: You can find more information about creating accessible link text in How can I make links accessible? (opens new window).
- Select Update.
The "Adjacent links found" error refers to two links beside each other or separated by a few words that point to the same destination. This can be confusing to users of assistive technology because they will be interpreted as separate links. For example, if the phrase, "Go to the UVA website," has adjacent links, a screen reader may read it as: "Go to the link. UVA website link."
Select the content issue link.
In the UFIXIT interface, select the link to the right of Found in: to open a new browser tab or window displaying the potential accessibility issue within the course.
Edit content.
The Rich Content Editor is available on most pages in Canvas where text can be added. For example, you may use the editor to create a page in Modules, create or submit an assignment, or make an announcement.
Pictured above is where an instructor can find the Edit button for an announcement.
Select Link Options.
Select one of the adjacent links and choose Link Options.
Edit the link.
The Link Options panel will open. In this panel:
- Update the Text field to include all the text that should be part of the link. Tip: You can find more information about creating accessible link text in How can I make links accessible? (opens new window).
- Select Done.
Remove the duplicate link.
Select the duplicate link's text in the editor and delete the text.
Rescan course files. (Optional)
After revising content, you may select the Scan Now button in UDOIT to update the list of accessibility issues in the course.