How to Use SensusAccess Inside Canvas

by | Sep 11, 2024 | Accessibility, Canvas Features/Functions

The image features a logo at the top with the text ‘SensusAccess’ in bold, followed by the tagline ‘alternate media made easy’ in lowercase letters. Below this, there is a stylized graphic of various people engaged with different forms of media. Some individuals are holding books, one person is using a tablet, another is holding up a braille document, and one figure appears to be using a mobile phone. The color scheme consists of dark silhouettes against a light background which transitions from white to dark blue at the bottom.

It’s now easier than ever to improve the accessibility of learning materials in your Canvas courses with SensusAccess Inside Canvas. This new integration brings SensusAccess, previously only available via the web, inside your Canvas courses. This tool can help you and your students convert learning materials into more accessible formats, such as MP3s, e-books, Braille, and more. 

Why use SensusAccess?

SensusAccess can be an important tool to help increase the accessibility of your learning materials. Here’s how:

  • Helps support diverse learning needs: You and your students can convert course materials into formats that accommodate various learning preferences.
  • Enhances accessibility: Ensure students with disabilities can access your content in a format that suits them best.
  • Saves time: Quickly and easily convert documents without needing specialized software.

Always Start with High-Quality Scans

It’s important to know that creating or sourcing high quality digital files is essential for successful conversion to accessible formats. Keep these tips in mind:

  • When possible, request materials through the Library’s e-Reserves or Scan-and-Deliver service, for items that are in the collection.
  • Avoid scans that are blurry, crooked or wavy, contain shadows, have notes in the margin or other markings, etc.

How to use SensusAccess in Canvas

  1. Navigate to an area of the Canvas site in which content items are available, such as Modules, Pages, or Files.
  2. Select the SensusAccess icon in-line with the name of the file you want to convert to begin the process. You will need to give one-time permission for SensusAccess to connect to Canvas. Screenshot of a module in Canvas showing the location of the SensusAccess Inside Canvas icon.
  3. Depending on the type of file you are converting, you will see different options in the dialog box appear. For example, if you are converting a Canvas Page to a new format, you should select Page content.
    Screenshot of SensusAccess's Convert a file dialogue modal, showing options for "Select a document to convert" which is selected and "Page content".
  4. Open Conversion Parameters and select the format to which you would like the file converted.
  5. Select Email or Download, depending on whether you would like to have the file emailed to you or downloaded directly. Note: the larger the original file, the longer the conversion process will take. The image displays a user interface for SensusAccess Inside Canvas for converting a file. There is a dropdown menu labeled ‘File’ with the option ‘Page content’ selected. Another dropdown menu labeled ‘Conversion type’ has the option ‘Accessibility conversion’ selected. Underneath, there is a section titled ‘Conversion parameters’ with another dropdown menu for ‘Target format,’ which is set to ‘docx - Microsoft Word.’ Below this, there are two buttons: one labeled ‘Email,’ and another labeled ‘Download.’

Best practices for using SensusAccess

  • Check for accuracy: After converting, review the output to ensure that the content is accurate and accessible.
  • Communicate with your students: Let students know that alternative formats are available and encourage them to use the ones that best suit their learning style.

Disabling SensusAccess

While we recommend that you leave SensusAccess enabled, you can disable its integration in Canvas by following these steps:

  1. Click on Settings in the course navigation.
  2. Click Disable SensusAccess Inside.

If you choose to disable SensusAccess, you can re-enable it at any time.

Further Resources