Making accessible lessons

These simple design tips help your lessons work well for all students, including those using screen readers or other assistive tools.

Tip	Note
Logical reading order	Arrange content top-to-bottom, left-to-right.
Keep elements separate	Avoid grouping multiple items unless necessary. If grouped, add alt text to the group.
Minimize text boxes	Fewer boxes means easier navigation for screen readers.
Avoid handwriting with the pen tool	Drawings aren’t read aloud. If needed, group them and add alt text.
Lock elements	Prevent accidental movement once your design is finalized.
Instructional audio first	Screen readers read audio before other content—use it for key directions.

For more tips on accessibility best practices:

Alt text allows screen readers to describe images, shapes, diagrams, and other non-text annotations to students on a lesson page.

To add alt text to annotations

Open a lesson in editing mode.
Click an annotation on the lesson page.
Click the arrow to expand the menu and select Add alt text.
Write a description of what the annotation shows.
Tip
Alt text should:
- Describe the element
- Explain why it matters for learning
- Be short and clear
Click Save.
You can edit the alt text at any time by clicking the object, then thearrow, and selecting Edit alt text.

Not all annotations need to be read aloud. Screen readers will skip decorative annotations, making navigation faster for students.

To mark an annotation as a decoration (or remove alt text)

Click an annotation on the lesson page.
Click the arrow to expand the menu and select Add alt text or Edit alt text.
Select the Mark as decoration check box.
Click Save.
The screen reader will skip this annotation.

The following activities support screen readers:

Contents