AI Accessibility Checker for Course Materials: Make Learning Available to All

Is your course content reaching all students?

You’ve spent hours crafting perfect course materials, but wonder if they work for students with disabilities. Manual accessibility checks take too much time, and missing issues could leave some students unable to access your content.

AI accessibility checkers provide a solution – quickly scanning your materials and flagging potential barriers. This guide shows you the best AI tools to ensure your course content works for everyone.

Why Accessibility Matters in Course Materials

Creating accessible course materials isn’t just about compliance – it’s about ensuring every student can learn effectively:

19% of college students report having a disability
Students with disabilities graduate at lower rates than peers
Accessible design benefits all students, not just those with disabilities
Many institutions have legal requirements for accessibility

What Makes Course Materials Accessible?

Good accessibility covers these key areas:

How AI Accessibility Checkers Work

AI accessibility tools use machine learning to:

Scan content across multiple formats
Compare against accessibility standards (WCAG, Section 508)
Flag potential issues
Suggest specific fixes
Generate reports for documentation

Top AI Accessibility Checkers for Course Materials

1. Blackboard Ally

Best for: Learning Management System integration

Key features:

Scans content directly within LMS
Provides accessibility scores
Offers alternative formats automatically
Generates institution-wide reports

Limitations:

Only works with supported LMS platforms
Limited customization options

2. Pope Tech

Best for: Comprehensive website and document scanning

Key features:

Scans entire websites and course sites
Prioritizes issues by impact
Provides step-by-step fix instructions
Tracks progress over time

Limitations:

Less effective for video content
Learning curve for new users

3. Verbit

Best for: Video and audio accessibility

Key features:

AI-powered captioning and transcription
99%+ accuracy rates
Multiple language support
Integration with video platforms

Limitations:

Focused primarily on media content
Limited document checking capabilities

4. Microsoft Accessibility Checker

Best for: Office documents and PowerPoints

Key features:

Built into Microsoft Office
Real-time checking as you create
Specific fix suggestions
Free with Office suite

Limitations:

Limited to Microsoft formats
Less comprehensive than dedicated tools

5. Grackle Suite

Best for: Google Workspace users

Key features:

Checks Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
One-click remediation options
Detailed reports
Direct integration with Google Drive

Limitations:

Limited to Google formats
Some features require premium version

Step-by-Step Implementation Guide

Step 1: Audit Your Current Materials

Before implementing any tool:

Sample 10% of your course materials
Run them through a basic checker
Identify common accessibility patterns
Set priority areas based on findings

Step 2: Select the Right Tool Combination

Most courses need multiple tools to cover all content types:

Primary LMS checker (like Blackboard Ally)
Document checker for source files
Media accessibility tool for videos/audio
Web checker for external resources

Step 3: Establish Checking Workflows

Create a systematic process:

Check materials during creation (not after)
Run full scans before course launch
Address high-impact issues first
Document accommodations for unfixable issues
Re-check after updates

Step 4: Train Faculty and Staff

Effective implementation requires:

Basic accessibility knowledge training
Tool-specific workflow training
Regular refreshers on best practices
Sharing success stories and examples

Step 5: Monitor and Improve

Ongoing accessibility management:

Track accessibility scores over time
Identify recurring issues for targeted training
Collect feedback from students with disabilities
Update checking tools as technologies evolve

Common Accessibility Issues AI Tools Can Identify

Missing Alternative Text
- AI can flag images without descriptions
- Some tools can even suggest appropriate alt text
Poor Color Contrast
- Tools measure text/background contrast ratios
- They suggest color combinations that meet standards
Unstructured Documents
- AI identifies missing heading structures
- Flags content that won’t make sense to screen readers
Inaccessible PDFs
- Detects untagged or poorly tagged PDFs
- Some tools can automatically remediate basic PDF issues
Untranscribed Media
- Identifies videos without captions
- Some AI tools can generate captions automatically

Limitations of AI Accessibility Checkers

While powerful, these tools have limitations:

1. Context Understanding AI may miss nuanced accessibility issues that require human judgment.

2. Visual Elements AI struggles with determining if visuals are adequately described beyond basic alt text.

3. Complex Interactions Tools may not fully evaluate complex interactive elements.

4. Learning Barriers Cognitive accessibility often requires human evaluation.

5. Subjective Quality AI-generated captions and descriptions may be technically correct but awkward.

Integrating AI Tools with Human Review

Best practice combines AI checking with human expertise:

Use AI for initial scanning and obvious issues
Have trained staff review flagged content
Include students with disabilities in testing when possible
Create an exception process for content that can’t be made fully accessible
Document all reviews for compliance purposes

Your Action Plan

Ready to implement AI accessibility checking? Start here:

This Week:
- Inventory your course material types
- Try free versions of 2-3 AI checkers
- Run a sample check on your most important materials
This Month:
- Select your primary accessibility tools
- Create checking templates and workflows
- Address critical issues in current courses
This Semester:
- Train all content creators on basic accessibility
- Implement pre-publication checking for all new materials
- Begin systematic review of existing content

Final Thoughts

AI accessibility checkers transform what was once a complex, time-consuming process into something manageable for every educator. While these tools don’t replace the need for accessibility knowledge, they dramatically reduce the technical burden of creating inclusive course materials.

Remember that accessibility isn’t just about compliance—it’s about creating an equitable learning environment where every student can succeed. The right AI tools make this goal achievable without overwhelming faculty or staff.

Start small, focus on high-impact changes, and build accessibility checking into your regular content development process. Your students will benefit, and you’ll likely find that more accessible materials lead to better learning outcomes for everyone.