Ally 7. The document does not have any headings (Major)

Assess

Some documents in your course are missing headings that define the structure of the content. While the text may be visually formatted with bold or larger fonts, it lacks properly applied heading styles (e.g., Heading 1, Heading 2) that assistive technologies rely on to interpret and navigate the document.

This issue is common when content is copied and pasted, or when formatting is applied manually instead of using built-in heading tools.

Insight

Why headings matter:

Improves navigation – Headings allow screen reader users to jump between sections, just like sighted users scan for bold titles or section breaks.
Clarifies structure – Headings organize content into logical sections, making it easier for all students to follow and understand.
Supports accessibility tools – Assistive technologies use heading levels to create a table of contents or outline view, helping users navigate long or complex documents.
Enhances usability for everyone – Even students not using assistive tech benefit from clearly structured content, especially in digital formats.

Modify

To fix this issue using Canvas Ally:

Open the Accessibility Report from your course navigation menu.
Scroll to the list of issues and select “The document does not have headings.”
Click the Fuel Gauge/Score icon next to the flagged document. A new tab will open.
Download the original document by selecting the download icon at the top of the frame.
Add headings using common source origins found below.
Return to the Ally interface and upload the updated document.
Close the tab and return to the Accessibility Report to confirm the issue is resolved.

In Microsoft Word:

Open the document.
Highlight the text that should be a heading (e.g., section titles).
Go to the Home tab and choose a heading style from the Styles group:
- Use Heading 1 for the main title
- Use Heading 2 for major sections
- Use Heading 3 for subsections
Repeat for all relevant sections.
Save the document.

In Microsoft PowerPoint:

Open the presentation.
Ensure each slide has a title in the designated title placeholder.
Avoid placing titles in text boxes, as these are not recognized as headings by screen readers.
Save the presentation.

A.I.M for Accessibility In Mind...

What to Do:

Use built-in heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) in Word or PowerPoint.
Apply headings consistently to reflect the structure of your content.
Use headings to break up long sections and guide students through the material.

What to Avoid:

Don’t use bold or font size alone – These don’t create true headings that assistive technologies can recognize.
Avoid skipping heading levels – For example, don’t jump from Heading 1 to Heading 4 without using Heading 2 or 3.
Don’t place slide titles in text boxes – Use the designated title placeholder in PowerPoint.

Additional Resources:

Anthology Help Center- Add Headings to a Document