Accessibility at Varsity Learning
Varsity Learning is committed to providing an accessible learning experience for all students. Our platform includes built-in accessibility features for students who use screen readers, keyboard navigation, zoom, or other assistive technologies.
For our formal conformance report, see the VPAT (Accessibility Conformance Report).
On This Page
User Settings
All accessibility and display preferences are located in User Settings. To access them:
- Click the user icon (person silhouette) in the top-right corner of the navigation bar
- Select "User Settings" from the dropdown menu
- Click the "Accessibility and Display Preferences" tab
Screenshot: User Settings → Accessibility and Display Preferences
Showing the navigation path to access accessibility settings in Varsity Learning
The Accessibility and Display Preferences panel contains several categories of settings. Each is described in detail below.
Screen Reader Settings
Students using screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver) should configure the following settings for the best experience:
Recommended Settings for Screen Readers
Math Display: MathJax 3 with screen reader support
MathJax 3 renders math expressions as accessible MathML that screen readers can interpret. When this option is enabled, the MathJax Accessibility extension provides spoken math descriptions. You can also activate the hidden MathML option in the MathJax context menu (right-click on any equation) for the most detailed screen reader output.
Graph Display: Text alternatives (tables and descriptions)
Instead of visual graphs, this option replaces interactive graphs with text-based tables, data descriptions, and chart summaries that screen readers can navigate. Function values, intercepts, and key features are presented as structured text.
Drawing Entry: Keyboard/text-based alternative
For questions that normally require drawing (sketching graphs, placing points), this setting provides a text-based or keyboard-driven alternative. Students can specify coordinates, equations, or descriptions using text input instead of mouse-based canvas interaction.
Text Editor: Plain text
Switches from the rich text editor (which can be difficult to navigate with a screen reader) to a simple plain text input that is fully keyboard-accessible.
Math Entry: Calculator-style text entry
Replaces the visual math editor with a calculator-style text input. Students type math expressions using familiar notation (e.g., sqrt(x^2+1), pi/4) rather than using a graphical equation palette.
Live Preview: Manual preview button
By default, math input shows a live preview as you type. For screen reader users, this auto-updating preview can create excessive announcements. Selecting "Manual preview" adds a button that students click only when they want to hear the rendered version of their input.
Screenshot: Accessibility and Display Preferences — Screen Reader Settings
Showing the recommended configuration for students using screen readers
Zoom & Magnification
Students who need to zoom or magnify the screen should configure these settings for the crispest display:
Recommended Settings for Zoom Users
Math Display: MathJax 3
MathJax 3 renders equations as scalable vector graphics that remain crisp at any zoom level. Unlike image-based math, MathJax equations won't become pixelated when zoomed. MathJax also includes its own built-in zoom feature — right-click any equation and use the zoom options (click, double-click, or modifier key) to enlarge just the equation.
Graph Display: SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
SVG graphs remain sharp at any zoom level, unlike canvas-based or PNG graphs which can become blurry. This is the recommended setting for students who use browser zoom or OS-level magnification.
Tip: MathJax's built-in zoom can be configured from the MathJax context menu (right-click any rendered equation). You can set zoom to activate on click, double-click, or with a modifier key (Ctrl/Alt/Shift + click).
Keyboard Navigation
All core platform navigation and form interactions are accessible via keyboard:
- Tab / Shift+Tab: Navigate between interactive elements (links, buttons, form fields)
- Enter / Space: Activate buttons and links
- Arrow keys: Navigate within menus, dropdown lists, and radio button groups
- Escape: Close modal dialogs and dropdown menus
Drawing Entry: Keyboard/text-based alternative
For questions that require drawing or sketching (e.g., graphing functions, placing points on a coordinate plane), enable the "Keyboard/text-based drawing entry" option in User Settings. This replaces the mouse-based canvas with text inputs where students can type coordinates, equations, or select from structured options.
Seizure & Distraction Settings
Live Preview: Manual preview button
By default, the math input field shows a continuously updating live preview as students type. For students with seizure disorders or attention difficulties, the constantly changing preview can be distracting or triggering.
Setting Live Preview to "Manual preview button" disables auto-preview and adds a "Preview" button that students click only when they want to see the rendered version of their input. The preview remains stable between button presses.
High Contrast Mode
Two high-contrast themes are available that override the instructor's course styling:
High contrast, dark on light
Extra-high contrast with dark text on a white background, enhanced borders and focus indicators. All course themes meet WCAG AA contrast requirements.
High contrast, light on dark
White text on a dark background for students who prefer or require a dark display. Useful for light sensitivity or certain visual impairments.
These settings apply to all course content — assignments, text items, forums, and gradebook views — without affecting the platform's navigation chrome.
MathJax Interactive Accessibility
Varsity Learning uses MathJax for math rendering, which includes powerful built-in accessibility features:
Interactive Explorer
Tab to any math expression, then use arrow keys to explore: Down for more detail, Up for a broader view, Left/Right to traverse sub-expressions. The focused sub-expression is highlighted and optionally magnified.
Speech Generation
Automatic aria-label and aria-braillelabel attributes so screen readers voice mathematics correctly. MathQuill (the equation editor) also provides mathspeak-adjusted speech for variables.
Auto Voicing
Browser speech synthesis can read expressions aloud with synchronized highlighting — useful for students with dyslexia or processing differences.
Braille Output
Tactile rendering for connected Braille displays via generated braille labels.
Accessibility Menu
Right-click (or Tab + Space) on any rendered equation to access the MathJax accessibility menu with Explorer, Speech, Magnification, and Braille settings.
Instructor Accommodation Tools
Instructors have several tools to provide accommodations for individual students directly from the course Roster.
Time Limit Multiplier
For timed assessments, instructors can set a per-student time limit multiplier to accommodate students with extended time provisions (e.g., IEP, 504 plans).
- Navigate to your course and click the "Roster" tab
- Find the student in the roster list
- Click "Make Exception" at the top of the roster, then select the student
- In the student info form, locate the "Time Limit Multiplier" field
- Enter the multiplier (e.g., 1.5 for time-and-a-half, 2.0 for double time)
- Click "Update Info" to save
This multiplier applies to all timed assessments in the course. For example, if an assignment has a 60-minute time limit and the multiplier is set to 1.5, that student will receive 90 minutes.
Screenshot: Student Roster → Make Exception → Time Limit Multiplier
Showing the Time Limit Multiplier field set to 1.5 in the student info form
Late Passes
Instructors can grant individual students Late Passes, which allow a student to submit an assignment after the due date without penalty. This is useful for students with accommodation plans that include deadline flexibility. Set the number of Late Passes in the same student info form on the Roster.
Per-Assessment Exceptions
Beyond the global time multiplier, instructors can also set per-assessment exceptions for individual students:
- Extended due date — give a specific student more time on a particular assignment
- Extra attempts — allow additional tries on a specific assessment
- Custom time limit — override the assessment time limit for a specific student
To set per-assessment exceptions, go to the assessment's settings and click "Exceptions", then search for the student.
Accessibility Scanner (Instructors)
Varsity Learning includes a built-in accessibility scanner that helps instructors identify and fix accessibility issues in their course content:
Course Accessibility Report
Scans all questions and content in a course for common accessibility issues: missing alt text, uncaptioned videos, inaccessible graph types, images with embedded text, and color contrast problems.
Question Author Scanning
Question authors can scan their own questions for accessibility issues before publishing them to the shared library.
Accessibility Preview Mode
Shows img alt text and screen-reader-only content visually during question preview, so authors can verify what assistive technologies will announce.
Decorative Image Handling
The content editor includes an "Is decorative" option for images, which adds role="presentation" so screen readers correctly skip purely decorative visuals.
Contrast Checker
Built into the content block editor so instructors can verify color contrast meets WCAG AA standards when creating or editing course content.
LTI & LMS Accommodations
When Varsity Learning is integrated with your institution's Learning Management System (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Brightspace) via LTI 1.3:
- Accommodations set in the LMS (e.g., Canvas extended time) are respected when the LMS sends accommodation data via the LTI launch
- Grade passback works with LMS gradebook accommodations — scores sync correctly even when the student has extended time or extra attempts
- User preferences set in Varsity Learning persist across LTI sessions — students configure their accessibility settings once and they apply to all future sessions
Quick Reference: Settings by Need
| If the student needs… | Configure this setting |
|---|---|
| Screen reader support | Math Display → MathJax 3 with screen reader support |
| Text alternatives for graphs | Graph Display → Text alternatives (tables/descriptions) |
| Keyboard-only drawing entry | Drawing Entry → Keyboard/text-based alternative |
| Accessible text editing | Text Editor → Plain text |
| Accessible math input | Math Entry → Calculator-style text entry |
| No auto-updating previews | Live Preview → Manual preview button |
| Crisp zoom on math | Math Display → MathJax 3 (SVG or HTML output) |
| Crisp zoom on graphs | Graph Display → SVG |
| High contrast display | Course Styling → High contrast dark-on-light |
| Extended time on tests | Instructor: Roster → Time Limit Multiplier |
| Extra attempts | Instructor: Assessment → Exceptions |
| Extended due dates | Instructor: Assessment → Exceptions |
Need Help?
If you need assistance configuring accessibility settings or have a specific accommodation requirement not covered above, contact us at support@varsitylearning.com. We're committed to ensuring every student can access our platform effectively.