You fixed your syllabus. Now you need to upload it. That should be the easy part, but this is where a very ordinary mistake happens: faculty remediate one version of a file and then upload an older, inaccessible version to the LMS by accident. The result is frustrating because the accessibility work was real, but students still end up receiving the wrong document.
Why Uploading Still Matters
Accessibility does not end the moment the Word file is corrected. The version students actually receive is what matters. Canvas and Blackboard do not automatically make a document accessible just because it was uploaded there, and they cannot protect you from choosing the wrong file if multiple drafts exist on your machine.
Real Example
Suppose you remediate a syllabus in Word and save it with corrections to headings, tables, and alt text. Then, while uploading materials in a rush, you post an older copy that still contains the original accessibility problems. Students never benefit from the corrected version because it never becomes the version of record.
A Simple Upload Habit That Helps
The best protection is boring but effective: verify the final corrected file, check the filename carefully, upload that exact document, and then open the uploaded file from inside the LMS to confirm it is the right version. That last step catches more avoidable mistakes than people expect.
Workflow
Before uploading, confirm that the corrected file is the final file. Use a clear filename if needed so you do not confuse old and new drafts. Upload the corrected document to Canvas or Blackboard, then open it from the student-facing side and confirm it is the intended version. If you revise the file later, run a quick compliance check again before replacing the posted copy.
FAQ
Does uploading to Canvas make a document accessible automatically?
No. Accessibility has to be handled in the document itself.
Should I check the uploaded version?
Yes. It is one of the simplest ways to avoid posting the wrong file.
Does this apply in Blackboard too?
Yes. The same principle holds across both systems.
What if I revise after upload?
Treat the revised file like a new distribution step and verify it again.
A Practical Place to Start
If you are preparing to upload a corrected syllabus to your LMS, run it through AdaDocumentMaker first and then confirm the version you post is the version you actually fixed.