At FSU, we're committed to a quality learning experience for all students. When course content is accessible, everyone benefits, not just those with disabilities. With Ally, you've got a tool that simplifies the process of converting course materials into formats all students can access. Ally works in Canvas to improve the accessibility of your course and make inclusive design more attainable.
What does Ally do?
- Scans pages, documents, images, and more
- Scores content for accessibility and makes automated corrections where possible
- Provides easy-to-follow options for addressing inaccessible files
- Automatically generates alternative formats for student to access
- Supports FSU's commitment to a quality, inclusive learning experience for all
Below you'll find links to several resources designed to help you integrate Ally into your course design process. In addition to these, be sure to register for one of our Ally webinars. You'll get hands-on tips for using Ally and making your course materials more accessible.
Easy Fixes
Check out simple ways to get started and immediately increase course accessibility.
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File Formats
Need to address an inaccessible course file? Learn how to make files accessible.
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Benefits of Accessible Course Content
In many cases, improving the accessibility of course content benefits all students, including those without a disability. Accessibility is often closely connected to the quality and usability of the course materials. The following information is reprinted from Blackboard Ally’s Instructor FAQs webpage.
Properly Scanned Documents
Having a proper digital copy of a document instead of a scan makes the document more usable for all students. It might make the document easier to read, especially for low-quality scans, and it also allows students to search through the document and find specific content, copy and paste sections of the document, and so on.
Alternative Formats
The Semantic HTML alternative format is fully responsive and mobile-friendly and makes it easier for all students to consume to content on their mobile device. The ePub alternative format makes it easy to change the visual display of a document and allows for annotations and highlighting to be added. The audio alternative format can be used during a commute, on a run, etc. The translated version alternative format can help second language students.
Captioned Video
Having a video with captioning or a transcript will make the video more usable for all students. It allows the student to search through the video and find specific parts, the video can still be watched in high-noise environment (for example, commuting), and so on.
Image Descriptions
Having an image with a quality description can make the image more usable for all students. It can help clarify the content of the image and how it connects to the surrounding context, make the image searchable, and so on.
Document Headings
Providing a good heading structure for a long document makes the document more usable for all students. It provides additional structure, which makes it easier to work through and process the content. It also allows for a table of contents to be generated, which can improve the navigability of the document.
