Ally

Ally, digital content accessibility tool

AVAILABLE FOR FACULTY

A new tool, Ally, will soon be available for BGSU faculty that focuses on making digital course content more accessible. Ally integrates with Canvas, and using inclusivity, sustainability, and automation as its key pillars, it can address accessibility in a way that benefits all students.

Several faculty participated in a pilot of Ally that included training and the utilization of Ally in spring semester Canvas courses. Ally will be available to all BGSU faculty beginning March 19, 2018. Once implemented, faculty will notice a new column in the “Files” area of their Canvas courses.  This column will contain icons that indicate an accessibility score for each file.  Clicking on the icon will provide information on how to edit the content file to make it accessible for all students. 

Benefits

Students will now be able to select from several file formats in their Canvas courses including an enhanced version of the original file, semantic HTML, electronic braille, and an audio version of the file.  These multiple file types are of benefit to all students, providing options for students with disabilities as well as for students with different learning styles and preferences.  

Available file formats: 

  • Enhanced version of original file:  Once Ally-recommended changes are applied to the file, students can simply click on the file link to view the updated version of the original file.
  • Semantic HTML version.  Semantic HTML is the use of HTML markup to reinforce the semantics, or meaning of the information in webpages and web applications rather than merely to define its presentation or look.
  • Audio version. A digital audio file.
  • Electronic braille version. Electronic braille is produced using an electronic braille display. They are also known as paperless, soft or refreshable braille displays. Braille displays work with a screen reader, the device is placed underneath a computer keyboard and enables the user to read what's on the computer screen by touch in braille.
  • epub version.  EPUB is an e-book file format with the extension .epub that can be downloaded and read on devices like smartphones, tablets, computers, or e-readers. It is a technical standard published by the International Digital Publishing Forum. 


Training
To get acquainted with Ally, you can:

 

Updated: 03/13/2018 08:56AM