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This article will tell you about what Ally is and what it does. |
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Overview
What is Ally?
Ally is a service provided by Blackboard to help instructors create more accessible course content. The most noticeable effect are little indicators near files that show how accessible that content is and what you can do to make it better.
As a part of our mission to provide an excellent education to all students, Ally cannot be turned off by an instructor.
Alternative Formats
Ally also automatically generates alternative file formats for each file you add. The formats can be any of the following options:
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For more information, read Downloading Alternative File Formats.
Ally Indicators
Instructors now have an icon like a speedometer next to each file. This is the Ally indicator. Instructors can click the indicator to see more information about the accessibility feedback for that file, which includes instructions on how to improve that file's score.
The indicator will be one of four colors: Red, orange, light green, and green. Each of these represents the level of accessibility, from worst to best. If you hover over the indicator, it will tell you if the accessibility score is low, medium, or high.
Frequently Asked Questions
Language Support
Ally has support for the following languages:
- Catalan
- Danish
- Dutch
- English, US
- English, UK
- Finnish
- French
- French, Canadian
- German
- Italian
- Norwegian Bokmål
- Norwegian Nynorsk
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Portuguese, Brazilian
- Spanish
- Swedish
- Turkish
- Welsh
Browser Support
Ally is supported by any browser that Blackboard is supported by. For a list of Blackboard's supported browsers see Blackboard's Browser Checker.
Course Copy Behavior
When you copy a course, all alternative formats and instructor feedback will be visible in the new course.
When you archive a course, only references to file accessibility are available.
What are some examples of how accessibility benefits all students?
Example 1: Having a proper digital copy of a document instead of a scan makes the document more usable for all students. It allows students to search the document, makes it easier to read, and allows students to copy and paste portions of the document.
Example 2: Having a video with closed captioning or transcript makes the video more usable for all students. It allows students to search through the video to find specific parts or watch the video in high-noise situations or when they may not be able to turn on the sound of the video, such as commuting.
Example 3: 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, it makes the image searchable, etc.
Example 4: 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 automatically generated.
Will Ally change my course appearance?
The only difference you'll see as an instructor is the accessibility gauge next to course files. Students will have an additional dropdown which allows them to download content in alternative formats.
What content does Ally check?
Currently, Ally can check the following formats:
- PDF files
- MS Word files
- MS PowerPoint files
- OpenOffice/LibreOffice files
- Uploaded HTML files
- WYSIWYG/VTBE content
What accessibility issues does Ally check for?
Ally uses WCAG 2.1 AA (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). In addition, Ally checks a few other things to target usability and quality of course materials.
What does Ally do with content it can't check?
Ally includes content it can't check for accessibility (such as ZIP archives), under "Other" in the institutional report (a report for the administrators of the institution). This content does not receive an accessibility score, does not contribute to the institution's accessibility score, and does not have an indicator or option to download alternative versions.
What is a contrast check?
Contrast checks verify whether there is sufficient contrast between the text color and its background color. Text with poor contrast can be difficult to read for everyone, but especially students with visual impairments such as color blindness.
What files can have an alternative format?
Ally provides alternative formats for the following file types:
- PDF files
- MS Word files
- MS PowerPoint files
- OpenOffice/LibreOffice files
- Uploaded HTML files
Does Ally generate alternative accessible versions of student content?
Ally currently only processes instructional content. Ally does not process student submissions or content.
Which Braille code does Ally use for the Electronic Braille Format?
Ally uses Braille Ready File (.brf) as the electronic Braille format. The braille code used depends on the language the document is in. For English documents, Ally uses Grade 2 Unified English Braille (contracted).
Can the Ally Electronic Braille Format be printed using a Braille printer?
The BRF format can be used for both electronic braille displays and braille embossers (printers). You should still check whether the specific printer model supports .brf files.
How do I see all issues with a file?
Select "All issues" in the accessibility feedback to see every issue in the file. Find the issue you want to work on and click "Fix".
What threshold is used for the color of the accessibility indicator?
Ally provides every document with an accessibility score, which is a percentage score that is supposed to reflect how accessible an item is, how many students it can effect, how severely it affects them, etc. Within the user interface, the following thresholds are used for each color:
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The file is somewhat accessible, but needs further attention.
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Accessibility is a spectrum where further improvements are always possible, so it's hard to provide a point at which the item becomes accessible. However, as a rule of thumb, once a file is in the green zone, it should be fineFor information on questions that are commonly asked about Ally, please see the Frequently Asked Questions About Ally page.