Ally for Canvas Overview

Description

Ally for Canvas is a powerful accessibility tool integrated directly into the Canvas Learning Management System.  It helps improve the usability and inclusiveness of digital content. It automatically checks files and pages for accessibility issues and provides alternative formats to support a wide range of user needs and preferences.

Students benefit from alternative formats that suit their learning preferences, while instructors receive guidance on improving the accessibility of their course materials. It evaluates materials against WCAG 2.2 standards and generates alternative accessible formats for students - such as HTML, Audio, ePub, Electronic braille, OCRed PDF, BeeLine Reader, Immersive Reader, and translated versions. Ally also provides faculty with accessibility scores and step-by-step guided remediation feedback, helping instructors improve the accessibility of their Canvas course content over time.

When to Use: Use Ally for Canvas anytime you are:

• Building, updating, or maintaining content within a Canvas course.
• Uploading documents (PDFs, Word, PowerPoint, images, etc.) to Canvas.
• Seeking to meet legal and institutional accessibility standards.
• Supporting a more inclusive and equitable learning experience for all students, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities.
• Providing to provide students with automatically generated alternative formats of course materials directly within Canvas.

Training Delivery Method(s)

• Online Synchronous (Zoom/Teams)

  • Ensuring Accessibility with Ally (1 hour) – Online workshop covering how Ally works in Canvas, how to view accessibility scores, and strategies for improving course content accessibility.  (NOTE:  eLearning Services team makes it available upon request depending on staff availability)

• On-Demand – Self-paced learning modules 

  • Ally for LMS Help Center – contains resources for instructors, students, and administrators using Ally to improve course accessibility, including accessibility reports, alternative formats, content remediation, AI alt text, instructor support, and institutional reporting.
  • Watch Videos About Ally
  • Ally for Instructors: Microlearning Video Series for Accessible Teaching

Who Has Access?

• Faculty and Students who have access to Canvas

How to Access?

• Ally for Canvas is automatically enabled in all PGCC Canvas courses.
• Students automatically have access to alternative format downloads for course content—no separate account required.

Additional Resources

Check out the following AskPGCC Articles:  

• Ally Help for Faculty
• Ally Help for Students
• Viewing the Ally Accessibility Report in Canvas
• Ally for Canvas Training Plan

Have Questions

• For technology training questions, concerns, resources, and updates, submit an askPGCC request to eLearning Services.
• For non-training related IT questions and login/access issues, contact Technology Service Desk at 301-546-0637