Introduction

The Blackboard Ally tool in Canvas lets instructors make sure teaching materials are accessible and can be viewed and digested by students with disabilities. Accessibility is required by Virginia Tech (VT Policy 7215) and the U.S. government (Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act). 

Blackboard Ally is not a file editor.

• It only lets you add alternative text (Alt Text) to images in scanned files. 
• For all other issues, edit files on your computer and upload a new version to Canvas.  

Blackboard Ally can:

• Check Canvas files for accessibility.
• Give instruction on how to improve accessibility.
• Allow in-browser previews of files.
• Provide accessible, alternative formats.

Contents

• Background
  
  • Allowed Files
  • Alternative Formats
  • Resources
• Instructors
  
  • Checking the Course Accessibility Report
  • Checking Accessibility with the Accessibility Meter
    
    • In Files
    • In Assignments & the Rich Content Editor
  • Viewing Accessibility Details
  • Adding Alt Text for Image Descriptions
  • Fixing Other Accessibility Issues
  • Manage Alternative Formats
    
    • Enable Alternative Formats
    • Disable Alternative Formats
    • Download Alternative Formats
• Students
  
  • About Alternative Formats
  • Downloading Alternative Formats
    
    • From Files
    • From Assignments
• Troubleshooting
  
  • I can't fix my file in Blackboard Ally
  • I don't see alternative formats
  • Canvas froze when I clicked alternative formats
  • Canvas froze when I tried to download an alternative format
• Getting Help

Instructions

Background

Allowed Files

Once uploaded to Canvas, Blackboard Ally can review:

• PDFs
• Microsoft Word documents
• Microsoft PowerPoint slides
• HTML files
• Images
• YouTube Videos

Alternative Formats

Many learners benefit from materials in an alternative format that better support their learning preferences or abilities. Some formats are easier to access for assistive technologies such as screen readers, refreshable Braille displays, or text-to-speech applications. Blackboard Ally lets instructors create and students download the following alternative file formats: 

• Tagged PDF (structured PDF for improved use with assistive technology)
• HTML (for viewing in the browser and on mobile devices)
• ePub (for reading as an e-book on mobile devices)
• Electronic Braille (BRF version for consumption on electronic braille displays)
• Audio (MP3 version for listening)
• BeeLine Reader (enhanced version for easier and faster on-screen reading)

Alternative formats available depend on the original file format: 

	Tagged PDF	HTML	ePub	Electronic Braille	Audio	BeeLine Reader
PDF		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
MS Word	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
HTML			✔	✔	✔	✔
MS PowerPoint	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Resources

 Videos:

• Blackboard Ally for LMS
• Ally First Steps Guide – Alternative accessible formats from pages in Canvas
• Ally First Steps Guide – Feedback and guidance for instructors in Canvas
• Ally First Steps Guide – Alternative accessible formats for students in Canvas

Blackboard Ally website:

• Ally for Learning Management Systems (LMS) Help
• Alternative Formats
• Accessibility checklist
• Design Accessible Content
• Course Accessibility Report

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Instructors

Checking the Course Accessibility Report

The Ally Course Accessibility Report by Blackboard in Canvas can help you obtain a high-level view of accessibility across your Canvas course site and help you prioritize remediation strategies to improve accessibility in your Canvas content. This tool is readily available for you to access and utilize in your Canvas course sites.

Click on the Ally Course Accessibility Report tab in your course navigation menu to access an overview of your course accessibility.

We recommend starting with All Course Content and Choose What to Fix First to begin remediation in your course. More information about these tools can be found on Blackboard's page on the Course Accessibility Report.

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Checking Accessibility with the Accessibility Meter

Blackboard Ally automatically scans Canvas files after it is integrated. 

The accessibility meter appears either before or after a file in Canvas, depending on the file's location. 

Red & pointing left: File is not accessible	Orange & pointing up:  File is partially accessible	Green & pointing right:  File is accessible

Click the meter to go to the file preview and see detailed accessibility information. 

In Files

1. Click Files in the Course Navigation Menu.
2. There will be a column labeled Accessibility.
   
   

In Assignments (and anywhere else that uses the Rich Content Editor)

Go to Assignments, Announcements, or any other tool that uses the Rich Content Editor. Blackboard Ally will scan and report on the accessibility of files attached in the Rich Content Editor. 

• The accessibility meter appears before each file.
• It appears on the preview screen, not the edit screen. 
  
  

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Viewing Accessibility Details

• You can use Blackboard Ally to add Alt Text to an image (see Add Alt Text below). 
• For all other issues, fix the file on your computer and re-upload to Canvas (see Improve Content Accessibility for detailed instructions).

1. Click the Accessibility Meter next to any file. 
   
   
   
   
2. The accessibility report shows percent accessibility, missing components, and an explanation of issues.
   
   1. Untagged PDF
      
   2. Microsoft Word document without headers
      
   3. Image with low contrast and missing alternative text.
      

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Adding Alt Text for Image Descriptions

1. In the accessibility report for an image, click Fix.
   
   
   
   
2. Add an image description (Alt Text). 
   
   1. Click How to write a good description for instructions. 
   2. Check Indicate image is decorative if the image is an icon, logo, or graphic element that does not contribute to the content of the file. 
   3. Save. 
      
      

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Fixing Other Accessibility Issues

Blackboard Ally is not a file editor.

Ally only lets you add Alt Text to images in scanned files. For all other issues, edit files on your computer and upload a new version to Canvas. See Improve Content Accessibility for detailed instructions. 

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Managing Alternative Formats

Enable Alternative Formats

1. Go to course Files and click a file.
2. Click Alternative formats.
   
   
   
   
3. On the Alternative formats popup, click Enable for this file.
   
   

Disable Alternative Formats

1. Go to course Files and click a file.
2. Click Alternative formats.
3. In the Download alternative formats popup, click the drop-down arrow next to Download alternative formats → Disable alternative formats for this file. 
   
   
   
   

Download Alternative Formats

1. Go to course Files and click a file.
2. Click Alternative formats.
   
   
   
   
3. In the Download alternative formats popup, click the format you want to download. The available formats will vary based on the file type. Then click Download. 
   
   

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Students

About Alternative Formats

The table below outlines the best formats for your particular study needs.

• The alternative formats generated depend on the original file uploaded.
• Some alternative formats may not be available for download.

Downloading Alternative Formats

• You can only download alternative formats if (1) your instructor has integrated Blackboard Ally, and (2) they have enabled alternative format downloads. 
• Alt format should be available from the three vertical dot menu on any page that contains a file.
• Student FAQs About Ally

From Canvas Files

1. Go to course Files and click a file.
2. Click Alternative formats.
   
   • If the instructor has disabled alternative formats, this option will not appear.
     
     
     
     
3. Click your alternative format, then click Download. The available formats will vary based on the file type. The first student to download an alternative file will need to wait for it to generate. All other students can download the file immediately.
   
   

From Assignments

1. Go to Assignments and click and assignment. 
2. Click the down arrow next to the file -> Alternative Formats.
   
   
   
   
3. Click your alternative format, then click Download.
   
   • Available formats vary based on original file type. 
   • The first student to download an alternative file will need to wait for it to generate. All other students can download the file immediately.

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Troubleshooting

I can't fix my file in Blackboard Ally

Blackboard Ally is not a file editor.

• Blackboard Ally scans files in Canvas and reports on accessibility.
• It only lets you add Alt Text to images in scanned files. 
• For all other issues, edit files on your computer and upload a new version to Canvas.  

We recommend instructors check the accessibility of their files before uploading to Canvas. Virginia Tech community members have access to two accessibility editors, Microsoft Accessibility Checker and Grackle. See: 

• Accessibility Checker – How to Create Accessible Documents with Microsoft Office Products
• Accessibility Checker for Google Suite Documents - How to Use Grackle

I don't see alternative formats

If an instructor chooses to disable alternative formats for a specific file, the alternative format option will not be available. Please contact your instructor with questions or concerns.

Canvas froze when I clicked alternative formats

Leave the Canvas page, reload, and try again. 

Canvas froze when I tried to download an alternative format

The first person to download an alternative format must wait up to a minute for the format to be generated. After that, subsequent people can download the generated file immediately. 

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Getting Help

For technical support and information on accessibility, go to the 4Help Portal, log in, and click Get Help. Your request will be forwarded to the Accessible Technologies group. 

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