Blackboard Ally is a tool integrated into Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Blackboard to help improve the accessibility of course content. It automatically scans course materials and provides feedback to instructors on how to enhance the accessibility of their content. Ally also generates alternative formats of course materials, making them more accessible to all students, including those with disabilities.

Key Features

• Alternative Formats: Ally automatically creates alternative formats of course content, such as HTML, audio, ePub, and electronic braille, allowing students to choose the format that best suits their needs.

• Accessibility Scores: Ally assigns an accessibility score to each piece of content, ranging from Low to Perfect. These scores help instructors quickly identify which materials need improvement.

• Instructor Feedback: Ally provides detailed feedback and step-by-step guidance to help instructors improve the accessibility of their content.

• Course Accessibility Report: This report gives an overview of the accessibility of all course materials, helping instructors prioritize which issues to address first.

Alternative Formats

Blackboard Ally automatically generates alternative formats for most course content. Students can access the alternative formats anytime they’re available. Watch the following video to learn how students can download the alternative formats.

It is crucial to recognize that the effectiveness of the alternative format is directly influenced by the quality of the initial document. If a textbook in PDF format is scanned with marks or shadows from the scanner, Ally may face challenges generating alternative formats. Frequently, there is a digital version of the text available which can either be accessed through a link or printed from the digital repository.

Accessibility Scores

The instructor can view an accessibility score for each of the supported content items.

Watch the following video on Ally for Instructors to learn more about how to use the Accessibility Scores and instructor feedback panel to improve your content’s accessibility.

Course Accessibility Report

The Course Accessibility report complements the indicators in your course content. You can find the Course Accessibility Report by accessing the Content Market and choosing Ally Course Accessibility Report.

The Course Accessibility Report in complements in the accessibility indicators seen in your course content area and provides instructors with a comprehensive overview of the accessibility of all of their course content. It highlights specific issues and offers guidance on how to improve accessibility, ensuring that all students have equal access to learning materials. This report helps faculty prioritize and address the most critical accessibility concerns efficiently¹.

Additional Resources

• Blackboard Ally Quick Start Guide for Instructors

• Blackboard Ally Instructor Guide