Blackboard Ally

The University at Buffalo is committed to ensuring equal access to information that is available online. As part of this commitment, the Office of Curriculum, Assessment and Teaching Transformation (CATT) and UB Information Technology are collaborating to bring Blackboard Ally to UB Learns.

Ally automatically checks UB Learns course materials against WCAG 2.0 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards and provides an accessibility score for each file. For files that don’t align with accessibility guidelines, Ally offers step-by-step instructions on how to improve the accessibility of the document. Accessibility scores are only visible to course instructors; students do not see the icons.

Ally also creates alternative, accessible file formats (Tagged PDF, HTML, ePub, Electronic braille and Audio) for students to download.

After you upload a file in your UB Learns course, Ally evaluates it and:

• Provides an accessibility score and guidance on how to improve your document.
• Creates alternative file formats for students to download.

1. Go to Control Panel > Customization > Tool Availability.
2. Click the checkbox in the Available column for the Ally row.
3. Click Submit.

Ally measures the accessibility of each file attached to your course and shows you at-a-glance how it scores. Scores range from Low to Perfect. The higher the score, the fewer the issues.

• Low: File is not accessible and needs immediate attention.
• Medium: File is somewhat accessible and could use improvement.
• High: File is accessible but could be improved.
• Perfect: File is accessible and no improvements are needed.

For files with Low to High scores, Ally shows you the issues and provides step-by-step instructions on how to fix them.

1. Find a file and click the Accessibility Score icon.
2. Click What this means or How to... for more information on an issue.
3. Select All issues to see every issue in the file and decide which issue to fix first.

Currently, Ally checks files in these formats:

• PDF.
  
• Microsoft Office (Word and PowerPoint).
• OpenOffice/LibreOffice (Writer and Impress).
• Images.
• Uploaded HTML files.

Ally creates alternative, accessible file formats of your course documents based on the original. These formats are made available along with the original file so students can find everything in one convenient location.

You don’t need to do anything. The alternative formats are created for you.

To see the different formats available to your students, select the menu next to your file and choose Alternative formats. 

Instructors are now able to view an accessibility report that allows them to see the big picture as well as details about the accessibility of the content in their courses.

• An Overview tab provides an accessibility score for the course, course content grouped by content type and a list of all issues identified in the course.
• A Content tab lists the content with accessibility issues.

Instructors can access the report by going to Course Tools > Accessibility Report.