Accessibility

Steps to Make a Canvas Course Accessible with Ally

Step 1: Understand What Ally Does

  • Ally automatically scans your course content for accessibility issues.

  • It provides:

    • Accessibility scores (0–100%) with color-coded gauges.

    • Feedback and guidance to fix content.

    • Alternative formats (e.g., audio, ePub, HTML) automatically for students.

Step 2: Access the Ally Accessibility Report

  1. Go to your Canvas course.

  2. In the Course Navigation Menu, click on “Accessibility Report” (if enabled).

  3. Review:

    • Overall accessibility score

    • Content with the easiest issues to fix

    • Most severe issues

    • Content type breakdown (PDFs, Word docs, images, etc.)

Step 3: Review Ally Indicators on Course Content

  • Look for Ally gauges (red/orange/light green/green dials) next to files, images, and pages.

  • Click the gauge to:

    • See the accessibility score.

    • View detailed issue explanations.

    • Get step-by-step instructions to fix each issue.

Step 4: Fix Common Accessibility Issues

Here’s a breakdown of common issues and how to fix them:

🖼️ Images

  • Add alternative text (alt text).

  • If decorative, mark as decorative in Ally.

📄 Documents (PDF, Word, PowerPoint)

  • Ensure heading structure (use Heading 1, 2, etc.).

  • Use true text, not scanned images of text.

  • Include meaningful hyperlinks (not “click here”).

  • Use sufficient color contrast.

  • Export with accessible features from Word or PowerPoint.

  • Use Adobe Acrobat Pro to tag PDFs properly if needed.

🌐 Canvas Pages

  • Use proper headings, not just bold text for titles.

  • Add alt text for embedded images.

  • Avoid large blocks of text—use lists and paragraphs.

  • Use descriptive link text.

🎥 Videos

  • Include closed captions (upload captions or use YouTube auto-captions and edit).

  • Provide a text transcript when possible.

🗂️ Tables

  • Use simple table structures.

  • Mark header rows and columns.

  • Avoid using tables just for layout.

Step 5: Replace or Repair Files

  • Ally provides an “Upload a fixed version” option for each file.

  • Edit the file (e.g., in Word or Acrobat), fix the issues, then re-upload.

  • Ally will rescan and update the accessibility score.

Step 6: Use Ally’s Alternative Format Tool

  • Ensure all content has alternative formats enabled.

  • Ally auto-generates versions such as:

    • Tagged PDF

    • ePub (for eReaders)

    • Audio (MP3)

    • HTML (mobile-friendly)

    • BeeLine Reader (for improved readability)

Step 7: Use Accessible Design Practices Going Forward

  • Use the Canvas Accessibility Checker when editing pages.

  • Use Ally’s real-time feedback when uploading new content.

  • Provide text-based alternatives for complex visual or interactive content.

  • Ensure consistent navigation and layout throughout your course.

Step 8: Recheck Accessibility Report

  • After making updates, revisit the Ally Accessibility Report.

  • Look for improved scores

  • Repeat the process for any remaining issues.