By Information Technology Services
Canvas users now have access to a new feature that helps make digital course content more accessible for all students.
The feature, called Ally, is an accessibility tool supported by Information Technology Services and has been enabled across the UNL Canvas instance. Ally assists instructors by scanning Canvas pages and uploaded course materials, such as PDFs, Word documents, and PowerPoints, and providing guidance on how to improve accessibility. It also generates alternative formats for content, such as audio or tagged PDFs, that are available to students on demand.
While Ally does not modify content on its own, it gives instructors visibility into potential accessibility barriers and offers suggestions for how to address them. Canvas users will see small accessibility score indicators next to their files in Canvas in different colors, along with detailed feedback to guide improvements. NU ITS is offering training and support resources to help make the most of these features.
The implementation of Ally at UNL was informed by a pilot and extensive campus input. Faculty from a range of disciplines, along with instructional designers from the Center for Transformative Teaching, and staff from Services for Students with Disabilities and the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance, were actively involved in evaluating accessibility tools. Their feedback on functionality, usability, and instructional impact directly shaped the decision to move forward with Ally. NU ITS extends sincere thanks to all participating faculty and campus partners for their time, expertise, and thoughtful contributions to this effort.
“The Ally tool is a great addition to our accessibility resources at UNL,” said McKinzie Sutter, a lecturer in agronomy and horticulture. “I appreciate how the dashboard gives an overview of my course’s accessibility and groups similar tasks together — it makes improving accessibility more manageable.”
As digital accessibility becomes an institutional priority in light of new federal Title II guidance, Ally offers instructors a clear, actionable way to begin improving the accessibility of their course materials. However, the responsibility for ensuring that course content meets accessibility requirements remains with each individual instructor.
Canvas users are encouraged to explore Ally’s features at their own pace. NU ITS will offer a live Ally training session, 10-11 a.m. Aug. 13 via Zoom. Registration is open for the session in Bridge. Additional resources, including a self-paced Bridge training course, will be available later this summer. More synchronous training opportunities will also be offered in the fall. Support teams are available now to assist with any questions.
To learn more about how Ally works, check out the Ally quick start guide. For questions or individual support, contact the Academic Technologies team at nusupport@nebraska.edu.