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Introduction
Ally is a tool integrated with Blackboard Ultra, that can provide alternative and accessible versions of your original content items. Alternative formats provide greater opportunity for everyone to access the information they need, in the way they need it. In many cases, accessible course content benefits all students, including those without a disability. Accessibility is often closely connected to the quality and usability of the course materials.
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Note: Your original file will not be affected by the alternative formats. Ally does not store a copy of the original content item, move the original, or delete it. In addition, Ally does not scan or provide alternative formats for any student-generated content or files. |
Available Alternative Formats
For the following original content file types:
PDFs
Microsoft Word documents
Microsoft PowerPoint presentations
OpenOffice/LibreOffice files
Uploaded HTML files
Ally can generate these alternative formats:
OCR’ed (Optical Character Recognition) version – automatically extracted text from scanned documents for improving reading and searching.
Tagged PDF (currently for Word, PowerPoint and OpenOffice/LibreOffice files) – structured PDFs for improved use with assistive technology.
Mobile-friendly HTML.
ePub – for reading as an e-book on an mobile device or other e-book reader.
Electronic Braille – BRF version for electronic braille displays.
MP3 Audio version for listening.
BeeLine Reader – enhanced version that uses an ‘eye-guiding colour gradient’ for easier and faster on-screen reading.
A Translated Version file format that uses machine-translation to convert the original content item into a total of 50 different languages, will be coming soon.
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Note: Copyright protected, or password protected documents cannot be converted to alternative formats. |
Downloading Alternative Formats
Alternative formats can be downloaded anywhere you see Ally's alternative formats download icon: 
Just look for the Ally Alternative format within content items:
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To download the Ally Alternative format version of your content:
Roll your mouse pointer over the content item and select the Ally alternative formats download icon:
The Download alternative Formats pop-up window will open:
Choose the alternative format you wish to download by selecting the radio button next to it. In the example below, the Audio (MP3) format has been selected:
Then select the Download button:
If this is the first time that alternative format has been requested, Ally will need to prepare the file for download:
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Note: Alternative formats files are removed from Ally after 30 days. A new request for the file after 30 days, will regenerate the alternative format file. |
Disable alternative formats (for individual files)
As an instructor, you may prefer to turn off alternative formats for individual content items. To do this:
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Note: If students try to download alternative formats of a file, when the option has been disabled, they will see a message telling them that alternative formats for that content item are no longer available. |
Accessibility Feedback
In addition to providing alternative content formats, Ally also scans your course content and provides you with accessibility feedback.
Ally Indicators
Accessibly feedback is displayed as an Ally Indicator next to a file or content item. Ally’s accessibility checklist is based on WCAG 2.1 AA (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), with Ally performing additional accessibility checks.
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For content with Low to High scores, Ally displays the accessibility issues and provides step-by-step guidance on how to improve them (see the notes on the instructor feedback panel below for more information).
Instructor Feedback Panel
For content that has been identified as having accessibility issues, Ally will explain the issue(s) and give advice on how to fix them. To do this:
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When you have completed the edits, save the file and either drag and drop it onto the Upload area (drag and drop is not supported in all browsers), or select the Browse button to locate the file and upload it:
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Module Level Accessibility Report
Ally also provides a module level Accessibility Report which aggregates accessibility reports from specific documents in the module area, into one general report.
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Note: The Accessibility Report option is only available to those with Instructor/Teaching Assistant access to the module area |
🔗 Useful Links
https://www.ulster.ac.uk/accessibility-standards/what
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