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What is BlackBoard Ally?
Blackboard Ally is a platform that integrates seamlessly into Canvas and focuses on making digital course content more accessible, which is essential for learners who might have accessibility needs. Ally provides this service by automatically converting course content in what is called "alternative formats." Alternative formats include readable text for screen readers, pictures with captions, and easy-to-navigate content. Ally creates multiple alternatives from the original documents in your course. You can download these alternative formats anywhere those files are used.
Which Alternative Formats Are Provided?
BlackBoard Ally provides the following alternative formats:
- OCR’d version (for scanned documents)
- Tagged PDF (currently for Word, Powerpoint and OpenOffice/LibreOffice files)
- Mobile-friendly HTML
- Audio
- ePub
- Electronic Braille
- BeeLine Reader
- Translated Version
For detailed information about the available alternative formats, visit the BlackBoard Ally support page.
Which File Formats Are Supported?
Ally provides alternative formats for the following file types:
- PDF files
- Microsoft® Word files
- Microsoft® Powerpoint® files
- OpenOffice/LibreOffice files
- Uploaded HTML files
- Content created in the LMS course editor (WYSIWIG)
Note: The alternative formats that are available for a particular piece of content will depend on the source file (e.g., PDF's and Image files will provide different alternative formats).
How Do I Access Alternative Formats?
When in Canvas, just look for the BlackBoard Ally icon next to any piece of content to access alternative and accessible formats.
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Which Parts of Canvas Does BlackBoard Ally Support?
Blackboard Ally will provide alternative formats for supported content (see above) in the following areas:
- Announcements
- Quiz Instructions (not questions)
- Assignment Instructions
- Discussion Instructions (not replies/posts)
- Syllabus
- Pages (e.g., Home Page, pages within Modules)
- Files (embedded in an item above, or listed in a module)
- Images (embedded in an item above, or listed in a module)
Note: BlackBoard Ally does not work with student-generated content (e.g., assignment submissions, discussion posts, quiz submissions). It is also not currently supported by the Canvas mobile apps (iOS or Android).