Ally Accessibility Checker now Live in Canvas

11 Jan 2023

We are pleased to announce that the Ally Accessibility Report is now live on all Canvas modules for staff and students in UCC.

Ally is a tool that scans all content in a Canvas course for accessibility issues and produces an Accessibility Score. Both staff and students can benefit from Ally, details of which are provided here. The report itself is not visible to students. However, they can use the tool to convert content into accessible formats that suit them.

Ally will promote digital accessibility in line with universal design (UD) principles for all learning materials across UCC. Over the past year, over 35 modules across the four colleges have piloted this tool on their course content.

This is a critical development in implementing the EU Web Accessibility Directive within UCC. Since September 2020, all public service bodies must strive to provide accessible versions of their content. Ally will support UCC in ensuring a more equitable experience for all.

Staff will now see the Ally Accessibility Report option on the left-hand navigation of their Canvas module. Click on it to access the module report and see some suggestions. Note you don’t have to make any significant updates, only as time allows.

Inclusive UCC have comprehensive training and consultation options throughout January to support the implementation of this software. The training dates are available on their website and outlined below.

• Introduction to Ally | 17 January 2023 @11am - Teams
• Drop-in Sessions | Every Tuesday starting 24 January 2023 @11am - Teams
• Making Accessible PDFs | Thursday 26 January 2023 @11am - Teams