Ally at Webster University

Ally provides a score regarding digital content for instructors to make improvements to their classes over time. This score provides instructors with a report on how accessible content is based on standards used by things like screen readers for people who are visually impaired. If Ally cannot read the content, the file won’t be readable in other situations, such as when a student wants to use an electronic reader or even something as simple as searching a file for key terms. Ally generates a report of the challenges it has with a file to help in making improvements for these situations. Some challenges affect all students, like poor scans of documents, while others may affect students with specific needs, such as missing descriptive text on images or potential color contrast issues.

For example, suppose a student wanted to listen to a document on the way to school, and there was an important graph on the second page. Without “alternative text” provided for that graph, the audio would simply say “image,” and a student would miss out on knowing that the

graph showed important ideas (e.g., “This graph shows the decrease in mortality rates over time, starting in 1990 and declining by an average of 2% annually until 2010.”). Instructors can address these types of challenges over time to make the course more accessible to all students.

Ally provides various student resources and information.

This short video is helpful in getting started with using alternative formats. You may also visit the resources page for more details and options.

Students with technical issues about Ally or other features in WorldClassRoom (Canvas) may contact the IT Service Desk for support. For questions about how to use Ally to support your success as a student, including support for assistive technology formats or general use with time management or study skills, contact the Reeg Academic Resource Center.