Why This Habit Matters<\/h2>\r\n\r\n- Identify and quickly fix accessibility barriers<\/span><\/b>: Proactively addressing accessibility issues through Ally can reduce student frustrations, minimize requests for accommodations, and improve the overall quality of your course. Review Marshall’s H.O.M.E. Framework<\/a> to see how accessibility is integrated into our Belonging standard for online courses.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\r\n
- Accessibility standards are connected with UDL<\/a>: Running Ally reports helps<\/span><\/span>\u00a0you <\/span>optimize<\/span> your digital content, and Ally’s Alternative Formats empowers students<\/span><\/span> to choose how they engage with the content.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
How to Do It<\/h2>\r\n\r\n- Accessibility Report<\/a>: In your course, locate the Details and Actions menu and go into Books & Tools. Click “Accessibility Report.” Review your report, prioritize high-impact issues, and follow Ally’s guidance to fix them. As you address issues, you’ll see your accessibility score rise. Re-run the report periodically as you add and update content.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
![\"Click](\"http:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/design-center\/files\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-12-04-120717.png\")
<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n- Alternative Formats<\/a>: Instructors and students both have access to Alternative Formats. Download an Audio<\/strong> version to listen to text, or use Immersive Reader<\/strong> to simultaneously read, listen, and follow along with highlighted text. Look for the “A” icon on course pages to view these and other options.
![\"Ally](\"http:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/design-center\/files\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-12-04-121538.png\")
<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n![\"Alternative](\"http:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/design-center\/files\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-12-04-121414.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\nOther Considerations<\/h2>\r\n\r\n- Don’t<\/span> be overwhelmed by a low <\/span>initial<\/span> score<\/span><\/span><\/strong>: View it as a starting point for improvement, and focus on high-impact issues first.<\/span><\/span> Contact the Design Center<\/a> for help.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- Focus on source files<\/span><\/span><\/strong>: Not all course files can be fixed within Ally. For Word docs, PowerPoint presentations, and other files, you will need to make adjustments in the original file and re-upload it.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- Deepen understanding with Ally’s explanations:<\/span><\/b> In addition to showing you how to fix issues, Ally also provides explanations and models. When adjusting alt text for an image, click on “How to write a good description” for examples of meaningful and discipline-specific uses of alt text.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Additional Resources<\/h2>\r\n\r\n- Screen Reader Demo in Blackboard<\/a>: What is it like to take a course with a screen reader? Aaron Preece, Editor-in-Chief of\u00a0AccessWorld<\/em><\/a>, (an American Foundation for the Blind publication) and graduate of Marshall University, demonstrates how he uses a screen reader to navigate a course in Blackboard.<\/li>\r\n
- Ally Help for Instructors<\/a>: This page links to multiple Ally resources, including a Quick Start Guide, FAQs, and video demos.<\/li>\r\n
- View Ally’s playlist<\/a> for more demos on course reports and accessibility recommendations.<\/li>\r\n
- Marshall Online: Digital Accessibility and UDL<\/a>: This page contains accessibility information, resources, and services at Marshall University. You can also explore other habits that support digital accessibility and UDL in our Designing for All, Habit by Habit Series. Since accessibility laws are dynamic and nuanced, these recommendations (updated Aug. 2025) may not reflect the latest updates and should not replace legal advice. For legal questions about accessibility at Marshall University, reach out to the\u00a0Office of Accessibility and Accommodations.<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
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How to Do It<\/h2>\r\n\r\n- Accessibility Report<\/a>: In your course, locate the Details and Actions menu and go into Books & Tools. Click “Accessibility Report.” Review your report, prioritize high-impact issues, and follow Ally’s guidance to fix them. As you address issues, you’ll see your accessibility score rise. Re-run the report periodically as you add and update content.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n- Alternative Formats<\/a>: Instructors and students both have access to Alternative Formats. Download an Audio<\/strong> version to listen to text, or use Immersive Reader<\/strong> to simultaneously read, listen, and follow along with highlighted text. Look for the “A” icon on course pages to view these and other options. <\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\nOther Considerations<\/h2>\r\n\r\n- Don’t<\/span> be overwhelmed by a low <\/span>initial<\/span> score<\/span><\/span><\/strong>: View it as a starting point for improvement, and focus on high-impact issues first.<\/span><\/span> Contact the Design Center<\/a> for help.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- Focus on source files<\/span><\/span><\/strong>: Not all course files can be fixed within Ally. For Word docs, PowerPoint presentations, and other files, you will need to make adjustments in the original file and re-upload it.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n
- Deepen understanding with Ally’s explanations:<\/span><\/b> In addition to showing you how to fix issues, Ally also provides explanations and models. When adjusting alt text for an image, click on “How to write a good description” for examples of meaningful and discipline-specific uses of alt text.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Additional Resources<\/h2>\r\n\r\n- Screen Reader Demo in Blackboard<\/a>: What is it like to take a course with a screen reader? Aaron Preece, Editor-in-Chief of\u00a0AccessWorld<\/em><\/a>, (an American Foundation for the Blind publication) and graduate of Marshall University, demonstrates how he uses a screen reader to navigate a course in Blackboard.<\/li>\r\n
- Ally Help for Instructors<\/a>: This page links to multiple Ally resources, including a Quick Start Guide, FAQs, and video demos.<\/li>\r\n
- View Ally’s playlist<\/a> for more demos on course reports and accessibility recommendations.<\/li>\r\n
- Marshall Online: Digital Accessibility and UDL<\/a>: This page contains accessibility information, resources, and services at Marshall University. You can also explore other habits that support digital accessibility and UDL in our Designing for All, Habit by Habit Series. Since accessibility laws are dynamic and nuanced, these recommendations (updated Aug. 2025) may not reflect the latest updates and should not replace legal advice. For legal questions about accessibility at Marshall University, reach out to the\u00a0Office of Accessibility and Accommodations.<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
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<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\nOther Considerations<\/h2>\r\n
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Additional Resources<\/h2>\r\n
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