Marshall University logo
Common Search Terms:
admissions, apply now, online learning, request information, schedule of courses, academic calendar, bert, registrar, library, human resources, housing, hr, work order, registration, jobs, mubert
student working on a laptop through a window
Marshall Online

Running Course Accessibility Reports

Designing for All, Habit by Habit
Designing for All, Habit by Habit

Our “Designing for All, Habit by Habit” initiative is our way of making accessibility a core part of our workflow at Marshall. We believe that small, consistent actions – practical design habits – lead to big, positive changes over time. By incorporating digital accessibility standards and UDL principles, we’re building a more inclusive digital experience, one habit at a time.

Get in the Habit

Incorporate Ally’s Course Accessibility Report into your course design process. This report gives you a high-level view of the accessibility of your course and quick steps to fix common issues. 

Habit 2: Regularly Run Ally Reports

Why This Habit Matters 

  • Identify and quickly fix accessibility barriers: 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 to see how accessibility is integrated into our Belonging standard for online courses.
  • Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Connection: Running Ally reports helps you optimize your digital content, and Ally’s Alternative Formats empowers students to choose how they engage with the content. 

How to Do It

  • Accessibility Report: In your course, find 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.
  • Alternative Formats: Instructors and students both have access to Alternative Formats. Download an Audio version to listen to text, or use Immersive Reader to simultaneously read, listen, and follow along with highlighted text. Look for the “A” icon on course pages to view these and other options.

 

Watch the demo below to see how Blackboard users can download Alternative Formats of course content. View Ally’s playlist for more demos on course reports and accessibility recommendations.

 

 

AI Tip

Try Ally’s “Auto-generate Description” to quickly draft alt text. Expand and adjust as needed depending on the purpose of the image.

 

Other Considerations

  • Don’t be overwhelmed by a low initial score: View it as a starting point for improvement, and focus on high-impact issues first. Contact the Design Center for individualized help.
  • Focus on source files: 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. 
  • Deepen understanding with Ally’s explanations: 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. 

 

Additional Resources 

  • Digital Accessibility and UDL: 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.
  • Ally Help for Instructors: This page links to multiple Ally resources, including a Quick Start Guide, FAQs, and video demos.