Use Ally to enhance the digital accessibility of your Canvas content

As colleagues begin to prepare or refresh Canvas module sites and resources for the next academic year, you are encouraged to spend some time reviewing and updating your content to make it more accessible for our students.  

Ally is a tool available to all that that helps to identify accessibility issues in Canvas content, offering guidance on how to fix and create alternative formats.

What is digital accessibility? 

Digital accessibility is the ability of a website, application, or electronic document to be easily navigated and understood by a wide range of users, including users who have visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities, but also includes situational disabilities. 

Accessibility means making your content and design clear and simple enough so that most people can use it without needing to adapt it, while supporting those who do need to adapt things (Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), 2018).

What is Ally? 

Ally is a revolutionary tool designed to take accessibility to new heights in your Canvas courses. It will:  

• Identify accessibility issues  

• Provide guidance on fixing issues  

• Create alternative formats for students  

Practical resources and drop-in sessions to help you

Quick hints and tips guide 

This guide provides staff with a starting point to spot simple fixes which can be completed in just a few minutes.  

Easy accessibility fixes PDF

Canvas accessibility quick tips course

A short course designed to help staff identify and address some of the most common accessibility issues found in Canvas content.

Enrol in 'Quick Start Ally Guide' on Canvas 

Introduction to accessibility course

A more detailed course that will introduce you to accessibility and show you how to make your content accessible to help improve the digital environment for everyone whether in Canvas or in other digital content. 

Enrol in 'Introduction to Accessibility' Canvas course 

Drop-in sessions

Bring your content and get hands-on support from the Teaching and Learning Academy.

• Tuesday 14 July, 1pm to 2pm, Cherie Booth Building, Room106 
• Wednesday 15 July, 11am to 12noon, Student Life Building, Room 2.05 
• Monday 20 July, 11am to 12noon, Cherie Booth Building, Room106

 Book onto a session 

Visit our Edtech webpages

This site provides a plethora of resources to support you with Ally as well as range of different technologies.

Educational technology webpages