Pima Tech Guides

Ally: Instructor Quick Guide

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Accessibility doesn't have to be overwhelming. Whether you are fixing your first PDF or just checking your course health, this guide will walk you through the essential steps to create an inclusive experience for every student at Pima.

Introduction: Pima’s Commitment to Digital Accessibility

At Pima Community College (PCC), our goal is simple: ensure every student, employee, and community member has equal access to our digital learning environments.

  • The Standard: PCC follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA standard, as required by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
  • The Goal: By law, all digital materials—including websites, mobile apps, and course files—need to meet these standards for compliance by April 24, 2027. Pima's goal is that all courses and digital materials meet this deadline by December 31, 2026.

Take a deep breath: You do not need to fix every document in your course overnight. Accessibility is a step-by-step process, and tools like Ally are here to make that process straightforward.

Overview: What is Ally?

Ally is a supportive tool built directly into D2L Brightspace. Think of it as a virtual assistant that helps you spot accessibility hurdles and guides you through fixing them.

Ally does two main jobs:

  • Automated Content Checking: It scans your course files (PDFs, Word documents, PowerPoints) and gives you a visual accessibility score for each.
Document viewer interface with a red circle and arrow highlighting the orange Ally accessibility meter icon, located to the left of the blue Add Existing button.
  • Alternative Formats: It automatically generates accessible versions of your files—such as Audio, Electronic Braille, ePub, or OCRed PDFs—so students can learn in the way that works best for them.
Document viewer toolbar with a red box and arrow highlighting the letter "A" icon with up and down arrows, displaying a black "Alternative formats" pop-up tooltip next to the orange accessibility score meter.
"Download alternative formats" pop-up window listing available options including HTML, ePub (selected), Electronic braille, Audio, BeeLine Reader, and Immersive Reader, with a blue Download button at the bottom.

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