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Do DALs have access to the Ally administration console?
No. DALs do not have direct access to the Ally administration console to add or remove domains. All domain management must be routed through the Digital Accessibility Services team, who submits support tickets to Ally for these changes.
I created a document in Word using the Word Accessibility Checker, but Ally is flagging it as having issues. What should I do?
There are known limitations with Ally, particularly with table headings. If you’ve used Microsoft Word’s Accessibility Checker and it shows everything is correct, trust the Word Accessibility Checker over Ally. Ally is working on fixing these bugs and expects updates soon.
What accessibility score from Ally is considered compliant?
Technically, to be fully accessible, content would need to be 100%. However, the guidance is to focus on items marked in red, as these are the most severe issues that affect more people. Any accessibility fix you make removes a barrier that may affect students.
How do I see what accessibility issues should be fixed?
Click the Ally icon to access a feedback panel.
- The panel provides a document preview, a list of accessibility issues, and instructions on how to fix them.
- To fix an issue, you will need to edit the original document on your computer.
- After making the necessary changes, you can upload the updated document within the feedback panel.
What about SCORM files in eLC?
Ally doesn’t provide feedback on SCORM files embedded in eLC. If you have concerns about SCORM file compliance, contact the Digital Accessibility Services team for investigation and guidance.
Can students access alternate formats?
Yes, students can access alternate formats generated by Ally, which supports Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles.
A download icon will be available in their course content to open files in additional formats such as:
- Tagged PDF
- HTML
- ePub
- Electronic braille
- Audio
- BeeLine Reader
- Immersive Reader
Why do some items in my course show no score?
Items with no score typically contain plain text or instructions typed directly into eLC. If a file should be scoring but is not, contact the Digital Accessibility Services team.
Can Ally give false positives or false negatives?
Yes. Automated tools have limitations. Ally is a useful starting point, but instructors should also use Microsoft and Adobe accessibility checkers.
Are we responsible for journal articles posted as PDFs in eLC?
Yes, but the approach is different from other PDFs.
When journal articles come from a publisher or licensed database, responsibility shifts from remediating a document to providing appropriate access.
For publisher or database journals:
What not to do
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Do not upload copyrighted journal PDFs directly to eLC, even if you legally downloaded them for personal use.
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Do not attempt to remediate or modify publisher-owned PDFs, as this may violate license terms and is often unnecessary.
What to do instead
A permalink is a stable link provided by UGA Libraries that directs students to the article on the licensed platform.
Why permalinks are the preferred approach
Using a UGA Libraries permalink:
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Keeps you within copyright and license agreements
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Ensures students access the content through UGA’s licensed subscriptions
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Often provides HTML and other accessible formats, which are more usable than PDFs for many students
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Reduces accessibility remediation burden, since the publisher or platform maintains the content
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Supports off-campus access through UGA Libraries authentication
Accessibility note
Many library platforms include:
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Screen reader-friendly HTML versions
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Adjustable text size, contrast, and layout
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Built-in navigation and reading tools
These features frequently offer a more accessible experience than an uploaded PDF, especially when the PDF is not institution-owned.
What about instructional PDFs we’ve created (for example, how-to guides)?
If these are still in use and people need access to them, they must be accessible. Consider:
- Converting to HTML (most accessible format).
- Remediating existing PDFs.
- Moving rarely-used materials to a clearly marked archive section.
To learn more about instructional PDFs, review PDF Accessibility: Best Practices.
Why does Ally ask me to “Provide a link to a document in the library”?
When Ally detects a copyright-restricted PDF, it prompts you to replace it with a library reference. You may be asked to provide:
- Permalink URL
- Title
- Volume, issue, or page numbers
- Authors
- Publication date
- Publisher or journal
Ally then creates a reference entry, directing students to the official, accessible version.
Digital Accessibility Services Team Contact
Email: dash@uga.edu