Student Online Digital Accessibility

Cuyahoga Community College integrates assistive technologies into the Blackboard learning management system.  Ally and ReadSpeaker are used to help create an inclusive environment that can be easily navigated and understood by a wide range of students.  If you need any special course adaptations or accommodations because of a documented disability, please contact the Student Accessibility Services office.

Student Accessibility Services

Ally

Ally provides alternative formats to your online course content so you can engage with your classes in the way you learn. These formats are made available with the original file, so everything is in one convenient location.  Watch the video for more information. Use the table below to figure out which format will work for you.

FAQs

What are the benefits of Ally for students?

Ally creates multiple alternatives from the original files that you can download anywhere files are used - just choose the version or versions that work best for you!

Where can I find the alternate formats button?

Next to each file in Blackboard is a dropdown arrow. Choosing that dropdown gives the option of Alternate Formats.

How much time will it take to download an alternative format?

Alternative versions take 1-2 minutes to generate when first requested and are immediately available after that, so you can access them on demand, any time.

How do people use each of the alternate format options?

Options are helpful for most people. Ally provides options to consume your content in a variety of alternative formats. If you would like to learn more about how each format can support your learning need, please look over the "Which Format Should I Use" table below or visit https://help.blackboard.com/Ally/Ally_for_LMS/Student/ Alternative Formats

Which format should I use?

Some examples - MP3 audio can be great for listening to content. The ePUB version is great for annotating content on mobile devices.

Will I still receive my academic accommodations if Ally is turned on in my course?

Students and faculty will still partner with the Student Accessibility Services Office around academic accommodations as accommodations remove specific barriers for an individual student. Ally will not replace academic accommodations established by the Student Accessibility Services Office.

Does Ally produce quality alternate formats? What do I do if Ally produces a low-quality alternate format?

Ally produces high quality alternate versions. However, the quality of the conversion is dependent upon the quality of the source file. If the source file is low-quality (is crooked, has handwriting, has highlights, has text cut off, has poor contrast, etc.), Ally will produce a lower-quality alternate format. If you encounter this, please contact your instructor to let them know.

Where do I find additional resources, guidance, and support?

We anticipate you may have questions, or want more support. Please first choose the HELP link in the Alternate Formats panel, as that will direct you to the website specifically created for students. Or refer to https://help.blackboard.com/Ally/Ally_for_LMS/Student for assistance. If you have specific questions, please submit a ticket to helpdesk@tri-c.edu.

Which alternative format should I use?

Not sure what format to download? Let us help you decide. This table shows at-a-glance the best formats for your different study needs.

*You might not see every alternative format in your list of choices to download. The formats generated depend on the original file uploaded. The speed of the download depends on a number of factors including file size and internet speed. It should take approximately 30 seconds to 2 minutes to download.

ReadSpeaker

ReadSpeaker is a text-to-speech technology and is available to all students taking Tri-C Blackboard courses. It does not require you to download anything, and can be accessed on any internet-connected device.

Here are a couple of helpful videos:

ReadSpeaker in Blackboard for Students

Taking Quizzes in Blackboard Using ReadSpeaker

Taking Quizzes in Blackboard Using ReadSpeaker and Respondus LockDown Browser

And playlists:

ReadSpeaker webReader 3.2: How-To Videos

ReadSpeaker docReader: How-To Videos

ReadSpeaker Training for Blackboard