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Anthology Ally at JMU

Overview 

Anthology Ally is a tool that JMU Libraries has integrated into Canvas at JMU. Also known as Ally, it is a digital accessibility checker that helps you identify course content needing adjustments and outlines how to make that content more accessible. 

Ally scans Canvas course materials for accessibility issues and generates a comprehensive accessibility report you can use to make improvements. While some issues may be fixed directly within Ally, others—like image-only PDFs—may need to be fixed outside of Ally and re-uploaded to Canvas. Additionally, Ally offers students alternative formats for certain documents, including electronic braille, BeeLine Reader, language translations, and more.   

By using Ally, you can improve the accessibility of your course materials, better support JMU students with disabilities, and improve the educational experience for all JMU students. Providing Ally is just one of the ways JMU Libraries supports digital accessibility at JMU. 

To learn more, check out these resources provided by Ally’s creator, Anthology: 

Who can use Ally?  

Faculty, staff and student instructors at JMU. 

How can I get started using Ally?  

Instructors can access Ally through their Canvas course menu: 

  1. Open your Canvas Course 
  2. Select Ally in the course navigation 
  3. Review Ally’s report and make edits as needed 

Where can I get help/support? 

Anthology, the creator of Ally, offers these help resources: 

For technical support, training, or consultations on using Ally, contact JMU Libraries’ Learning Innovations & Design Desk: