Ally limitations

The Ally Accessibility tool works seamlessly with Canvas to review the digital accessibility of content in Canvas and provide insight on how to improve potential accessibility concerns. 

It is important to note that Ally is a tool that assists with checking accessibility, but it cannot replace the human insights needed for ensuring digital accessibility. 

Key limitations of Ally 

• Ally highlights accessibility issues and provides guidance on how to fix them, but it doesn't automatically correct any accessibility issues that are identified. Instructors are still responsible for making the necessary revisions.

• Users can experience delays when working with Ally in Canvas.

  • Processing Times: Ally’s initial analysis of a course, or new content, typically takes at least one hour, however, additional delays may occur during periods of high system demand, which can impact overall processing efficiency.

  • Content Removal Delays: When content is removed from a course in Canvas it may take up to 48 hours for Ally to recognize that the content no long exists in Canvas.

• File size limitations: 

  • Files uploaded through Ally's instructor feedback panel are limited to 50MB for fixed files.

  • There may be cases where the algorithm fails to generate alternative formats for certain large files.

• Accuracy limitations: The alternative formats available are machine-translated from the original content. Accuracy can vary depending on a variety of factors such as technical language, sentence structure, and type of language.

• Ally is not able to evaluate or provide alternative versions for certain file types, e.g. SCORM files, ZIP files, or XML. 

• Ally cannot evaluate accessibility or generate alternative versions for content connected to a third-party, such as Voicethread, Panopto, New Quizzes, or textbook publisher content. This type of content will not impact the Ally Accessibility Report score and will not be flagged in any way, regardless of whether the content is accessible or not. Ally's features will only work for files and images uploaded to or content created directly within Canvas.

• Ally may not adequately address the complexities of making certain specialized content, like STEM materials, fully accessible.

• For documents containing primarily highly technical language (for example, a list of medications with few other English words), reaching an Ally score of 100% may not be possible.

Need more help with Ally? Contact the Academic Technology team for assistance.