To help instructors effectively communicate with students about Ally, this section offers fully customizable message templates covering a variety of topics. These templates can be adapted for use as emails or LMS announcements. Be sure to complete the highlighted sections with the appropriate information before sharing them with students.

Message Template #1: Enhance your Learning Experience with Ally’s Alternative Formats  

<Insert name of institution> has a license for Ally, a digital accessibility tool that helps create more inclusive and accessible learning content. Embedded directly in Blackboard, Ally allows all students to access course materials in different formats—no special requests or accommodations required.  

With Ally, you can download course content in alternative formats that best fit your needs and/or preferences, such as:

  • Audio files – Listen on the go
  • Translated versions – Support for multilingual learners  
  • OCR’d & Tagged PDFs – Improved screen reader accessibility
  • HTML & eReader-friendly formats – Seamless digital reading
  • Braille Ready Format – Compatible with refreshable Braille displays
  • Microsoft Immersive Reader: interactive reading comprehension tool
  • BeeLine Reader – applies color gradients to digital text

To access these formats, simply look for the Alternative Formats icon, select it, and choose the format that works best for you from the list of available formats.  

For more information, visit Ally's Alternative Formats for Students or contact <Insert Support Contact>.  

Try it today and experience a more flexible way to engage with your course materials!  

Sincerely,  

<Insert Instructor Name>

Message Template #2: Need Study Flexibility? Use Ally’s Alternative Formats!  

As you prepare for <midterms/finals>, make studying easier with Ally’s Alternative Formats—available directly in Blackboard.  

With Ally, you can download course materials in different formats to fit your study style, including:  

  • Audio files – Listen while reviewing notes on the go
  • Translated versions – Support for multilingual learning
  • OCR’d & Tagged PDFs – Enhanced screen reader accessibility
  • HTML– Read on any device
  • eReader: customizable reading experience
  • Braille Ready Format – compatible with refreshable Braille display
  • Microsoft Immersive Reader: interactive reading comprehension tool
  • BeeLine Reader – applies color gradients to digital text  

No accommodations or approvals are needed—just select the Alternative Formats icon, in your course materials and choose the format that works best for you!  

For more information, visit Ally's Alternative Formats for Students or contact <Insert Support Contact>.

Study smarter, not harder. Try it today!  

<Insert Instructor Name>  

Message Template #3: Celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day with Ally’s Alternative Formats!

Held each year in May, since 2011, Global Accessibility Awareness Day is a globally recognized day of awareness with the intention being "to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than One Billion people with disabilities/impairments." Did you know that in Blackboard, Ally provides alternative formats to make digital course materials more accessible and flexible for all students?  

With Ally, you can download content in different formats to suit your learning needs, preferences, devices, or environments.  

  • Audio files – Listen while reviewing notes on the go
  • Translated versions – Support for multilingual learning
  • OCR’d & Tagged PDFs – Enhanced screen reader accessibility
  • HTML– Read on any device
  • eReader: customizable reading experience
  • Braille Ready Format – compatible with refreshable Braille display
  • Microsoft Immersive Reader: interactive reading comprehension tool
  • BeeLine Reader – applies color gradients to digital text

These formats are available to all students—no special requests needed! Just look for the Alternative Formats icon, select it, and choose the format that works best for you.  

Take advantage of these tools to enhance your learning experience and celebrate accessibility for all!

For more information, visit Ally's Alternative Formats for Students or contact <Insert Support Contact>.

<Insert Instructor Name> 

Message Template #4: Alternative formats for ALL Students!  

Did you know that Ally’s alternative formats are available to all students in Blackboard-no accommodations or approvals needed?! While these formats are designed with disabled students in mind, they benefit all learners by offering flexible ways to engage with course materials. This aligns with Universal Design for Learning (UDL), which emphasizes multiple ways to engage with content. By providing autonomy, empowerment, inclusivity, and flexibility, Ally ensures that every student has options for how they interact with their digital course materials.

With Ally, you can download content in different formats to suit your learning needs, preferences, devices, or environments.

  • Audio files – Listen while reviewing notes on the go
  • Translated versions – Support for multilingual learning
  • OCR’d & Tagged PDFs – Enhanced screen reader accessibility
  • HTML– Read on any device
  • eReader: customizable reading experience
  • Braille Ready Format – compatible with refreshable Braille display
  • Microsoft Immersive Reader: interactive reading comprehension tool

These alternative formats reinforce choice and flexibility, ensuring you can engage with course content in the way that works best for you. To access them, simply select the Alternative Formats icon next to your course materials and choose your preferred format!

For more information, visit Ally's Alternative Formats for Students or contact <Insert Support Contact>.

<Insert Instructor Name>