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Using your LMS to Increase Awareness

Your LMS is a central hub for course communication and content access, making it an ideal place to increase awareness of Ally's Alternative Formats. This section focuses on how to leverage your LMS to expand communication efforts, helping students discover and access course materials in the format that best meets their needs.

Tip

As you create promotional messages for your students, consider using our messaging templates or talking points.

Send announcements

Take advantage of the announcements feature in your LMS to increase awareness of Ally’s Alternative Formats. Consider creating announcements based solely on Ally or incorporating information about them into existing course announcements throughout the term. Suggested opportunities for announcements:

  • Before the semester begins

  • At the beginning of the semester

  • Prior to major reading assignments

  • Before exams, such as mid-terms or finals

  • Mid-semester refresher

  • Accessibility awareness days:

    • Global Accessibility Awareness Day (typically the third Thursday of every May)

    • Disability Pride Month (July)

    • World Mental Health Day (October 10)

    • Dyslexia Awareness Month (October)

    • International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3)

Include in modules

Embedding reminders directly within course modules helps students discover alternative formats at the moment they are accessing course materials. Consider the following suggestions:

  • Add a brief Ally statement in the Start Here module and attach or link the student guide.

  • Include a short reminder at the beginning of modules that contain readings, PDFs, presentations, or other downloadable files.

  • Add a recurring note such as: "Need a different format? Select the Ally Alternative Formats icon next to the file to access options such as audio, Immersive Reader, HTML, and Tagged PDFs.”

Create student resources content folder or module

To house all accessibility and Ally-related resources and support links, create a separate content folder/module in your course that contains the following:

  • Links to following internal offices: Disability Services/Accessibility Services, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Academic Services Center, Counseling Center, Health and Wellness Center, Student Activities, Library, any other pertinent resources.

  • Link to Ally for Students help site

  • Instructor or institution-created video demonstration of Ally’s Alternative Formats or link to one of the Ally for Students videos (specific to your institution’s LMS) on Watch Videos about Ally.