The University of Iowa is committed to ensuring the accessibility of electronic, information technology resources, and facilities used by members of the university community and general public. Anthology Ally is now available to help instructors with this effort.

Anthology Ally is built into ICON as a way to help make courses more accessible. Instructors receive feedback and guidance on course content accessibility and making sure their materials accommodate their students. Students can choose alternative formats for course content based on their preferences and needs.

Ally scans the materials in all ICON courses and gives pointers on how to improve accessibility for all users. It assists with university goals of improving course accessibility and ensuring our compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. For more information on campus-wide accessibility efforts, please consult the Accessibility at Iowa page. 

Ally has three primary features that improve access and engagement in course sites:

• Alternative formats for students: Ally converts course materials into alternative formats that students can choose to use to enhance their learning.
• Instructor feedback: Ally provides scores (only visible to instructors) to assess the accessibility of course content and gives guidance on how to improve access.
• Reporting: Ally presents institutional data to help identify common challenges and guide support efforts.