Today we are sharing positive news about a new tool that the university has made available to assist faculty and instructors in documenting progress towards meeting the federal requirement to make course materials and digital content accessible.
Ally is an accessibility tool integrated directly into CarmenCanvas. It reviews your course content, identifies accessibility barriers and offers clear, practical steps for improvement. It also generates alternative formats for many materials, giving students more flexible ways to engage with content. This tool is being used at universities around the country, including at many Big Ten universities faced with this same federal mandate.
We hope access to the new tool will provide some peace of mind; however, we also recognize that there is much work to be done. We cannot meet this federally required mandate without support from all of you. While the Department of Justice’s ADA Title II enforcement date is April 24, 2026, we encourage everyone that can to work ahead on your course materials, where possible.
You can continue teaching and posting materials confidently; the emphasis is on steady progress rather than perfection.
We encourage you to prioritize accessibility updates for high-impact courses and make new materials accessible before posting, while steadily improving existing content each semester. This work is a shared responsibility, supported by university resources, training, and guidance from your unit’s Digital Accessibility Coordinator. In the coming weeks, you can expect additional information on progress reporting.
For assistance or alternate-access needs, contact your Digital Accessibility Coordinator.
Thank you for your commitment to accessibility for all of our students. Additional resources, including guides and trainings, are available on the Digital Accessibility Services website.
Best regards,
Ravi V. Bellamkonda
Executive Vice President and Provost
Rob Lowden
Vice President and Chief Information Officer
