D2L Accessibility Resources

What is Ally?

Ally is a tool inside your PCC courses in D2L that helps make digital course content more accessible to all students. Whether you’re using a screen reader, prefer listening to your readings, or want content that works better on your phone, Ally is here to help you access learning materials in the way that works best for you. 

Why Ally Matters to Students?

Not all course materials are created with every student’s needs in mind. Ally bridges that gap by giving you alternative formats of the files your instructors upload—without needing to ask anyone or wait for support. 

What Can a Student Do with Ally?

Whenever your instructor uploads a file (like a PDF, PowerPoint, or Word document), you’ll see a small "A" icon next to it. Click it, and you’ll be able to choose from multiple versions of that file, including:

• 🔊 Audio format (MP3) – Listen to your course readings on the go

• 📱 HTML version – View files easily on your phone or tablet

• 📖 ePub format – Use on eReaders like Kindle or Apple Books

• 🧾 OCRed PDFs – Accessible versions of scanned documents with readable text

• 🧠 BeeLine Reader – Helps improve reading focus using color gradients
  
  

All formats are generated automatically by Ally—fast and easy!

What are the Colored Gauges?

You might notice small colored gauges (green, yellow, red) next to files in D2L. These are for your instructors, not you. They let your instructor know how accessible a file is so they can improve it. You don’t need to worry about the colors—just focus on picking the format that works best for your learning style. 

Pro Tips!

• Use the audio versions when you're commuting or multitasking.

• Download the HTML or ePub formats to use screen readers or adjust font sizes.

• Try BeeLine Reader for longer reading assignments to reduce eye strain.

Need Help?

If you have questions about using Ally or aren’t sure which format works best for your needs, contact our Accessible Technology Office.