Grackle

Grackle is an accessibility tool that helps you create and check more accessible course content in Google Workspace. It scans Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets for common accessibility barriers and provides guidance for fixing issues directly within your file.

Cost

No cost

Audience

Students, faculty & staff

Purpose

Accessibility

Canvas integration

None

Getting started

Add the Grackle Extension to Docs, Slides, and Sheets
Follow the Tool Guide: Grackle Suite (Docs, Slides, Sheets) Google Extension or, view the step-by-step tutorial to add the Grackle extension to Google Docs, Slide, and Sheets.
Check a document for accessibility using Grackle

Once you have added the Grackle extension, open the Doc, Slide, or Sheet you want to check. Select Extensions from the tool bar, hover over Grackle, and choose Launch. A Grackle sidebar will open on the right side of the screen. Run or review the accessibility check. A green check indicates the content passed, check with an exclamation icon indicates a warning, and a red X icon indicates there is a failed accessibility step and action is required.
Resolving Accessibility Issues with Grackle
If Grackle identifies a failed check, you can resolve the issue directly from the accessibility checker in the sidebar:
- Select the failed check in the Grackle sidebar.
- Review the highlighted content in your document, slide, or sheet.
- Use Grackle’s provided tools or guidance to fix the issue.
- Select Re-Check at the top of the sidebar to confirm the issue is resolved.

View the step by step tutorial on fixing an accessibility issue with Grackle.

Using this tool in your course

Use Grackle while creating or updating course materials in Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets. Checking accessibility in the original file makes many issues easier to correct before the content is shared with students or added to Canvas.

Grackle can help you:

Review syllabi, assignment instructions, handouts, presentations, and spreadsheets before sharing them with students.
Identify common barriers such as missing alternative text, unclear heading structure, insufficient color contrast, and improperly structured tables.
Improve reusable course materials and templates as they are created or revised.
Incorporate accessibility into student projects created in Google Workspace.
Export accessible PDFs from Google Docs and Slides or accessible HTML from Google Sheets.

Activity examples

Review a course document before publishing it: Run Grackle on a syllabus, assignment guide, or handout and resolve issues before linking to it in Canvas.
Prepare an accessible presentation: Check a Google Slides presentation for unique slide titles, reading order, color contrast, and alternative text before presenting or sharing it with students.
Improve a course spreadsheet: Use Grackle Sheets to identify tables, clarify header rows, and organize sheet names so students using assistive technology can navigate the data more easily.
Include accessibility in a student project: Ask students to run Grackle on a Google Doc, presentation, or spreadsheet before submitting a final project.
Create a PDF for distribution: After checking a Google Doc or Slides presentation, use Grackle’s PDF export option to preserve accessibility information in the exported file.

Compare your options

Tool	Best used for	What it can do
Grackle	Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets	Checks the original Google Workspace file and provides guided fixes. It can also export accessible PDFs from Docs and Slides and accessible HTML from Sheets.
Microsoft Accessibility Checker	Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files	Built into Microsoft Office applications and designed for checking and correcting accessibility issues in Office files.
Canvas Accessibility Checker	Content created directly in the Canvas Rich Content Editor	Reviews the individual Canvas page, assignment, discussion, or other content you are currently editing. It does not check linked Google files or uploaded documents.
Ally	Files already added to a Canvas course	Helps instructors identify accessibility issues in uploaded course files and provides students with alternative formats when available.

FAQ

Use Google Assignments when creating a Canvas assignment. It can give each student their own editable copy of a Google Drive file and connect the assignment with the Canvas Gradebook. For files shared outside Google Assignments, you can also use a make-a-copy link.

Use Google Docs or Slides with comments and @mentions to support contributions within shared work. Version history lets you review document activity and see who contributed specific changes over time.

Accessibility, privacy, and other considerations

Accessibility

Grackle provides accessibility features for its products and reports conformance with WCAG 2.1 AA, the accessibility standard used for web content.
Grackle’s commitment to accessibility.

Student and course information

Grackle has been approved for use at ASU. When creating activities or sharing course materials, use ASU-supported options and consider what student or course information is included.

Resources

Explore ASU and Grackle resources to learn about how to make course content accessible.

ASU resources

Follow the Tool Guide: Grackle Suite (Docs, Slides, Sheets) Google Extension
view the step-by-step tutorial to add the Grackle extension to Google Docs, Slide, and Sheets.
View the step by step tutorial on fixing an accessibility issue with Grackle.

Grackle resources

Review the Grackle Docs Demo (~21 min): Overview of creating accessible Google Docs.
Grackle Workspace Walkthrough (~7 min): Accessibility tools across Google Workspace.

Get support

Need technical help?

Contact the ASU Experience Center for general technical support or problems accessing Grackle.

Want to explore ways to make your course content accessible?

Learning Experience (LX) offers workshops and consultations where you can explore how Grackle or other enterprise technologies might support your teaching goals.