Grackle Workspace

Grackle Workspace is a set of add-ons for Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets that help you create accessible digital content directly within Google Workspace. It provides real-time accessibility checks, highlights issues such as missing alt text, improper heading structures, and color contrast problems, and offers step-by-step guidance on how to fix them.

With Grackle, you can also export your work into accessible formats, including Tagged PDFs (Docs and Slides) and Accessible HTML (Sheets). This ensures that your content complies with accessibility standards such as WCAG, PDF/UA, and Section 508, making it inclusive and usable by everyone.

At Fitchburg State University, we have a site license for all faculty, staff, and librarians to use Grackle Workspace.

Why Use Grackle?

  • Helps ensure Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets are compliant with accessibility standards.
  • Streamlines the process of fixing accessibility issues with easy-to-use tools.
  • Exports content into accessible formats for sharing beyond Google Workspace.
  • Reduces the risk of non-compliance with accessibility laws and improves inclusivity.

How to Install Grackle

Follow these steps to install Grackle on your Google account:

  1. Log in to your Google account using your @fitchburgstate.edu credentials.
  2. Open a Google Doc, Sheet, or Slide.
  3. In the toolbar, click on Extensions > Add-ons > Get add-ons.
  4. Search for:
    • “Grackle Docs” (for Google Docs)
    • “Grackle Slides” (for Google Slides)
    • “Grackle Sheets” (for Google Sheets)
  5. Under Grackle Docs (or Grackle Sheets or Grackle Slides), click Install.
  6. Choose your @fitchburgstate.edu account, then click Continue.
  7. Click Allow to give the add-on the necessary permissions.
  8. Click Done on the confirmation screen.
  9. Repeat these steps for each application (Docs, Sheets, and Slides) — each requires its own installation.

How to Launch Grackle

Once installed, launching Grackle is simple:

  1. Log in to your Google account with your @fitchburgstate.edu credentials.
  2. Open a Google Doc, Sheet, or Slide.
  3. In the toolbar, click Extensions > Grackle Docs (or Grackle Sheets or Grackle Slides).
  4. Select Launch.
  5. When prompted to grant Grackle permission to run in the document, click OK.
  6. Select your @fitchburgstate.edu account

The Grackle sidebar will open, where you can check your document for accessibility issues and make the recommended fixes.

How to Export an Accessible PDF Using Grackle

Important: To export an accessible PDF from Google Docs/Slides, you must click Export to PDF on the Grackle Sidebar. Using the Google Doc (or Google Slides) menu option File > Download > PDF does not export an accessible PDF, even if you have fixed issues reported by Grackle.

  1. Fix any accessibility issues reported by Grackle.
  2. On the Grackle sidebar, click Export to PDF
  3. When prompted to grant Grackle access to Google Drive, click Allow
  4. Choose your @fitchburgstate.edu account
  5. When prompted to grant Grackle access to your Google account, click Continue
  6. When you see the Access Granted message, click Close
  7. When you're back in the Google Doc/Google Slides document that you want to export, click Export to PDF
  8. On the Progress Monitor screen, click Start
  9. When the conversion process completes, the Progress Monitor screen will display the message "Document is uploaded to Drive". Here's how to access the PDF:
    • The PDF is saved to the same Drive folder as the Google Doc/Slide it was exported from.
    • Click View to view the PDF in your browser.
    • Click Download to save the PDF to your computer.
  10. Click Close to close the Progress Monitor screen.

Learn More

Watch this short video for an overview of how Grackle Workspace works and how it can help make your content accessible:

Check out this video from Robert Payne from Baker College on how to use Grackle Workspace for Docs.

For additional guidance and knowledge base articles, visit: