how to make blackboard accessible to students with disabilities

by Mrs. Lexi Medhurst 7 min read

How to make your blackboard learn course accessible

  • Audio and/or video files containing speech should be accompanied by a text equivalent, whether that be through a...
  • Attached and uploaded files must also be accessible for students with disabilities. Please keep in mind, that documents...
  • Consider contrasts when applying themes or designs to your Blackboard Learn site.

Quick Guide Checklist
Include alternative (alt) text for all non-textual items. Use descriptive names for file uploads. Consider your themes and backgrounds when designing your site and text formatting. Make sure audio and video files containing speech have a text equivalent or captions.

Full Answer

How can I get academic accommodations if I have a disability?

Sep 03, 2021 · schools face: how to make learning more engaging, how to improve … more than 12% of K-12 students have a disability.2 For undergraduates, the figure is … 2. Accessibility Features in Blackboard Learn

Is Boston University accessible for students with disabilities?

Accessibility Checker: Word, Excel, PowerPoint (Desktop version) In the menu, select the “ File ” tab. In the sidebar menu, select the “ Info ” link. Select the “ Check for Issue ” link. From the drop-down menu, select “ Check Accessibility ”.

Who can benefit from accessible learning?

Blackboard Learn is developed against the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines to ensure its compatibility with the latest versions of assistive technology including screen readers such as JAWS and VoiceOver. Pages in Blackboard Learn follow a common structure to ensure familiarity as you navigate through the system.

How should I treat students with disabilities in the classroom?

How to make your blackboard learn course accessible Audio and/or video files containing speech should be accompanied by a text equivalent, whether that be through a... Attached and uploaded files must also be accessible for students with disabilities. Please keep in mind, that documents... Consider ...

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How do I make blackboard accessible to students?

Log into Blackboard Learn and enter the course. In the Course Management menu under Customization, click Properties. Under Set Availability, check the radio button next to "Yes" for Make Course Available. Click the Submit button.

Does Blackboard have an accessibility checker?

Blackboard Ally is an accessibility checker available in all Blackboard courses beginning Fall 2018 and all future semesters. Ally scans files uploaded to Blackboard, looking for common accessibility issues.

How do I set up an accommodation in Blackboard?

Deploy and Set AccommodationsSelect “Add a User or Group” under the Test Availability Exceptions.Adjust the Attempts, Timer, Availability and Force Completion settings to suit accommodations.Press Submit.

What is screen reader mode in Blackboard?

Screen readers Blackboard Learn has created a Screen Reader Tutorial to provide users who access the application through a screen reader with information to help them use the system successfully.

How do I extend my due date for one student in Blackboard?

0:072:09How to modify or extend assignment due dates for individual students in ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo we'll start at our home page on blackboard. And we'll need to go to the specific assignment thatMoreSo we'll start at our home page on blackboard. And we'll need to go to the specific assignment that we want so we'll click on instructional. Content. And we're going to go into the module.

How do I give students extra time on blackboard?

How to Give Students Extra Time on Blackboard TestsClick the drop down arrow next to the deployed test and select Edit the Test Options. ... Scroll down to Test Availability Exceptions. ... Click Add User or Group to bring up a pop-up screen. ... Adjust the options as needed for that user or group. ... Submit the Test Options.

How do I give a student extra time on Blackboard quiz?

0:061:14Extending time for a student on a Blackboard Test - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOptions. Under test options scroll down to to test availability exceptions. Here you can add a userMoreOptions. Under test options scroll down to to test availability exceptions. Here you can add a user or group to make an exception to the normal rules of the test. If.

How do I access Blackboard Learn?

To access Blackboard Learn, first make sure you are using the recommended browser, Google Chrome or Mozilla FireFox.Go to the Blackboard Learn site.Enter your username and password. Your username is your 8-digit NWTC ID number. Your password is the password that you created upon registration.

Where is the Quick Links tool in Blackboard?

The Quick Links tool allows a user to quickly locate any heading or section within any page in the Blackboard Learn application and jump directly to it. Located in the top left, the Quick Links icon opens a pop-up window that displays the landmark and navigation links on the page.

What is content editor in Blackboard?

The content editor in Blackboard Learn is based on third-party technology from TinyMCE. It provides accessible controls, as well as keyboard shortcuts for formatting content created within it. The content editor appears throughout your courses, such as when you participate in a discussion.

How to use accordion?

Within the Quick Setup Guide, press the following keys to navigate: 1 Up and Down Arrow keys on your keyboard to move between the names of the sections in the accordion. 2 Spacebar or Enter on your keyboard to open a section. After the section is open, the focus will still be on the heading, press Tab to navigate to the sublist. The sublist is coded as radio buttons allowing you to use arrow keys to navigate between items. Stopping on the item selects it. 3 Spacebar on your keyboard to make an item active or inactive. 4 Tab on your keyboard to enter the open section of the accordion and change the options within the section. After you have reached the end of a section, selecting tab again will take you to the title of the next accordion section.

What is logical heading?

A logical heading structure is in place to properly structure the page and allow users to navigate using headings. Headings are used consistently throughout the application. This gives users the ability to understand the structure of any page in the application quickly, and move to the appropriate section of the page or content item easily.

Can you use Blackboard with Alexa?

Blackboard Alexa Skill is available in the U.S. only. With Blackboard Alexa Skill, you can use an Alexa device to find out what is going on in your courses. After you link their Blackboard account, you can verbally ask Alexa what is due in your course.

What is Quick Setup Guide Wizard?

The Quick Setup Guide wizard is an accordion object and uses the standard navigation. The wizard opens by default when an instructor opens their course for the first time. You can also access it from the Control Panel by expanding the Customization section. Type "Welcome" in your browser's Find tool and press ESC on your keyboard.

Can you drag and drop on a list?

Wherever the drag-and-drop function exists to reorder items in a list, you have a keyboard alternative. The keyboard accessible reordering tool displays the items on the page as a list. You can use keyboard commands to reorder the items.

Why is it important to add a title to a PDF?

It is important to add a document title because Assistive Technology simply reads the metadata that is saved in the actual PDF file as the document title, which may be different from the document file name. Improve the accessibility of PDFs by adding tags in Acrobat. Tags are same as Headings in Word documents.

Do you tag a document when converting to PDF?

Note: For best results, tag a document when converting it to PDF from an authoring application, such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice Writer. For example, you have headings in a Word document and covert to pdf file, these headings should be tagged.

Do you need headers in a table?

To make sure that your tables are accessible, you need to add headers to your tables. It improves how the individual navigates tables especially if using a screen reader. Please note that Microsoft Word only allows the top row of a table to be designated as a row heading.

Can you use a URL as a hyperlink?

If you use the URL itself or Click Here texts as a hyperlink, users may not comprehend it. You need to provide hyperlink texts that show the full title of the destination page.  For example, use Visit the University of Houston website instead of http://www.uh.edu or Click Here.

What is the editor in Blackboard Learn?

The editor in Blackboard Learn is based on third-party technology from TinyMCE. It provides accessible controls, as well as keyboard shortcuts for formatting content created within it. The editor properly cleans up unnecessary HTML code that may be included when content is copied from Microsoft Office documents. This clean HTML ensures that screen reader users can fully consume any content created in or copied into the editor.

Where are the Quick Links icon in Blackboard?

Located in the top left of the interface , the Quick Links icon opens a list of all the ARIA landmarks, as well as an outline of all content headings on the page you are viewing. Any available keyboard shortcuts for the current tool or page also appear. You can quickly locate any heading or section within any page in the Blackboard Learn application and jump directly to it. Quick Links is specific to the page you are viewing. You can open it at any time with a keyboard shortcut (Shift+Alt+L). This shortcut provides a significant increase in efficiency for users who rely primarily on their keyboards for navigating within the application.

What is global navigation menu?

The global navigation menu refers to the set of links that appears at the top of the Blackboard Learn interface. To access it, select your name or use a keyboard shortcut. This menu provides a consistent, quick, and easy way to find information. You can also navigate to tools like My Blackboard, your courses, and even some personal settings from anywhere in the system.

What is adaptive release?

With adaptive release, instructors can create individualized learning paths for students. Adaptive release controls the release of content to students based on a set of rules an instructor creates. The rules may be related to availability, date and time, individual users, group membership, scores or attempts on any Grade Center item, calculated columns in the Grade Center, or review status of an item in the course. Instructors can use adaptive release to target alternative content formats or additional materials directly to the students who need them.

What is a YouTube mashup?

The YouTube mashup allows an instructor to search for and embed YouTube videos directly in course content. When the video is displayed, students can use the accessible player controls that allow them to play, pause, stop, and control the volume of a video with a keyboard or screen reader. They are not required to interact with the more challenging Flash based controls that are present with the default YouTube videos.

What is YouTube video everywhere?

A feature within the editor- Browse my YouTube Videos (Video Everywhere)-allows students and instructors to upload video stored in their personal YouTube accounts and directly embed them in course materials , interactions , and feedback through the editor. Visual feedback is extremely valuable for anyone using sign language and for users who need to replay interactions. Students have the ability to record video responses and submissions wherever they have the ability to generate content using the editor. This makes it easier for them to communicate with their teachers or peers in alternative formats. The feature is based on the YouTube technology. You can even run these self-recorded videos through YouTube's automated captioning technology to build captions and transcripts.

How to make a class assignment?

1. Start small. Choose a single subject area, a single class, or even a single activity to allow your students to tailor that assignment or that objective to their personal needs.

What is UDL in education?

UDL is a set of principles for curriculum development intended to give all individuals equal opportunities to learn. 7. “In my classrooms, I see amazing future teachers who are ready to master the art and science of teaching, and I find that they are very interested in UDL and special education,” says Cressey.

Where is Diana Bailey?

Diana Bailey is a fifth-grade teacher at Deerfield Elementary, a public school in Lawrence, Kansas (United States). Four years ago, she implemented the blended learning model to personalize learning for every student in her classroom, along with Kyleigh Edwards, a special education teacher.

What does Greco do?

As an evangelist, Greco works with people who are new to accessibility to teach them how to incorporate accessibility into their work. Blind since birth, she has been working her entire life helping people with disabilities find unique ways to get tasks done, mostly with the support of assistive technologies.

When did curb cuts start?

Curb cuts – the small ramps built into the curb of a sidewalk to ease passage onto the street – started to appear in different cities around the globe in the early 1990s.

Who is James Cressey?

James Cressey is an Assistant Professor of Education at Framingham State University in Massachusetts, United States. As a licensed special educator and nationally certified school psychologist, he teaches courses in special education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, with a focus on Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL is a set of principles for curriculum development intended to give all individuals equal opportunities to learn. 7

What is a student with a disability?

For purposes of academic accommodation, a student with a disability is one who: Has a physical or mental impairment. That has a significant impact on one or more of their major life activities (seeing, thinking, concentrating, hearing, communicating, reading, etc.)

What is the ADA in Massachusetts?

By complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and all other federal and Massachusetts State laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability we provide a high level of access to our academic and co-curricular programs and facilities.

What is the ADAAA?

In 2008 (effective 2009), the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA) broadened the definition of disability with the effect of lowering barriers to eligibility for accommodations. Accordingly, there has now been an increase in the numbers of students with disabilities seeking services and accommodations at BU.

What is the purpose of accommodations?

The purpose of an accommodation is to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to our programs; facilities and benefits of Boston University within the same time frame and with equal ease of use. Possible accommodations that you may see: Extra time for exams.

What is Boston University?

Boston University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities that enable the student to compete equitably with his/her peers in meeting the academic standards and requirements of the University.

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About The Structure of Blackboard Learn Pages

  • A logical heading structure is in place to properly structure the page and allow users to navigate using headings. Headings are used consistently throughout the application. This gives users the ability to understand the structure of any page in the application quickly, and move to the appropriate section of the page or content item easily. As is required, a single H1 is provided to i…
See more on help.blackboard.com

Landmarks

  • Landmarks are designated based on ARIA(Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite). ARIA defines a way to make web content and web applications more accessible to people with disabilities. Landmarks in Blackboard Learn include: 1. application 2. banner 3. complementary 4. content info 5. course menu 6. content area 7. form 8. main 9. navigation 10. search
See more on help.blackboard.com

Keyboard Navigation in Blackboard Learn

  • Industry standard keyboard interactions are used throughout Blackboard Learn to move between menus, open menus, and select items within a menu. Keyboard navigation patterns differ between browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome), but the interactions within any particular browser are common and consistent. In the sections below, notes are used to indicate where int…
See more on help.blackboard.com

screen Readers

  • For the best experience with your screen reader, use ChromeTM and JAWS® on a Windows® system, and use Safari® and VoiceOver On a Mac®. Blackboard Learn has created a Screen Reader Tutorialto provide users who access the application through a screen reader with information to help them use the system successfully.
See more on help.blackboard.com

Quick Links

  • The Quick Links tool allows a user to quickly locate any heading or section within any page in the Blackboard Learn application and jump directly to it. Located in the top left, the Quick Links icon opens a pop-up window that displays the landmark and navigation links on the page. To open the Quick Links Tool using a keyboard, press SHIFT + ALT + L to open Quick Links. To open the Glob…
See more on help.blackboard.com

Content Editor Math Formulas

  • WIRIS provides the Math formula editing capabilities of the Content Editor introduced in SP 10. In SP 10, the WIRIS plugin came in the form of a Java Applet. This meant that math editing was not available on platforms that couldn't support Java. In SP 12, the WIRIS editor is based on JavaScript, removing the dependence on Java and enabling full math-editing capabilities on plat…
See more on help.blackboard.com

Interactive Tools

  • We have improved the usability of all of our interactive tools (discussion boards, wikis, blogs and journals). Each release introduces usability improvements for everyone, especially those customers that use assistive technology. The new experience of reading a thread is simple to consume with screen reader technology. We also removed clutter on the page, so screen reader …
See more on help.blackboard.com