Attend an Accessibility Training.  
eLearning offers a variety of training opportunities to support the creation of accessible content.  We can even provide a customized session tailored to your department’s needs.

Know what needs to be accessible.
All required course materials in Blackboard must be accessible. This includes documents, videos, embedded content, and assessments. Focus first on materials students need to engage in the course or complete graded work, including the syllabus, readings, lecture slides, assignments, quizzes, and exams.

Choose the right format for content.
Whenever possible, use native Blackboard items (web pages, text, assignments) instead of relying only on PDFs or images of text. This is usually more accessible and easier to maintain.  Replace scanned PDFs with OCR versions generated from Ally’s alternative formats.

Plan for captions and transcripts.
If you use lecture videos or recorded content, build in time to review and correct captions in Panopto. Don’t wait until students request accommodations. 

Have questions?  Get assistance from eLearning.
Schedule appointments and consultations with our eLearning liaisons.

Use Ally while you build. Pay attention to Ally’s red, orange, and green indicators as you add files to your Blackboard courses. Click the indicator to see what the issue is and follow Ally’s guidance to fix it (add alt text, fix headings, replace scanned PDFs, etc.). See Ally's help resources for assistance.  

Add missing alt text directly through Ally. Ally can help generate missing alt text, but instructors should review the text for relevance and accuracy. 

Ensure your syllabus is accessible. Faculty should use built-in accessibility tools to check and improve their syllabi before sharing them with students. If your syllabus is created in Microsoft Word, use the Microsoft Accessibility Checker to identify and fix common issues such as headings, color contrast, and alternative text. If you distribute your syllabus as a PDF, Adobe Acrobat’s Accessibility tools can help you review and remediate accessibility concerns.

Avoid duplicate hyperlink text.
Links to different destinations should not use identical link text. Make it clear where each link goes. Example of duplicate hyperlink text

Avoid images of text when possible.
If content is important, it should be available as real text in Blackboard or in an accessible document, not only inside a graphic or screenshot.

 

Run your Ally Course Accessibility Report regularly.
Review your report for red and orange items and work on the most impactful issues first. Required materials include the syllabus and any content students must access to participate or complete graded work, such as readings, lecture slides, assignment instructions, quizzes, and exams, should be prioritized.

Spot-check your course as a student. 
Use Student Preview in Blackboard. Make sure pages are readable, content is easy to find, links work, and instructions are clear.

Descriptive link text clearly explains the destination.
Link text should tell students exactly where the link goes. Avoid showing long URLs or phrases like “click here.”  Example of descriptive hyperlink text