The accessibility tool in Blackboard (also known as 'Ally' in Blackboard's materials) is focused on providing course materials that are usable by as many people as possible, including (but not limited to) users with disabilities who require specific accommodations.
You will discover that the accessibility of course materials is just part of a much larger picture. The need for physical access to classrooms, usable information on all web sites, and ability to understand alerts sent through mobile apps are just a few related topics that are important for all users.
We are planning to regularly add to a list of Suggestions on this page. Please contact us at 803-777-1800 or through the Service Portal at http://sc.edu/ITHelp with your ideas.
Finally, we are not going to attempt to solve all the problems, but we do have a page for Additional Resources page on this site. It includes links to information about topics such as accessibility checkers / checklists, legal issues that surround the topic, and the broad concept of Universal Design for Learning.
Blackboard automatically scans the original content and then makes Alternative Formats available through an option beside the link to the file. The original file is still available as it always has been.
Users can choose the formats that work best for them. Examples include:
HTML file for improved reading on phones and many other devices
ePub file for accessing course materials on an e-reader
Electronic Braille file for people who read Braille
Audio file for listening to the material
The other main part of the tool is only available to instructors. The Instructor Feedback feature provides an indicator showing the overall accessibility of the original content, it indicates specific accessibility issues that it finds, and then it provides information about how to improve the accessibility of the original.
When people ask to "tell me more", here are quick resources we suggest. (If you only want one, go with the last one, the one written by Nicolaas Matthijs, the man who developed the program.
Blackboard Ally for courses (YouTube Aug 2017, 3:06) www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmUTPI4sujo
Ally for LMS Help for Instructors [Blackboard Help] help.blackboard.com/Ally/Ally_for_LMS/Instructor
Blackboard Ally: Tackling Accessibility in Higher Education [by Nicolaas Matthijs] wcetfrontiers.org/2017/10/11/blackboard-ally-tackling-accessibility-in-higher-education/
UofSC Knowledge Base articles (login may be required):
Additional information for students
Ally for LMS Help for Students [Blackboard Help] help.blackboard.com/Ally/Ally_for_LMS/Student
Student FAQs About Ally [Blackboard Help] help.blackboard.com/Ally/Ally_for_LMS/Student/FAQs
Ally for Students in Blackboard Learn (YouTube 0:48) [Blackboard] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5AZM5uqtSo -UPDATED!
Alternative Formats (Students) [Blackboard Help] help.blackboard.com/Ally/Ally_for_LMS/Student/Alternative_Formats
Syllabus statement(s)
In addition to including a syllabus statement with information for students with documented disabilities*, you may want to include information about the Alternative Formats feature on your syllabus, as an announcement, or as an item with other course information. You may also want to demonstrate it when you review your class Blackboard site with your students.
Example
Blackboard Alternative Formats are available for many of your course documents to provide a choice in how you access files in this course. These formats include your original version, audio (mp3), PDF, HTML, ePub, and electronic Braille. If you have any technical problems, please contact the DoIT Help Desk at 803-777-1800 or visit the Self Service Portal at sc.edu/ITHelp.
* Examples of more general syllabus statements related to students with a disability:
Classroom Accessibility [UofSC Student Disability Resource Center] www.sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/student_disability_resource_center/for_faculty_and_staff/classroom_accessibility/index.php
Example Syllabus Statements [UofSC Center for Teaching Excellence] - multiple uses www.sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/cte/teaching_resources/syllabus_templates/syllabus_statement_examples/index.php
Additional information for instructors
(video) Ally for Instructors in Blackboard Learn (YouTube 1:01) www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKGPwj8Ci8o
(video) View File Accessibility with Ally in Blackboard Learn(YouTube 1:06) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik_-ECvVWYs
Ally Quick Start for Instructors [Blackboard] help.blackboard.com/Ally/Ally_for_LMS/Instructor/Quick_Start
Ally for LMS Help for Instructors[Blackboard Help] https://help.blackboard.com/Ally/Ally_for_LMS/Instructor
Accessibility Scores https://help.blackboard.com/Ally/Ally_for_LMS/Instructor/Accessiblity_Scores
View File Accessibility https://help.blackboard.com/Ally/Ally_for_LMS/Instructor/View_File_Accessibility
Instructor FAQs for Ally https://help.blackboard.com/Ally/Ally_for_LMS/Instructor/FAQs
What's New in Ally (release notes) https://help.blackboard.com/Ally/Ally_for_LMS/Release_Notes
What's New in Ally (developer notes) https://help.blackboard.com/Ally/Administrator/Whats_New_In_Ally
A11y User Group https://usergroup.ally.ac/dashboard
Ally Accessibility Checklist (pdf) https://community.blackboard.com/docs/DOC-3621-ally-accessibility-checklist.pdf
Ally Communication and Adoption Toolkit https://help.blackboard.com/Ally/Administrator/Communication_and_Adoption_Toolkit
(video) Ally for Administrators in Blackboard Learn (YouTube, Aug 2017, 2:09) www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBiQGVEmldM
Mathematical equations and formulas
Generally irritating things
Whole course ebook -It might be valuable to in some way to "take large portions of the course and turn it into a functional ebook. That would allow students to have offline access to course materials. If they have to do that with each and every file in the courses, it's unlikely to be done, hence, not valaable"
see Home and the Additional Resources page https://sites.google.com/site/blackboardalternativeformats/resources