ally and accessibility in course documents - usc upstate
TRANSCRIPT
Ally and Accessibility in Course Documents
Jennifer Bland
Learning Experience DesignerCenter for Academic Innovation & Faculty Support
January 6, 2021
Use the T to type below.What are some examples of things we use regularly that were first used as an accommodation?
Everyday Life• Ramps• Elevators• Curb cuts• Automatic opening doors• Closed captions on videos or TV• E-books• Audio books• Digital numbers on clocks
Universal Design for Learning
(UDL)
Universal—all individuals have equal opportunity to learn
Design—intentional decisions made before teaching
Learning—all students can learn regardless of needs or differences without instructor making changes
UDL is not about accommodating students who request certain things, but rather more about planning and designing for learning difference.
UDL in Your Courses• Caption videos (Tech Smith Knowmia)• Color contrast • Font choices are easy to read• Meaningful links (no click here)• Don’t use color to convey meaning• Format documents with headings• Alt text for pictures
Blackboard Ally• A part of Blackboard• Focuses on making
digital course content more accessible for students
• Creates alternative formats for documents
• Provides instructors feedback on the accessibility of documents they add in courses
Ally & Alternative
Formats
Creates alternative formats of PDF, Word, and PowerPoint documents you upload in Blackboard
• Tagged PDF• Structured PDF for improved use with assistive
technology• HTML
• viewing in a web browser or mobile device• ePub
• for reading as eBook on iPad or other eBook readers
• Electronic Braille• BRF version for electronic braille displays
• Audio (MP3)• Reads the text and alternative text descriptions
for images
Source: Blackboard Help: Alternative Formats in Ally
Finding Alternative Formats
• Click the symbol next to the document
• Select Download Alternative Formats
• It walks you through which format you would like to download
• Download time depends on bandwidth and length of file
Ally Accessibility Scores• Automatically checks the accessibility of your documents when you
upload in to Blackboard• Usually provides a score in less than 2 minutes unless the file is larger• Score Icons:
Source: Blackboard Help: Accessibility Scores
How do I fix it?
•Ally will tell you!
How do I fix issues?
Accessibility Checker
• Select File• Select Check for Issues• Select Check
Accessibility• Fix any issues• Then save and upload
to Blackboard
Alternative (Alt) Text• Provides the text equivalent to non-text
information• Images• Tables• Pictures• Graphs
• Can be read and understood by someone using a screen reader in place of images, which allow the content and function of the image to be accessible to those with visual and/or cognitive disabilities
Alt Text Guidelines
Think First:
WHY is this image important to include?What is the message the image conveys to the reader?
What information is most important?What information do I want my students to learn from
this image?
Keep the description accurate and concise
Every detail may not need to be included.Decorative images may be skipped entirely if
they are only making the document more attractive and not conveying important
information
How to Access Alt Text
• In Word and PowerPoint:• Right click on the image• Select Format Picture• Select the Size and Properties icon• Type in the box
What alternative text would you write for this image?
• Use the T above to write.• What alt text would you write for this image?
What alternative text would you write for the textbook?
• Use the T above to write.• What alt text would you write for this image?
Your Turn!
Open the link to Padlet provided in the chat.
Click the +
Add an image from your computer or from Google search
Can be one you use in your course or something else
Type your alternative text for the image under the picture you add
Making Word Documents Accessible - Headings
• Use Styles to create headings• Keep headings/titles short• Edit the default styles in Word to
match your font & color preferences
Use Built in Formatting Tools
Create bulleted or numbered lists
Page breaksAvoid using enter multiple times
Use Bold, Underline, and Italics to convey importance rather than color
Making Word Documents Accessible
Add image alt text Create meaningful links
Use only 1 or 2 easy-to-read fonts
Remember that white space enhances readability• Avoid crowded text
Making Tables Accessible
• Keep tables simple• Avoid blank cells & repeated characters• Identify the header row for the table
• Highlight the header row• Click Repeat Header Rows
Alt Text for Tables
• To add alt text for a table• Find the Table Tools Bar• Select Layout• Select Properties• Select Alt Text tab
Making PowerPoints Accessible
Choose good color contrast
Choose easy to read fonts
Limit the amount of text on slides for both visual and cognitive load
Create alt text for images
Type unique titles for each slide
Run the Accessibility
Checker
Questions…
CAIFS Contacts
Celena Kusch, Executive Director of [email protected]
Toni DiMella, Office of Transformative and Inclusive [email protected]
Dave Marlow, Office of Service Learning and Community [email protected]
Jennifer Bland, Learning Experience [email protected]
Kristen Stevenson, Learning Experience [email protected]
General Email for CAIFS: [email protected]