Accessibility in Blackboard
Blackboard is fully committed to delivering product experiences that conform to the highest levels of global accessibility standards. Towson University鈥檚 Blackboard support team knows that accessibility is imperative, not an afterthought.
All Blackboard products are designed and developed with international and domestic standards. Anthology Blackboard, Inc. is and underscores the importance of accessibility in education.
91影视破解版 Blackboard environment has a current list of optional . If you have questions, please contact 91影视破解版 Blackboard Support.
Blackboard Accessibility Tool
Ally is theintegrated within Blackboard. This tool gauges the accessibility of uploaded documents/files, provides feedback on how to improve issues and identifies alternative content formats for students. Using an accessibility checker supports diverse student needs at 91影视破解版 through inclusive design and learner preferences. See resources for using Ally on this page.
Accessibility Improvement Opportunities
Support sessions: virtual
Mark your calendars for upcoming Ultra Pop-ups! Please confirm . If you have login issues, contact blackboard AT_TOWSON.
Accessibility Open Session
Details: Tuesday, May 26, 11 a.m. - noon. Location:
This informal, faculty-focused drop-in hour is dedicated to improving the accessibility of your Blackboard courses and digital materials. Instructors are invited to bring questions, files, or course elements for individualized guidance on best practices, Ally feedback, document remediation, and accessible course design.
Department Roadshows: we'll come to you!
Looking for a customized session for your department? We can help! Request a session by emailing blackboard AT_TOWSON
More Accessibility Support
Let's continue to work together to make learning more inclusive! If you have questions or want improve the accessibility of your Blackboard courses, contact blackboard AT_TOWSON.
Recap of Opportunities
91影视破解版's Blackboard team participated in these recent events, providing opportunities for the 91影视破解版 community to improve accessibility and become more learning inclusive:
- Ultra Pop-up support sessions: See
- March 11, 2026: ADS'
- Jan. 12, 2026: 91影视破解版's Educator's Summit
- Jan. 8-9, 2026: USM
- Nov. 18, 2025: Global
Resources for Instructors
FAQs
What does "digitally accessible" mean?
It means websites, apps, and documents which are designed to be equally usable by everyone, including individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities.
Where should I store course files for my own use in my Blackboard course (not for student use), so they are easy to retrieve but do not count against my accessibility score?
The best practice is to store your files in OneDrive.
I always save my syllabus as a PDF. Is this a problem?
For optimal accessibility, share your syllabus as a Word document. This format is more compatible with screen readers and allows easier navigation.
Do I need to make materials accessible even if none of my students have disclosed a disability?
Yes. Proactively creating accessible materials from the start follows universal design principles that benefit all learners, including those with undisclosed disabilities or temporary impairments. Use on your course material accessibility.
Am I responsible for the accessibility of publisher or third-party content?
Yes. You are responsible for ensuring all course materials are accessible. If it's not, try to find an alternative or contact the vendor to request an accessible version.
What should I prioritize first?
First reduce: remove any materials you don鈥檛 intend for your students to use. Next, check for accessibility and fix issues in your syllabus, slide decks, and other essential materials. Use USM's "" article to guide your next steps.
How do I check if my document content is accessible?
Use the built-in accessibility checkers in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint) and
Adobe Acrobat. For existing Blackboard course content accessibility, use .
If you need help locating accessible content, reach out to and consult with your for possible permalinks or finding available alternative formats. Remediation should be the last stop, if remaking or replacing a document isn鈥檛 possible.
How do I check if my Blackboard courses are accessible?
Use to see a full breakdown of your content's accessibility and step-by-step instructions for improvements. If it鈥檚 in the green (100% accessible), you鈥檙e good to go, and no actions are needed. Recommendation: use the when creating courses and they'll be accessible by default.
Do my archived or past-semester courses need to be completely accessible?
No. Only active courses impact your Ally score. However, if you copy content from an old course into a new one, you must ensure those files meet current accessibility standards before the new semester begins. If you鈥檙e not using a file, consider deleting it.
Using the Blackboard Accessibility Tool (Ally)
Learn how to improve the student experience through inclusive design: watch and follow . Learn about with 91影视破解版's Blackboard team.
Tips for Making Your Course Accessible
- Use descriptive headings and apply heading formatting.
- Avoid using font styles, color, bold, italics, underline or strikethrough to emphasize content.
- Use purposeful images and include alternative text to those images.
- Make descriptive links when linking outside your course.
- Use lists instead of tables whenever possible.
- Properly list content using bullet points or numbered lists.
- All videos should be captioned.
- Format your files and documents to be accessible.
- Provide students with clear expectations, instructions and directions for all assignments and tests.