Blackboard is the learning management system (LMS) at The University of Alabama. Blackboard is used to create and deliver course content, communicate and interact with students, conduct assessments, manage grades, and utilize dozens of integrated instructional technology tools.
Why is course accessibility important?
By taking a few minutes to ensure your Blackboard course is accessible now, you’re making a huge difference for your students and setting yourself up for a smoother semester. The University of Alabama is committed to ensuring that our facilities and information, services, courses, and the technology that we provide are inclusive and accessible in accordance with applicable law.
Blackboard Accessibility Best Practices
Use general best practices to create course content to ensure your students have an accessible experience in your Blackboard course.
- Use Ally, the Blackboard accessibility checker.
- Images should have a good image description.
- Do not use color alone to convey information.
- Ensure there is sufficient color contrast.
- Use descriptive link text.
- Choose accessible course materials & technologies.
- Avoid uploading scanned PDF files.
- Provide captions and/or transcripts for all media.
Get Started Creating Accessible Course Content
Faculty and instructors can get started by copying their previous course content or creating new course content. Completing the steps on this page early allows you to remediate accessibility issues more efficiently, saving time and effort down the road. When these steps aren’t done, the work of fixing inaccessible content could fall under a tight deadline.
Use previous course content
Copy Course Content Early
Copy content to a new course once it is available. Copying content early gives you time to revise and refine any content as well as check for accessibility.
Use the Accessibility Checker in Blackboard
Ally, the accessibility checker, alerts instructors and students to the accessibility level of elements on the page.
Fix Your Content
Use our best practices and how-tos from Ally to adjust course content or course materials. If you need assistance, please contact the Technology Accessibility team.
Create New Course Content
Create Accessible Content
Creating course content with accessibility in mind saves time and effort in the long run. This will ensure all users can engage with your course content.
Use the Accessibility Checker in Blackboard
Ally, the accessibility checker, alerts instructors and students to the accessibility level of elements on the page.
Fix Your Content
Use our best practices and how-tos from Ally to adjust course content or course materials. If you need assistance, please contact the Technology Accessibility team.