Blackboard Ally – Module Content Accessibility Helper
Introduction
Blackboard Ally is being introduced as a new feature within the Trinity Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
This is a collaborative partnership between the Trinity Disability Service and IT Services to improve the accessibility of online content available to our student community. For information related to accessibility, please visit the Trinity Disability Service website.
Blackboard Ally analyses the academic content uploaded into the Trinity Blackboard VLE against accessibility standards and provides step by step guidance to academics on how to improve the accessibility of the content if needed. Blackboard Ally also provides alternative accessibility formats for any files you upload, which are accessible by your students for their convenience.
Staff
For module instructors, Blackboard Ally will mark inaccessible content and provide advice on how to make the content you upload to Blackboard accessible for all your students. While it is not mandatory, we encourage you to improve the accessibility of your content regularly as it will benefit the student community.
The accessibility icons available in instructor view are not visible to the students in their Blackboard view. If you are presenting to your students within Blackboard, it is recommended that you switch to the student preview mode within your module so the students don’t see the accessibility icons in your content.
Blackboard Ally will automatically provide a range of alternative accessibility formats for the files you upload to Blackboard. This gives students the flexibility to use a format that suits their needs.
The Blackboard Help website provides a range of guides on how to improve your module content’s accessibility. When you upload new files or replace existing files into Blackboard, Blackboard may take a few minutes to process and add the accessibility score and alternative formats icons beside your files. You can also use the module accessibility reports to review how your module meets accessibility standards overall.
Video Overview of Blackboard Ally for Instructors
Students
For students enrolled in Blackboard modules, Blackboard Ally automatically provides a range of alternative formats that are easy to use by all students. Ally works within your modules in Blackboard so it is available right when you need it. Alternative files include:
- Readable text for screen readers
- Pictures with captions
- Content that is easy to navigate
Blackboard Ally creates multiple formats from the original documents in your module. You can download these alternative formats anywhere.
For further information on Blackboard Ally for students, visit the Blackboard Help website.