Listen as Blackboard Rep. Andy Jacobson presents the principle behind universal design. This talk shares research that Blackboard has done to understand the issues that instructors face when they make their content accessible, as well as realistic and e ffective action that instructors can take to bring universal design to their teaching.
Andy Jacobson has been at Blackboard for over ten years where he leads the operations side of Blackboard’s User Experience team. He is responsible for making sure that Blackboard products are usable by everyone through our localization and accessibility programs. Andy also enables our research-driven design approach by working with designers to develop research plans and helping them connect with users.
Blackboard was the first learning management system to achieve NVA certification from the National Federation for the Blind. Blackboard is also the first and only LMS to be awarded Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award for “ground-breaking work in accessibility.”
Dave Rathbun joined the university in 2010 and serves as an instructional technologist and Blackboard© Certified Trainer in the University of Cincinnati's Center for Excellence in eLearning. Dave is actively involved in nearly a dozen governance and operational committees - including the Accessibility Committee, which he chairs - providing technical leadership, expert guidance, coordination, and support.
Before coming to UC, Dave was a sales and service manager with a specialty electronics retailer. He is also a veteran of both the Regular and Reserve Armies including a thirteen-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.