New Ally pilot project tests tool for accessibility
During spring semester, a group of faculty volunteers will pilot Blackboard Ally, a learning management system plugin focused on making digital content more accessible, in their online courses. Participants will use Ally to scan online class materials, specifically electronic documents, to identify accessibility barriers. They will then revise their materials to incorporate improved accessibility techniques using Allys prompts.
Along the way, volunteers will attend product training and accessibility learning sessions facilitated by Blackboard, provide feedback in focus groups, and complete a survey about their experiences.
We are looking forward to working closely with our faculty to thoroughly test the Ally tool and make sure it is the right fit for the university, says Megan Wuebker, an instructional designer in IT@UCs Center for Excellence in eLearning (CEeL). In turn, this experience will help The Accessibility Network determine how to best support our teaching community with the resources to make themand ultimately our studentsthe most successful.
Are you interested in learning more about accessibility for electronic materials in your classroom? Please visit the Accessibility Network website for articles and resources on eAccessibility. Or, access eAccessibility: An Introduction, a UC course in Blackboard introducing basic eAccessibility concepts (UC login required).
If you have any questions, please contact an Accessibility Network program member at Accessibility.Network@uc.edu.
Related Stories
Spectrum News: How to reduce risks of security camera privacy...
May 2, 2024
Individuals can take steps to protect themselves from privacy invasions, such as ones that led to a more than $5 million settlement with Ring, an Amazon-owned security company, Spectrum News reported.
Local media cover $13.5 million gift benefiting ALS research and...
May 2, 2024
A historic $13.5 million gift from the estate of Hugh H. Hoffman will revolutionize amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic at the University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute.
New York Magazine: Does eating chocolate actually trigger...
May 2, 2024
The University of Cincinnati's Vincent Martin was featured in a New York Magazine/The Cut article discussing the lack of solid evidence that chocolate is a migraine trigger.