Co-Creating A Disability-Friendly Academic Year Supporting Faculty, Staff and Students as a Community

Creating a disability-friendly campus is a collaborative effort that benefits everyone, fostering inclusivity and ensuring equal opportunities campus wide.  By doing our part and working together, we create a campus environment where people with disabilities feel supported, respected, and empowered.  This post may be a gentle reminder of resources and departments for some, and create new awareness for others, as accessibility is everyone's responsibility. 

Everyone:

Read up on UMBC's Style Guide on Inclusive and Affirming Language to communicate well about disability 

Sign up for Accessibility and Disability Services myUMBC page

Go on UMBC's Accessibility Tour to better support your role as an accessibility ambassador.

Report Accessibility Concerns online via the ADS website.

Students (Undergraduate and Graduate):

Check out Student Disability Services Student (SDS) Resource Pages.
  • Getting Started: Registering with SDS for Accommodations
  • Returning students may complete a semester request in Accommodate to communicate approved accommodations to their new classes
  • Look over syllabi and schedule accommodated tests early.
  • If a need for accommodation has changed, or there is a new request - reach out for an update via Accommodate.
  • Get busy with student organizations that are welcoming and inclusive for students with disabilities.  UMBC has the Gamma Kappa Chapter of the Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society for Students with Disabilities - join an upcoming meeting.
  • Find and use an accessibility checker on documents, presentations, and digital content to assure that all that you are sharing socially, academically and vocationally has ideal accessibility.

Faculty:

Check out Student Disability Services' Faculty Resources Page

As course syllabi are updated, add or confirm UMBC's recommended Disability Syllabus Statement 

Take advantage of all that Instructional Technology and Blackboard (via Ally) have to offer for course accessibility:

Whether through accessible facilities, inclusive policies, or awareness initiatives, each step we take brings us closer to a campus that celebrates diversity and offers a welcoming space for everyone to thrive. Let's embark on this journey together, co-creating a community that values accessibility, dignity, and mutual respect.

A photo of a woman with dreadlocks and noise-canceling headphones sitting at home with a laptop accompanies this post.  Credit: Surface via Unsplash.

Enjoy some of the excellence from this year's Paralympic Games in Paris (they always follow the Olympics)
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May contains multitudes beyond finals and commencements:

Asian American and Pacific Island (AAPI) Heritage Month has a lot of intersectionality with disability beyond luminaries like Alice Wong and local Lydia X. Y. Brown -  Read more about the Asian Americans with Disabilities Initiative here.

May 16th is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) - click on the link to learn more about how to celebrate and enhance accessibility, especially digital accessibility, such as:

Know or experience a UMBC faculty or a department that champions accessibility?  NOMINATE THEM for the ADS Accessibility Trailblazer Award via this link.  Last year's awardees:

Dr. Laura Rose, Psychology (Faculty) and the Chemistry Department (2023)

Want to learn more about course accessibility, read on:

On May 21st Improve Course Accessibility with a 30 minute Quick Start with Instructional Technology, faculty can sign up for this online session here.

Learn more about ADS collaboration with UMBC's Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence research on neurodiversity in language teaching and learning (TESOL)

Also, on May 10, UMBC's Gamma Kappa chapter of Delta Alphi Pi International Honor Society for students with disabilities had its Induction, welcoming seven (7) new member and celebrating three graduating seniors.

In closing, don't forget to take care of yourself (Take the Moment) throughout all of May in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month!
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From our Partners, Instructional Technology, Click on the title or the Website link to register for an excellent event:

Access for All: A Course Accessibility Workshop 

January 23rd 1-2pm
Online

Join Instructional Technology for an Accessibility Workshop to review Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, explore key technology resources to support all learners, and create an action plan to support accessibility in your courses.

Session Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will have created an action plan on next steps and resources needed to design accessible courses and create or remediate content for accessibility. 

  1. Recall the guiding principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
  2. Identify a +1 UDL strategy for enhancing one of the following in your course: content, engagement, or assessment  
  3. Identify technology tools like Blackboard Ally for creating or remediating accessible content 
  4. Create an action plan that can support accessibility goals in your course, including appropriate technologies

This workshop will be facilitated by Dr. Susan Biro, Manager, Online Learning, and Josh Abrams, Instructional Design Specialist. 

Recommended resources 

Participants may find it helpful to review the following about accessibility and course design prior to the workshop. 

]]> From our Partners, Instructional Technology, Click on the title or the Website link to register for an excellent event: Access for All: A Course Accessibility Workshop  January 23rd 1-2pm... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/instructional-technology/events/124608 https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/138076/guest@my.umbc.edu/cb960ad5c2c4cfd1df7f185afc1327b3/api/pixel accessibility ally blackboard course dc digital faculty material section training workshop Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/original.jpg?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/large.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/medium.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/small.png?1565792941 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxsmall.png?1565792941 Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/138/076/3fdab6dd09160a12b05e8cfaa80becb1/xxlarge.jpg?1704748368 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/138/076/3fdab6dd09160a12b05e8cfaa80becb1/xlarge.jpg?1704748368 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/138/076/3fdab6dd09160a12b05e8cfaa80becb1/large.jpg?1704748368 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/138/076/3fdab6dd09160a12b05e8cfaa80becb1/medium.jpg?1704748368 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/138/076/3fdab6dd09160a12b05e8cfaa80becb1/small.jpg?1704748368 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/138/076/3fdab6dd09160a12b05e8cfaa80becb1/xsmall.jpg?1704748368 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/138/076/3fdab6dd09160a12b05e8cfaa80becb1/xxsmall.jpg?1704748368 3 0 false Mon, 08 Jan 2024 16:16:38 -0500 REPOST: Accessibility, Alt Text, AI and Ally For The Win Instructional Tech on Inclusion during NDLW

Instructional Technology/Dr. Mariann Hawken's shared about creating accessible course content via myUMBC for National Distance Learning Week. That informative post is shared via ADS here:

 
Providing accessible images is a crucial step to ensure inclusivity and equal access to learning. When images are properly described, students using screen readers are able to access an equitable educational environment. We use the alternative text field when placing images in documents, presentations, and in our Blackboard courses.

There are several tools available to help faculty with accessible images. 

  1. Ally Course Accessibility Report provides a big picture overview of your course's accessibility score, growing content by type and identifying issues in your course that is easiest to fix. Clicking the Start button will open a panel that helps you find the images and enter alternative text for those images in your course.
  2. When using images in Google Slides or Documents, you can click on the image to activate a new menu, Format Options. Select Alt Text to enter a description. Repeat this process for every image.
  3. When embedding images into Microsoft Word/PowerPoint files, you can improve accessibility with a simple right-click on the image. This action will activate a menu where you can find Edit Alt Text. If the image does not contain information, such as a stylistic border, you can mark it as decorative.

What if your course uses complex images, bursting with intricate details? How can you ensure that every student, regardless of visual ability, fully grasps their significance? 

ChatGPT 4* offers powerful image input functionality, allowing you to upload an image and generate complex descriptions. With its advanced language capabilities, ChatGPT can analyze an image, identify key elements, and produce informative alternative text that conveys the essence of the image. For example, we uploaded three complex images to generate extended descriptions of 100 words or less.



Alt-text-left: An image of Italy with no landmarks indicated. The AI identified specific geographical features based on the prompt and follow-up refinement.

Alt-text-center: An image of a desolate road in a dense autumn forest. The AI was not provided with specific instructions, yet produced a richly detailed description of the image.

Alt-text-right: An infographic about online learning modes. The AI identified three sections supporting online, hybrid, and in-person learning and the various delivery models within each scope.

It's important to note that ChatGPT might not always perfectly interpret every image, especially if it's highly abstract or intricate, and it might take a more cautious approach to its interpretation if it doesn't have sufficient context or guidance from the prompt provided with the image upload. As such, it's always a good practice to review the generated description to ensure its accuracy and appropriateness for your students. Follow-up questions can refine the output produced by ChatGPT, or instructors can revise the description.

For more information about accessibility or using AI tools, please contact Instructional Technology. To discover more about the impact of AI on distance education and training, the U.S. Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is hosting virtual webinars during the sixteenth annual National Distance Learning Week (Nov 6-10, 2023). All sessions are free to attend, but require registration via USDLA.


~ Mariann Hawken 

 

UMBC resources for campus members with disabilities include:  Student Disability Services, Accessibility and Disability Services (Employees and Visitors), and UMBC's online form for reporting accessibility concerns.  

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Instructional Tech has an upcoming event on the afternoon of October 27th 12-2p. Instructional Tech content and details are below, including a link to RSVP.  Click on the website button to view the original post.


Learn about Ally, a tool available in Blackboard Original and Ultra courses, that improves the accessibility of your course content. Schedule a personal consultation to see Ally’s remediation capabilities and file conversion tools that generate alternative formats for you and your students. 

This scheduled 20-minute Webex consultation will offer instructors ideas for developing a strategy to improve your course usability and accessibility and how to get started with Blackboard Ally.

Ally scans content in Blackboard and provides feedback and tools to identify and fix accessibility issues. Leverage Ally's powerful alternative format options yourself, and let students know they can download content in multiple formats that give them choices in how they watch, read, or listen. 

Upon completing the consultation, participants should be able to:

Schedule Your Consult:

Please complete the Ally Consult Request Form to get started and schedule your consult.

Connect with Instructional Technology
As always, if you have any questions about teaching, learning, and technology at UMBC, please consider the following options:

Alt-text thumbnail image of a person working at a computer 
 ]]> Instructional Tech has an upcoming event on the afternoon of October 27th 12-2p. Instructional Tech content and details are below, including a link to RSVP.  Click on the website button to view... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/instructional-technology/events/123329 https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/136312/guest@my.umbc.edu/eddcb5dc41d397b593c7b51cc79a0de3/api/pixel access accessibility ally content course training Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/original.jpg?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/large.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/medium.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/small.png?1565792941 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxsmall.png?1565792941 Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/136/312/0ffaf78a8fb2063fca82b491ce2b8916/xxlarge.jpg?1697478546 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/136/312/0ffaf78a8fb2063fca82b491ce2b8916/xlarge.jpg?1697478546 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/136/312/0ffaf78a8fb2063fca82b491ce2b8916/large.jpg?1697478546 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/136/312/0ffaf78a8fb2063fca82b491ce2b8916/medium.jpg?1697478546 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/136/312/0ffaf78a8fb2063fca82b491ce2b8916/small.jpg?1697478546 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/136/312/0ffaf78a8fb2063fca82b491ce2b8916/xsmall.jpg?1697478546 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/136/312/0ffaf78a8fb2063fca82b491ce2b8916/xxsmall.jpg?1697478546 0 0 false Mon, 16 Oct 2023 13:52:43 -0400 Accessible Course Content: Creating and Fixing (repost) 5 Things You Can Do With Blackboard Ally
Join this virtual workshop from UMBC's Instructional Technology team that will offer ideas for developing a strategy to improve course usability and accessibility by getting started with Blackboard Ally. 

RSVP for the August 21st session and learn more at their event post linked below. 

Learn about Ally, a tool available in Blackboard courses that improves the accessibility of your course content. Attend this session to see Ally's remediation capabilities and file conversion tools that generate alternative formats for you and your students. 

This workshop will offer ideas for developing a strategy to improve your course usability and accessibility and how to get started with Blackboard Ally. Ally scans content in Blackboard and provides feedback and tools to identify and fix accessibility issues. 

Leverage Ally's powerful alternative format options yourself, and let students know they can download content in multiple formats that give them choices in how they watch, read, or listen. 

Upon completing this online session, participants will be able to:

This session will be facilitated by Drs. Peter Ariev and Susan Biro, members of the Instructional Technology team.

RSVP details are in the original my UMBCpost, click on the link below



A photo of a seated black woman wearing headphones while working on a laptop accompanies this post.
]]> Join this virtual workshop from UMBC's Instructional Technology team that will offer ideas for developing a strategy to improve course usability and accessibility by getting started... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/instructional-technology/events/118629 https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/134646/guest@my.umbc.edu/f902fe5c749f39ea048271733138da57/api/pixel accessibility ally blackboard digital faculty instructional technology training Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/original.jpg?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/large.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/medium.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/small.png?1565792941 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxsmall.png?1565792941 Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/134/646/8ec38e2c271c61e3b08207e4c8af9782/xxlarge.jpg?1691768151 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/134/646/8ec38e2c271c61e3b08207e4c8af9782/xlarge.jpg?1691768151 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/134/646/8ec38e2c271c61e3b08207e4c8af9782/large.jpg?1691768151 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/134/646/8ec38e2c271c61e3b08207e4c8af9782/medium.jpg?1691768151 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/134/646/8ec38e2c271c61e3b08207e4c8af9782/small.jpg?1691768151 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/134/646/8ec38e2c271c61e3b08207e4c8af9782/xsmall.jpg?1691768151 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/134/646/8ec38e2c271c61e3b08207e4c8af9782/xxsmall.jpg?1691768151 2 0 false Fri, 11 Aug 2023 11:42:16 -0400 Fri, 11 Aug 2023 11:46:08 -0400 Calling All Faculty: Course Material Accessibility Help 8/26 Get ready for the new semester with Instruct'l Tech (repost)
Sign Up for this Sprint by clicking on the Website button to get to Instructional Tech's event page below!

Instructional Technology will host a 90-minute support sprint on Friday, August 26, 2022 (noon-1:30) for faculty to virtually drop-in and receive a customized consult on key topics to finalize course prep including:
  • Checking your course materials for accessibility: Use Ally to check your accessibility meters and review alternative formats. 
  • Recycling & reusing your course content. Quickly stage your upcoming course from semester to semester with the Ultra Course Copy tool.
  • Engaging with students: Schedule, deliver & record virtual classes with Collaborate.
  • Delivering & configuring virtual tests: Create online tests and assignments using Bb tools.
  • Tuning up your Blackboard gradebook: Create columns, drop scores, check calculations, verify weighted totals, etc.
  • Preparing for Ultra: Plan your course roadmap to optimize your transition to the new course interface.
Please note that this is not formal training. If you are interested in more formal training opportunities with our staff, please see our schedule of events posted on Instructional Technology’s myUMBC group.

Students (undergraduate and graduate) who have health conditions that may qualify as a disability can find more information about academic accommodation on the Student Disability Services website:  sds.umbc.edu.

Faculty and other employees seeking disability-related accommodation can find resources for work-related accommodations on the ADS website.

]]> Sign Up for this Sprint by clicking on the Website button to get to Instructional Tech's event page below! Instructional Technology will host a 90-minute support sprint on Friday, August 26,... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/instructional-technology/events/107738 https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/126983/guest@my.umbc.edu/1112b039a5c881f7c88a410091e6e096/api/pixel accessibility ally assistive course disability faculty instructional material technology Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/original.jpg?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/large.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/medium.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/small.png?1565792941 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxsmall.png?1565792941 Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/126/983/c3484e52bb248dcdfe341e91d88be7b1/xxlarge.jpg?1661278981 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/126/983/c3484e52bb248dcdfe341e91d88be7b1/xlarge.jpg?1661278981 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/126/983/c3484e52bb248dcdfe341e91d88be7b1/large.jpg?1661278981 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/126/983/c3484e52bb248dcdfe341e91d88be7b1/medium.jpg?1661278981 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/126/983/c3484e52bb248dcdfe341e91d88be7b1/small.jpg?1661278981 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/126/983/c3484e52bb248dcdfe341e91d88be7b1/xsmall.jpg?1661278981 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/126/983/c3484e52bb248dcdfe341e91d88be7b1/xxsmall.jpg?1661278981 4 0 false Tue, 23 Aug 2022 14:28:56 -0400 5 Things Ally Can Do For Bb Course Accessibility (IT Repost) Making Bb Courses Accessible & Disability Friendly 8/16 10a REPOST from Instructional Technology, click here or on the Website button to register for the 8/16/22 10:00a online session.

Learn about Ally, a tool available in Blackboard Original and Ultra courses, that improves the accessibility of your course content. Attend this session to see Ally's remediation capabilities and file conversion tools that generate alternative formats for you and your students. 

This workshop will offer ideas for developing a strategy to improve your course usability and accessibility and how to get started with Blackboard Ally. Available in both Original and Ultra courses, Ally scans content in Blackboard and provides feedback and tools to identify and fix accessibility issues. 

Leverage Ally's powerful alternative format options yourself, and let students know they can download content in multiple formats that give them choices in how they watch, read, or listen. 

Upon completing this online session, participants should be able to:

Following the 45-minute presentation, join us for a closer look at how to use Ally and Q&A.  

To RSVP for this event, please click the Website button below to get to the Instructional Tech page to "Go virtually" and be sure to add the event to your calendar!

This webinar will take place in a Blackboard Collaborate virtual conference room. Enter the webinar up to 15 minutes before the start time. Use the "Join Online Event" link above to join the session.


At least 5 registrations are needed for this session to proceed as scheduled. The session will be recorded if two or more people attend and the link will be distributed to everyone who registered.

]]> REPOST from Instructional Technology, click here or on the Website button to register for the 8/16/22 10:00a online session. Learn about Ally, a tool available in Blackboard Original and Ultra... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/instructional-technology/events/106859 https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/126804/guest@my.umbc.edu/de9cb93dd24cdcacee8fffac53a91b4a/api/pixel access accessibility ally blackboard compliance content course disability doit faculty instructional remediation scan student technology tools Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/original.jpg?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/large.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/medium.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/small.png?1565792941 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxsmall.png?1565792941 Instructional Technology/Accessibility & Disability Services https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/126/804/80d7e3c6558db1f033d0d2f2809ae57d/xxlarge.jpg?1660228881 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/126/804/80d7e3c6558db1f033d0d2f2809ae57d/xlarge.jpg?1660228881 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/126/804/80d7e3c6558db1f033d0d2f2809ae57d/large.jpg?1660228881 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/126/804/80d7e3c6558db1f033d0d2f2809ae57d/medium.jpg?1660228881 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/126/804/80d7e3c6558db1f033d0d2f2809ae57d/small.jpg?1660228881 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/126/804/80d7e3c6558db1f033d0d2f2809ae57d/xsmall.jpg?1660228881 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/126/804/80d7e3c6558db1f033d0d2f2809ae57d/xxsmall.jpg?1660228881 2 0 false Thu, 11 Aug 2022 10:58:55 -0400 FM Repost: Report Facilities Repairs, Outages via ReADY Be an accessibility ally - prompt reporting to FM are a win!

Are you ReADY?

Facilities Management and Residential Life are excited to announce the launch of our new customer request portal ReADY for faculty, staff, and students to report maintenance issues and to request services, effective Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

ReADY is a user-friendly application which runs on all smart phones, tablets, and computers.

ReADY allows all campus users to request services, using an easy-to-follow system of tiles and dropdown selections. Based upon your affiliation as a faculty/staff, commuter student, or residential student, you will see a customized set of tiles to report issues and request services for buildings, grounds, roadways, and other infrastructure.


Access ReADY via this link using your UMBC email and password:

https://umbc.assetworks.cloud/ready

Customers will receive email notifications and be able to monitor status of requests by clicking on Process or Notifications in ReADY. 

For current AiM Users, ReADY replaces the AiM work order request process. The AiM interface for requests will be disabled at 5 pm on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.

A ReADY user guide and additional information is available on Facilities Management’s website:

https://fm.umbc.edu/work-request/

Accessibility and Disability Services works in strong partnership with Facilities Management and will be updating their Work Control information - though the on-the-go process for calling in a condition remains 410-455-2550 from any phone.  Campus faculty and staff are encouraged to bookmark the site to assist with prompt repair resolution.  

As always with Accessibility & Disability Services - please report accessibility concerns at any time via our online form linked here.


A photo of a toolbelt with a hammer and wrench accompanies this post.

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Join our campus partner, Instructional Technology for Five (5) Things You Didn't Know that Blackboard Ally Can Do and learn about Ally, a tool available in Blackboard Original and Ultra courses, that improves the accessibility of your course content. Attend this session to see Ally’s remediation capabilities and powerful file conversion tools that generate alternative formats for you and students.

Click here to see their full post and sign up!  Want more detail? Read on:

This 30 minute workshop will offer ideas for developing a strategy to improve your course usability and accessibility and how to get started with Blackboard Ally. Available in both Original and Ultra courses, Ally scans content in Blackboard and provides feedback and tools to identify and fix accessibility issues. 

Leverage Ally's powerful alternative format options yourself, and let students know they can download content in multiple formats that give them choices in how they watch, read, or listen. 

Upon completing this online session, participants should be able to:

Click on the links to get to Instructional Technology's event page signup.  We hope to see you there.

The post is accompanied by a photos of a neon sign stating "Do Something Great" in white letters on a black background. Credit: Clark Tibbs via Unsplash.com
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