Accessibility in Blackboard

Blackboard is fully committed to delivering product experiences that conform to the highest levels of global accessibility standards. Towson University’s Blackboard support team knows that accessibility is imperative, not an afterthought.

All Blackboard products are designed and developed with international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA and domestic Section 508 standards. Anthology Blackboard, Inc. is committed to becoming more accessible and underscores the importance of accessibility in education.

TU Blackboard environment has a current list of optional third party integrations, including their descriptions, support contacts and accessibility info. If you have questions, please contact

Blackboard Accessibility Tool 

Ally is the accessibility checker integrated within Blackboard. This tool gauges the accessibility of uploaded documents/files, provides feedback on how to improve issues and identifies alternative content formats for students. Using an accessibility checker supports diverse student needs at TU through inclusive design and learner preferences. See resources for using Ally on this page.

Accessibility Improvement Opportunities

Support sessions: virtual 

Mark your calendars for upcoming Ultra Pop-ups! Please confirm session date/times and locations on Blackboard’s org site. If you have login issues, contact .

 

Blackboard Updates

Details: Thursday, April 30, 11 a.m. - noon. Location: Zoom

This brief, faculty‑focused session highlights new features, improvements, and upcoming changes within Towson University’s Blackboard environment. Instructors will receive an overview of recent enhancements, learn how updates may impact course design or daily teaching workflows, and explore recommended best practices for incorporating new tools effectively. This session provides a concise, practical look at what’s new in Blackboard so you can stay informed, prepared, and confident in your instructional technology.

Accessible Course QUick Fixes

Details: Thursday, May 7, 9 - 11 a.m. Location: Zoom

This pop-up support session is designed to help instructors make fast, impactful improvements to the accessibility of their Blackboard courses. Drop in for hands on guidance, quick troubleshooting, and practical strategies for creating content that supports all learners. There will be time built in to work on your course and ask questions in this session

Accessibility: We have a tool for that

Details: Wednesday, May 13, 11 a.m. - noon. Location: Zoom

This drop‑in session introduces faculty to the built‑in tools that make creating accessible Blackboard courses easier than ever. Learn how to quickly identify accessibility issues, fix common problem areas, and take advantage of features that streamline inclusive course design. Whether you’re new to accessibility or just need practical, time‑saving tips, this pop‑up provides straightforward guidance and hands‑on support—no prior experience needed. There will be time built in to work on your course and ask questions in this session. 

Do You Need That File? Refresh Your Course!

Details: Wednesday, May 20, 11 a.m. - noon. Location: Zoom

This quick, faculty‑focused session helps instructors evaluate which course materials are truly necessary, accessible, and aligned with learning goals. Drop in to streamline your Blackboard course, remove outdated or redundant files, and create a cleaner, more effective learning environment for students.

Accessibility Open Session

Details: Tuesday, May 26, 11 a.m. - noon. Location: Zoom

This informal, faculty-focused drop-in hour is dedicated to improving the accessibility of your Blackboard courses and digital materials. Instructors are invited to bring questions, files, or course elements for individualized guidance on best practices, Ally feedback, document remediation, and accessible course design.

Department Roadshows: we'll come to you!

Looking for a customized session for your department? We can help! Request a session by emailing

More Accessibility Support

Let's continue to work together to make learning more inclusive! If you have questions or want improve the accessibility of your Blackboard courses, contact .

Recap of Opportunities

TU's Blackboard team participated in these recent events, providing opportunities for the TU community to improve accessibility and become more learning inclusive:

Resources for Instructors

FAQs

It means websites, apps, and documents which are designed to be equally usable by everyone, including individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities.

The best practice is to store your files in OneDrive. 

For optimal accessibility, share your syllabus as a Word document. This format is more compatible with screen readers and allows easier navigation.

Yes. Proactively creating accessible materials from the start follows universal design principles that benefit all learners, including those with undisclosed disabilities or temporary impairments. Use Ally in Blackboard to provide a report on your course material accessibility.

Yes. You are responsible for ensuring all course materials are accessible. If it's not, try to find an alternative or contact the vendor to request an accessible version.  

First reduce: remove any materials you don’t intend for your students to use. Next, check for accessibility and fix issues in your syllabus, slide decks, and other essential materials. Use USM's "Top 5 Things Faculty Can Do Right Now" article to guide your next steps.

Use the built-in accessibility checkers in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat. For existing Blackboard course content accessibility, use Ally for a report.

If you need help locating accessible content, reach out to and consult with your discipline-specific librarian for possible permalinks or finding available alternative formats. Remediation should be the last stop, if remaking or replacing a document isn’t possible. 

Use an Ally report to see a full breakdown of your content's accessibility and step-by-step instructions for improvements. If it’s in the green (100% accessible), you’re good to go, and no actions are needed. Recommendation: use the Blackboard AI Design Assistant when creating courses and they'll be accessible by default. 

No. Only active courses impact your Ally score. However, if you copy content from an old course into a new one, you must ensure those files meet current accessibility standards before the new semester begins. If you’re not using a file, consider deleting it.

Using the Blackboard Accessibility Tool (Ally)

Learn how to improve the student experience through inclusive design: watch Ally's accessibility overview (video) and follow Ally's accessibility checklist. Learn about alternative formats and the Ally accessibility checker (video) with TU's Blackboard team.

Tips for Making Your Course Accessible

  • Learn how to write accessible content
  • Edit Captions in TU Video Tools
  • Use descriptive headings and apply heading formatting.
  • Avoid using font styles, color, bold, italics, underline or strikethrough to emphasize content.
  • Use purposeful images and include alternative text to those images.
  • Make descriptive links when linking outside your course.
  • Use lists instead of tables whenever possible.
  • Properly list content using bullet points or numbered lists.
  • All videos should be captioned.
  • Format your files and documents to be accessible.
  • Provide students with clear expectations, instructions and directions for all assignments and tests.

Resources for Students