Tips for Choosing Textbooks

• Ensure the textbook has a digital version available.
• Check if the digital version is tagged for accessibility (e.g., includes headings, alt text, and readable text—not just images or scanned pages).
• If using publisher content or external tools (e.g., MyLab, McGraw Hill, Cengage), verify their accessibility statements or request VPATs.

Blackboard Ultra Documents

• Give your Document a title using the placeholder field at the top of the screen.
• Create separate sections using the “Text Style” icon in the editor:
• Use “Title” style at the start of each main section (only one per section).
• Use “Header” for subsections.
• Use “Sub header” for deeper levels.
• Use consistent heading structure and avoid using all caps for emphasis.
• Body text should be at least 12-point font.
• Use bold or italics to emphasize; reserve underlining for links.
• Do not rely on color alone to emphasize information.
• Apply proper list formatting using the “List” icon; do not manually create lists.

Images and Alternative Text

• Add concise, accurate alt text (no longer than 120 characters or 2–3 sentences).
• Avoid phrases like “image of” or “picture of” in alt text.
• For complex images (charts, graphs, etc.), provide a longer description nearby.
• Mark non-essential images as “null,” “n/a,” or decorative.

Check that Color Alone Does Not Convey Meaning

• Use visual cues like italics, bold, or font size in addition to color.
• Embed meaning directly in the text (e.g., “Important note: ...”).
• Test color contrast using tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker or Silktide.

Create Tables with Accessibility in Mind

• Use tables only for data, not layout.
• Build tables using the text editor, not pasted content.
• Check “Header Row” and “Header Column” as appropriate.
• Keep tables simple; avoid merged cells or complex structures.

Provide Descriptive Link Text

• Use descriptive text in the “Link text” box (e.g., titles, authors).
• Avoid vague text like “click here” or “this document.”
• Indicate if a link opens in a new window/tab.

Document Attachments and Multimedia

• Ensure Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files are fully accessible (headings, alt text, etc.).
• Blackboard Ally does not check Excel files—review them manually.
• Caption all videos; request or generate auto-captions and edit for accuracy.
• Avoid autoplaying videos.
• Provide transcripts for all audio files.

PDFs

Apply the "Four R's" (adapted from UND):

• Remove outdated, scanned or unnecessary PDFs.
• Replace with:
  • Permalinks to library or external content whenever available.
  • An accessible version directly from the publisher when possible.
  • Alternative formats, such as accessible Word or PowerPoint documents.
  • Share the original, editable file format (e.g., an Office document instead of a PDF).
• Remediate only if you have to using Adobe Acrobat Pro.
• Get it Right the first time! 

Additional PDF Guidelines

• Always save as an accessible PDF (use “Save as PDF,” not “Print to PDF”).
• If a PDF is scanned, use OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and Blackboard Ally’s Alternative Formats for temporary accessibility support.
• Note: Ally’s formats do not make the original PDF fully accessible and will impact your Ally score.
• When sharing PDFs from library databases or external sources, use permalinks instead of uploading the file directly.

Accessibility Testing

• Blackboard Ally Report : Review and fix red/yellow accessibility indicators.
• Silktide Chrome Extension: Check headings, alt text, screen reader output, and color contrast—all in one tool.
• Keyboard Navigation: Use Tab and Arrow keys to ensure all content is accessible without a mouse.
• Screen Reader Testing: For deeper testing, use NVDA (Windows) or VoiceOver (Mac) to verify how content is read aloud.

Optional: Accessible STEM Content

• Use MathML or LaTeX for equations when possible.
• Avoid using images for math unless descriptions are included.