Improve Your Course Accessibility Score with Ally & Create Accessible Blackboard Content
If you can click it, you can fix it
Location
Online
Date & Time
February 16, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Description
Learn about Ally, a tool in Blackboard Ultra that scans content created in a course and offers instructors remediation options in real-time to improve accessibility.
In this session we highlight Ally’s remediation capabilities and file conversion tools that help create an accessible and inclusive experience for all learners. Review the built-in Blackboard Ultra tools to create accessible content from the start, like proper heading structures and alt-text. By proactively addressing accessibility during the design phase, help support a seamless experience for all learners from day one.
Instructors and students can also leverage Ally's powerful alternative format options to download content in multiple formats that support diverse learning styles.
Session topics and demo include how to:
- Run Ally's Accessibility Report
- Use Ally's Instructor Feedback Panel to preview and prioritize remediating content and images
- Leverage Ally's alternative formats and File Transformer
- Create accessible course content directly within the Blackboard Ultra using best practices for heading styles, links, tables, and images.
This session will be facilitated by Dr. Susan Biro, Manager, Online Learning, and Dr. Josh Abrams, Instructional Design Specialist.
To RSVP, click "Going" and be sure to add the event to your calendar! Registrants will receive a calendar invitation and reminder email prior to the session.
JOINING THE SESSION
This session will take place in a Google Meet virtual conference room. Visit the myUMBC event and select the "Join Online Event" button to enter the Google Meet session up to 10 minutes before the start time.
- For best viewing, we recommend using Chrome, Brave, or Firefox, preferably the most recent updates to those browsers. Closing any unnecessary browser tabs will help conserve your bandwith.
- If this is your first time joining one of our webinars, please review the requirements to use Google Meet. Learn how to connect your audio & video, change or blur your background, and use reactions. You can also review the accessibility settings, including live captions.
This session is open to any role at UMBC -- faculty, staff or student. At least 5 registrants are needed to run this session. The session will be recorded if 5 or more people attend. All registrants will receive a link to the captioned recording.
Connect with Instructional Technology
As always, if you have questions about teaching, learning, and technology at UMBC consider the following options:
Follow the Instructional Technology & DoIT myUMBC groups
