An accessible document is one that has clear and consistent formatting and can be read electronically by a screen reading application. Accessible documents are easier to navigate and comprehend, and they offer compatibility across programs and devices making the document usable for all students, including those who rely on screen-reading technology.
*A screen reader, like Read&Write Gold, is a software application that converts on screen text into synthesized speech, allowing the user to listen to content. A good practice is to download a screen reader so you can “view” your content from the point of view of a student who may require the use of such an application.
NCDAE: The National Center on Disability and Access to Education provides simple one page instructions to create various types of accessible documents, based on the type of document and the version of software available to you (Including Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Adobe PDFs and more.)
Visit the NCDAE web page for additional guides.
Blackboard Ally: The course tool “Ally” once activated will scan your course documents and rate their accessibility as well as provide instructions on remediation to correct any accessibility issues it finds. Learn more about Ally at the link below or contact bbhelp@uml.edu.