Increasing Accessibility by Replacing PDFs with Permalinks
If you currently have PDFs posted in your courses, the best way to increase your courses’ accessibility is to replace those PDFs (which commonly have accessibility problems) with a permalink. This solution works for content available through the University library. As...
How to Use Microsoft Screen Readers and Read Aloud Tools
There are many reasons to listen to documents, such as proofreading, multitasking, or increased comprehension and learning. Using a screen reader is also a great way to check your document’s accessibility. Microsoft Word makes listening possible (and easy!) by using...
Faculty Testers Needed for Turnitin Clarity (Fall 2025)
The Academic Integrity Office is looking for faculty interested in piloting Turnitin Clarity. This software embeds a writing platform within Blackboard, and it provides Instructors transparency in terms of understanding how a written submission was constructed. This...
Add Image Descriptions with Blackboard Ally
Images are a powerful element of a Blackboard course, but they’re only effective when all students can access and understand them. Adding descriptions—sometimes called alt text—ensures that visuals communicate meaning to everyone, including students who rely on screen...
Create Turnitin Assignments Directly in Blackboard with Turnitin Feedback Studio
Turnitin Feedback Studio is available within the Blackboard course Content Market. Though not the preferred method for creating Turnitin assignments, this integration lets you create a direct Turnitin assignment—grading and feedback occur in Turnitin and do not use...
Make Accessible PowerPoint Presentations with Microsoft 365
PowerPoint has several built-in features designed to help you create accessible PowerPoint presentations. When creating new PowerPoint presentations, you can use the Accessibility Checker to review and flag potential accessibility issues while you work. To manually...
“Screen Only” Option in Respondus Monitor
Respondus Monitor offers a “Screen Only” recording option, giving instructors more flexibility in how they proctor online assessments. With this setting, you can record just the student’s computer screen—no webcam required. This feature is especially useful in cases...
Make Your Ultra Documents Pop with Block Styling
The new block styling options in Blackboard Ultra Documents let you highlight important information with colorful, icon‑tagged sections. Instructors can now call out questions, tips, key points, next steps, or highlights — making course content easier for students to scan and understand.
Accessibility Quick Start
Accessibility benefits everyone—even you.
Using the Built-In Accessibility Checker to Add Alt Text to Images in Microsoft 365
Alt text is descriptive text that explains the meaning of an image so screen readers can convey it to users with visual impairments. Microsoft 365’s Accessibility Checker helps you find missing or unclear alt text, offers suggestions, and lets you edit or mark images as decorative. To use it, go to Review → Check Accessibility, then review and update any flagged images.