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Accessibility
Adobe Acrobat
With Adobe Acrobat version 7.0 and higher, an Accessible Adobe Reader download is available. It allows readers to create an accessibility set-up assistant, perform an accessibility quick check, view documents in high-contrast colors, use automatic scrolling, allows the ability to change reading order and save documents as text. To navigate through these options available to the student, they will need to go through the steps outlined in the Accessibility Setup Assistant by choosing Help and selecting Accessibility Set-up Assistant. Adobe created accessibility training resources can be located here, http://www.adobe.com/enterprise/accessibility/training.html.
Screen Readers
Screen Readers such as JAWS work best within Blackboard when instructors have posted materials in a text only format. If an instructor chooses to put materials in a Microsoft Word Document, a description will need be added so that Screen Reader user will know that they will need to go through extra steps to view the material, i.e. Course_Assignement_week_1.doc (Word Format). Another alternative is for instructors to post information into a Blackboard document so the Screen Reader will then read the information as HTML. Occasionally there are accessibility issues with quizzes and tests within Blackboard due to the formatting of frames, if this happens the instructor will have to post this information in one of the above mentioned formats for students to be able to access the information.
PowerPoint
If the instructor has posted a slideshow or presentation in Blackboard, an HTML version can be created to be used with screen reader software.
Voice Records
Blackboard allows for several different voice options to access materials, for students who are visually impaired. Which are Voice Boards: A threaded, voice-based discussion board, Voice Email: Allows you send email via your recorded voice and text, Vice Announcements: Allows you to record announcements, and Wimba Podcaster: a tool that allows for the creation and subscription of podcasts.
Resources