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Accessibility Statement – °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Blackboard Learn VLE

This accessibility statement applies to Blackboard Learn, the centrally supported Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼, and should be read in conjunction with the University's general accessibility statement

The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive learning environment which offers all our learners the opportunity to maximise their academic potential.

Blackboard Learn Accessibility

Blackboard Learn is a commercial product, which is now being designed and developed in accordance with the internationally recognised Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA as well as the US Revised Section 508 and EN 301 549 standards. 

Blackboard provides information about the company’s approach to accessibility on this web page:

How accessible is the Blackboard Learn platform?

For details of how well Blackboard Learn conforms with WCAG standards, please consult the (dated August 2024).

When using Blackboard Learn you should be able to

  • In most part, resize text up to 200%. However, the main content area on some panels is very small when the browser is zoomed to 200%, making it difficult to read and use. Navigate the website using a screen reader.
  • Navigate most of the website using just a keyboard.

We know some parts of the Blackboard VLE are not fully accessible. For example

  • Some content is clipped when the page is zoomed 200%.
  • Some controls are not fully operable with the keyboard.
  • Some visual headings are not marked up as headings.
  • Some data table markup is incorrect

Please note that courses in Blackboard are currently using the Ultra Course View, however legacy courses and some extended duration courses remain in .

Information on specific accessibility features in Blackboard Learn can be found here: .

Blackboard Learn makes use of some additional tools which have a separate accessibility statements:

Some Blackboard functionality is also available via a mobile app, for which there is a separate accessibility statement 

How accessible is the content available on the Blackboard Learn platform?

While specific statements can be made about the accessibility of the Blackboard VLE platform itself, content stored within the Blackboard Learn VLE will have been created and uploaded by a wide variety of academic and administrative support staff, and the accessibility of this content may vary accordingly.

In view of its commitment to making website content as accessible as possible, the University has purchased Blackboard Ally, which enables all users to access content uploaded to Blackboard courses and organisations in a range of alternative formats.

The alternative formats available depend on the nature of the original file in Blackboard. See for details.

There are a number of customisation options for your browser and device that could help you use this website and other websites more effectively. on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

Third party tools

Certain third party tools, content and/or functionality are integrated into our Blackboard VLE, and these have their own accessibility statements.

Where we choose to feature third party content or functionality on the Blackboard Learn VLE, we are responsible for ensuring it meets accessibility standards.

Where we are legally required to feature third party content or functionality, we cannot reasonably accept responsibility for ensuring it meets accessibility standards.

These tools include the following:

Turnitin

. This includes VPAT documents for

  • Feedback Studio LTI Student Assignment Management Interface
  • Feedback Studio Student Feedback and Online Grading Interface
  • Turnitin Similarity Report Interface Feedback Studio Text Only Similarity Report Draft Coach
  • While Turnitin Feedback Studio is not currently completely WCAG 2.0 AA compliant you can use the text-only report for a better experience with an assistive technology and Turnitin. See the Turnitin  guide -

Gradescope

Gradescope is an assessment platform being used for exams and coursework assessments in some subject areas.  (PDF)

YuJa

YuJa is a video hosting platform used for pre-recorded lectures and other teaching content, which may be embedded into Blackboard. 

Microsoft Products

Accessibility information for Microsoft Office products can be found here: 

Microsoft 365

Microsoft Teams

Teams is used for some webinars and other online meetings. For accessibility information see this Microsoft support page: .

Microsoft Stream

Stream is a video hosting platform which was used in previous academic years for pre-recorded lectures and other teaching content. On these Microsoft Stream support pages you can find links to accessibility help articles written for people who use screen readers with Microsoft Stream:

When Stream videos and channels are embedded in a Blackboard course, these can be accessed using the keyboard.

The Stream ‘playlist’ automatically embedded into 2020/21and 2021/22 Blackboard courses cannot be accessed using a keyboard, but is accompanied by a direct link to the course area on the Stream website, where keyboard controls can be used.

Microsoft Stream has automatic transcriptions and closed captions, please see how to . If you are unable to view automatically generated transcripts, please contact your lecturer or the owner of the video and ask that the transcript be regenerated.

Mobius (Previously Maple TA)

This tool is used on some Maths courses.

Mediasite 

This is a video hosting platform used on some courses in previous academic years. .

LearnSci

LearnSci materials are used on some Science-based courses.    

McGraw-Hill

Some courses make use of learning materials published by McGraw-Hill. See the web page.

Padlet

Some courses will include Padlet as a collaborative discussion/activity resource. See the

Cengage

Courses could include Cengage resources, please see

LT

LT is an online learning platform with ready-to-use content for life sciences, chemistry, nursing, and medicine provided by ADINSTUMENTS. Please see the

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format, you should be able to obtain this using . This can provide content in a range of formats, including

  • Tagged PDF
  • HTML
  • ePub
  • electronic Braille
  • MP3 audio file
  • Beeline Reader (for easier and faster on-screen reading)
  • Microsoft Immersive Reader

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

If you have any problems accessing Blackboard, or tools such as Turnitin which are integrated into Blackboard, please contact the IT Service Desk:

You can expect a response within 2 working days.

If you need content featured on the Blackboard Learn VLE in a different format, and you are having problems accessing the necessary format(s) facilitated via Blackboard Ally, please contact the web accessibility team at WebAccessibilityTeam@reading.ac.uk. You can expect a response within five working days.

If you find any problems that aren't listed in this statement or think we're not meeting the requirements of the accessibility regulations, please contact: legalservices@reading.ac.uk. In most cases, you can expect a response within seven working days.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the .

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ is committed to making its VLE accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

The Blackboard VLE is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed under the heading "non-compliance with the accessibility regulations".

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Based on the (ACR)  (dated August 2024).

Non-accessible content

The majority of content in Blackboard is created and maintained by University academics and professional support staff. As a result, the accessibility of such content may vary accordingly . We are aware that

  • Older PDFs may not be accessible to screen reader software.
  • Word documents and other files may not be fully accessible, for instance because they lack headings, or contain images that are missing a description.
  • Videos may lack captions or transcripts.

In some cases, uploaded content may have accessibility defects which mean that the alternative formats provided by Blackboard Ally are not able to significantly improve the accessibility of that content. For instance, where text files lack proper structure, or where no alternative description has been provided for images.

Content that is not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

PDFs and other documents

Many of our older PDFs and Word documents do not meet accessibility standards - for example, they may not be structured so they’re accessible to a screen reader. This does not meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 4.1.2 (name, role value).

The accessibility regulations if they’re not essential to providing our services. The University will work to ensure that content uploaded for use in 2019-20 and beyond is fully accessible.

Live video

Live video streams are .

Online sessions delivered via Microsoft Teams have captions generated automatically, using artificial intelligence. As with any such system, these captions will not always be 100% accurate.

Special collections and archives

Our heritage collections such as scanned  manuscripts and historical collections, as well as archived contents are exempt from the accessibility regulations.

Online maps

Online maps and mapping services are exempt as long as essential information is provided in an accessible digital manner for maps intended for navigational use.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We are continually monitoring our VLE for accessibility.

The University is working to raise awareness of the importance of accessibility, and to help staff improve the accessibility of their teaching and learning materials.

Ally also alerts University staff to content with accessibility issues and helps them to improve the accessibility of this content. For more information on Blackboard Ally please see these help pages:

  • Students
  • Staff

Preparation of this accessibility statement

Testing Processes

The Blackboard Learn website platform was tested by Blackboard Inc. and results are available in the  (29 August 2024).

Accessibility testing is also carried out internally on a sample of pages using automated tools as well as manual testing.

In addition, University Technology Enhanced Learning team regularly monitor file accessibility on Blackboard using Ally's institutional report. Monthly reports guide targeted staff development.

This statement was prepared on 23 September 2019. It was last updated on 03 October 2024.