I want to first say that I have learned so much from being a part of this
list over the past few months. While accommodating student needs has long
been a part of what some of my colleagues do at the University of Alabama,
a focus on technology accessibility is new for many of us, including me.
As part of my job in the Center for Instructional Technology, I am one of
the main organizers for the Alabama Blackboard User Group annual academic
technology conference. This year, I have done my best to have several
sessions on accessibility as it relates to instructional technology. My
colleagues and I will present about UA's efforts toward accessibility
planning, faculty members will talk about ways to make online course
materials accessible, and Blackboard is sending the main accessibility
resource from their development group. There are also sessions on many
other topics and ways to learn about instructional technology tools. Many
schools are only just beginning their move toward being accessible and we
want to help them learn as much as possible while still recognizing how
much we still have to do.
See the invitation below and please come if you can.
The Alabama Blackboard Users Group (Bama BUG) invites you to the Bama BUG
2013 Academic Technology Conference, to be held at the University of
Alabama Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on May 31, 2013
and sponsored by Blackboard and partners. Register at
https://www.regonline.com/bamabug. This free event is designed to help
instructors and staff members learn more about Blackboard and other
technology tools and will have several sessions on accessibility. In four
tracks (Course Design and Content, Course Management and Engagement,
Campus and Technology Administration, and K-12/Campus Community
Partnerships), faculty, staff, and vendor partners will offer
presentations on a variety of topics. The keynote will explore the roadmap
of Blackboard Learn and Collaborate while the plenary will focus on
Blackboard and accessibility. More information is available at
https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/?eventid16090.
Rachel
Dr. Rachel S. Thompson
Director, Emerging Technology and Accessibility
Center for Instructional Technology
University of Alabama
