[Athen] Blackboard Discussion Board with JAWS software

[Samantha Johns]

Hello,

I submitted a ticket to Blackboard Collaborate about some testing I
performed with a native blind screen reader user using Jaws. There are
issues in all the browsers with allowing access to the user's camera and
mic. A message appears but the screen reader does not announce this alert
to share camera, mic.

This unfortunately needs to be done by a sighted person, however once you
are in the application Jaws does access all of the button for actions.

"Another things to note if sharing a Power Point in BB it does not read
with JAWS or alert the user of when to change PP slides."

Strangely the ticket I submitted to BB does not contain my original
message, only their response.:

---Please do not edit this ---%#02297636%#Need More Info%#-----
*Case ID:* 02297636
*Product:* Collaborate
*Subject:* Accessibility with Screen Reader

Some additional information is needed from you to help us resolve your
issue.  Please see our request below and provide the information as soon as
possible.

Hello Samantha,

My name is Sharayah and I'm with Blackboard Collaborate Tier 2 support, and
I primarily handle all accessibility concerns. Your Case has been escalated
to me for further review.

At this time, we recommend that anyone who is using a screen reader with
Blackboard Collaborate Ultra use Internet Explorer and JAWS (Windows) or
Safari and VoiceOver (Mac). Though other browsers can ultimately work (for
example, Firefox), there are a few bugs or performance degradations that
have been reported. We recognize that there is still plenty of room for
improvement, and as such are continuing to test and release updates to
Blackboard Collaborate Ultra as a whole, including increased accessibility
support.

That being said, I'm more than happy to work with you and our Ultra
Development and Accessibility teams to relay any findings you have.
According to the Case notes, I see that you and your users have been having
issues with screen readers not picking up on some of the microphone alerts,
is this correct? If you'd like to elaborate on the behavior you've seen (be
sure to include the specific versions of each browser, Operating System,
and screen readers being used in each case), I'll be happy to try and
replicate. If I can replicate using the same versions, it's clearly
something to take to Development to look into further. If we can't
replicate, we can go ahead and take steps to troubleshoot with the user(s)
to make sure everything is working as designed.

I'll be happy to discuss this further over the phone as well, if you'd
like. Just let me know a good time to reach out to you on Wednesday,
Thursday, or Friday of this week (including your time zone, please!) and we
can arrange for me to call you.

*A few additional resources concerning Blackboard Collaborate Ultra and
Accessibility that may be helpful:*
About Collaborate Ultra and Accessibility: https://en-us.help.blackboard
.com/Collaborate/Ultra/Administrator/Accessibility
VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) for Collaborate Ultra:
https://en-us.help.blackboard
.com/@api/deki/files/12864/Blackboard_Collaborate_VPAT_(10-2015).pdf

Warm Regards,
Sharayah S.
Blackboard Collaborate - Tier 2


* <http://www.pdx.edu/oai/>  *

*Samantha Johns*

*Accessibility & **Course Support Specialist*

Portland State University
1825 SW Broadway
Smith Memorial Student Union, Mezzanine 209
Portland OR 97201
(503) 725-2754


Caption Badge: Universal Design for learning 2016

"Tell me and I'll forget, Teach me and I'll remember, Involve me and I'll
learn" -Ben Franklin




On Wed, Jul 27, 2016 at 8:46 AM, Poore-Pariseau, Cindy <
Cindy.Poore-Pariseau at bristolcc.edu> wrote:


> Ok, thank you.  The reason I asked is that I have had two students

> successfully use BBLearn (including discussion board participation) with

> JAWS and have not yet heard any issues (they both completed their degrees

> and have moved on).

>

>

>

> One issue we did come across, though, come up when instructors began using

> Voice Thread.   I have a meeting in a couple of weeks to understand VT’s

> work around (it seems cumbersome and unreasonable to me, but I’ll know more

> in a couple of weeks)

>

>

>

> “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world

> around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what

> kind of difference you want to make.”

>

> -Jane Goodall

>

>

>

> Cindy Poore-Pariseau, Ph. D.

>

> Coordinator of Disability Services

>

> Office of Disability Services, L115

>

> Bristol Community College

>

> Fall River, MA 02720

>

> NASPA Chair-elect Disabilities Knowledge Communities

>

>

>

>

>

> Autism Spectrum Blog/ ods-as.blogspot.com <http://ods-as.blogspot.com>

>

>

>

>

>

> + Email:   cindy.poore-pariseau at bristolcc.edu

>

> ( Phone:  (508) 678-2811 x 2470

> Ê Fax:        (508) 730-3297

>

>

>

> http://www.bristolcc.edu/students/disabilityservices/

>

>

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu] *On

> Behalf Of *Martin, Susan

> *Sent:* Wednesday, July 27, 2016 10:04 AM

>

> *To:* Access Technology Higher Education Network <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Blackboard Discussion Board with JAWS software

>

>

>

> Thank you Rachel. This will be a good place to start with this student who

> I have known for a while and has been a bit reluctant to take a course with

> a blackboard component.

>

> Susan

>

>

>

> *Susan J Martin M.Ed – Director*

>

>

>

> *The Learning Accommodations Center *

>

> Northern Essex Community College

>

> Behrakis One- Stop Student Services Center SC111B

>

> 100 Elliot Street, Haverhill, MA 01830

>

> Tel# 978-556-3647

>

> Email: smartin at necc.mass.edu

>

> *Strategic      Maximizer      Arranger      Individualization     Relator*

>

>

>

> This e-mail and any files transmitted with it may be confidential and may

> contain student information covered under FERPA. If you are not the

> intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying,

> distribution, or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If

> you have received this e-mail transmission in error, please notify me by

> telephone or via return e-mail and delete this e-mail from your system.

> Thank you

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu

> <athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu>] *On Behalf Of *Thompson,

> Rachel

> *Sent:* Wednesday, July 27, 2016 9:46 AM

> *To:* Access Technology Higher Education Network <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Blackboard Discussion Board with JAWS software

>

>

>

> Susan,

>

>

>

> I did some searching through my old files this morning and found the

> attached tutorial from Blackboard on using Learn with a screenreader

> (JAWS). It is from an older version of Blackboard Learn, but given how

> little has changed in that product for our institution, it may still be

> useful for you. I hope so. If you have any issues with the attachment, let

> me know and I can send off-list.

>

>

>

> Rachel

>

>

>

> Dr. Rachel S. Thompson

>

> Director, Emerging Technology and Accessibility

> Center for Instructional Technology

> The University of Alabama

> 123 Russell Hall

> Box 870248

> Tuscaloosa, AL 35487

> Phone 205-348-0216

> rsthompson2 at ua.edu | http://accessibility.ua.edu

>

>

>

> *From: *athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu> on

> behalf of "Martin, Susan" <smartin at necc.mass.edu>

> *Reply-To: *"athen-list at u.washington.edu" <athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Date: *Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at 8:31 AM

> *To: *"athen-list at u.washington.edu" <athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject: *Re: [Athen] Blackboard Discussion Board with JAWS software

>

>

>

> Hi Cindy-

>

> I am doing research on the issue since I have a student in the fall who is

> blind and may be enrolling in a course that uses the discussion board in

> Blackboard.   I knew there were some issues with discussion board messages

> and one of the resources said that it’s likely a JAWS user will require

> training to be successful- so I was looking for training materials or

> work-arounds to share in advance with the student.   For example, I read

> that intermittent JAWS lock-ups can occur when users post to the discussion

> board, a work-around is to “refresh” the focus.  I also would like to know

> which browser works best, since I read Safari has been problematic when

> creating new Blackboard discussion threads.

>

>

>

> Thank you,

>

> Susan

>

> *Susan J Martin M.Ed – Director*

>

>

>

> *The Learning Accommodations Center *

>

> Northern Essex Community College

>

> Behrakis One- Stop Student Services Center SC111B

>

> 100 Elliot Street, Haverhill, MA 01830

>

> Tel# 978-556-3647

>

> Email: smartin at necc.mass.edu

>

> *Strategic      Maximizer      Arranger      Individualization     Relator*

>

>

>

> This e-mail and any files transmitted with it may be confidential and may

> contain student information covered under FERPA. If you are not the

> intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying,

> distribution, or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If

> you have received this e-mail transmission in error, please notify me by

> telephone or via return e-mail and delete this e-mail from your system.

> Thank you

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu

> <athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu>] *On Behalf Of *Poore-Pariseau,

> Cindy

> *Sent:* Tuesday, July 26, 2016 4:14 PM

> *To:* 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Blackboard Discussion Board with JAWS software

>

>

>

> Hi Susan, what is the issue you are having?

>

>

>

> “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world

> around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what

> kind of difference you want to make.”

>

> -Jane Goodall

>

>

>

> Cindy Poore-Pariseau, Ph. D.

>

> Coordinator of Disability Services

>

> Office of Disability Services, L115

>

> Bristol Community College

>

> Fall River, MA 02720

>

> NASPA Chair-elect Disabilities Knowledge Communities

>

>

>

>

>

> Autism Spectrum Blog/ ods-as.blogspot.com <http://ods-as.blogspot.com>

>

>

>

>

>

> +Email:   cindy.poore-pariseau at bristolcc.edu

>

> ( Phone:  (508) 678-2811 x 2470

> Ê Fax:        (508) 730-3297

>

>

>

> http://www.bristolcc.edu/students/disabilityservices/

>

>

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu

> <athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu>] *On Behalf Of *Martin,

> Susan

> *Sent:* Tuesday, July 26, 2016 3:40 PM

> *To:* athen-list at mailman13.u.washington.edu

> *Subject:* [Athen] Blackboard Discussion Board with JAWS software

>

>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> Does anyone have materials or information about accessibility issues with

> the Blackboard Discussion Board?  Are there any guides or “work arounds”

> regarding this issue that any one is aware of?

>

> Thank you,

>

> Susan

>

> *Susan J Martin M.Ed – Director*

>

>

>

> *The Learning Accommodations Center *

>

> Northern Essex Community College

>

> Behrakis One- Stop Student Services Center SC111B

>

> 100 Elliot Street, Haverhill, MA 01830

>

> Tel# 978-556-3647

>

> Email: smartin at necc.mass.edu

>

> *Strategic      Maximizer      Arranger      Individualization     Relator*

>

>

>

> This e-mail and any files transmitted with it may be confidential and may

> contain student information covered under FERPA. If you are not the

> intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying,

> distribution, or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If

> you have received this e-mail transmission in error, please notify me by

> telephone or via return e-mail and delete this e-mail from your system.

> Thank you

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>   ­­

>

>   ­­

>

> _______________________________________________

> athen-list mailing list

> athen-list at mailman13.u.washington.edu

> http://mailman13.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/athen-list

>

>

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