[Athen] Blackboard Discussion Board with JAWS software

[Thompson, Rachel]

Samantha,

Here is a response from Bb's JoAnna Hunt. Hope it helps.

The collaborate team has been made aware of this issue already through our support escalation processes.

Many times what we’ve been seeing is that the issues people are having with this are actually with the BROWSER UI for allowing access, not the Collaborate UI. We’ve authored some documentation that can help a screen reader user properly enable audio and video. Please share the below with the group.

  1.  Audio set up with JAWS<https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/Collaborate/Ultra/Moderator/100_Support/Chrome_Support#audio_jaws>
  2.  Audio set up with VoiceOver<https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/Collaborate/Ultra/Moderator/100_Support/Flash-based_Browser_Support#audio_voiceover>

Please send me any feedback they may have on this documentation so we can continue to improve it.

Thanks!
JoAnna
--
Blackboard  | JoAnna Hunt  •  Accessibility Manager  •  202.303.9097<tel:202.303.9097>

 •

Skype: johunt0311

Dr. Rachel S. Thompson
Director, Emerging Technology and Accessibility
Center for Instructional Technology
University of Alabama

On Jul 27, 2016, at 11:22 AM, "Samantha Johns" <samanj at pdx.edu<mailto:samanj at pdx.edu>> wrote:

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 toBlackboard 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


[https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/329486/OAI_SigPic.png]<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

[https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B5rT_cYNvyAzYWxVdDFKSGxKZDg&revid=0B5rT_cYNvyAzak42WDBqQ0lTMlFBTHJLSmpvakJteVBmMHNVPQ]
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<mailto: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<http://cindy.poore-pariseau@bristolcc.edu>
• Phone:  (508) 678-2811 x 2470<tel:%28508%29%20678-2811%20x%202470>
Ê Fax:        (508) 730-3297<tel:%28508%29%20730-3297>

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


From: athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu<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<mailto: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<tel:978-556-3647>
Email: smartin at necc.mass.edu<mailto: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] 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<mailto: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<tel:205-348-0216>
rsthompson2 at ua.edu<mailto:rsthompson2 at ua.edu> | http://accessibility.ua.edu

From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu>> on behalf of "Martin, Susan" <smartin at necc.mass.edu<mailto:smartin at necc.mass.edu>>
Reply-To: "athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>" <athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>>
Date: Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at 8:31 AM
To: "athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>" <athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto: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<tel:978-556-3647>
Email: smartin at necc.mass.edu<mailto: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] 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<mailto: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<http://cindy.poore-pariseau@bristolcc.edu>
• Phone:  (508) 678-2811 x 2470<tel:%28508%29%20678-2811%20x%202470>
Ê Fax:        (508) 730-3297<tel:%28508%29%20730-3297>

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


From: athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Martin, Susan
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2016 3:40 PM
To: athen-list at mailman13.u.washington.edu<mailto: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<tel:978-556-3647>
Email: smartin at necc.mass.edu<mailto: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





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