Teleconference Details

1. Update on sub-groups activities
2. Update on accessibility related activities at Blackboard by Stephanie Cupp
3. Time-line for the upcoming beta testing
4. Follow-up with Accessibility related documentations (questions from Jon):
   • Is there any special phone number, e-mail, web service or other resources for people with assistive technology related questions or problems with using Blackboard products to contact Blackboard for solutions or reporting problems?
   • How is keyboard support documented in support resources for keyboard only users to reference?
   • How are accessibility features of Blackboard applications documented (i.e. like use of headers) so that people using assistive technologies know what to expect, rather than them trying to figure out what is available for accessibility.
   • Is there a disability support section for instructors related to extending time testing or other issues related to using Blackboard for disability related accommodations.
5. Potential collaborative projects?
   • Improving accessibility of BB website
   • Making searching for relevant accessibility info easier at BB website
   • providing the UDP course and future Assisstive technology users tutorials project online on BB site.
   • Web-based documentation on utilizing BB built-in tools to create more accessible contents
   • Integrating accessibility in BB training workshops
6. Slate and Accessing Higher Grounds 2008 conferences

General Blackboard Accessibility teleconference Minutes 09/08/2008
Scribe: Terry Thompson

Next Teleconference

• Date: Monday October 06, 2008
• Time: 2:30 PM EDT; 1:30 PM CDT; 12:30 PM MDT; 11:30 AM PDT
• Phone: 866-753-8247 code: 982 287 9257

  Participants

  1. Nancy Swenson, University of Central Florida
  2. Allen Maynard, Hadley School
  3. Hadi Rangin, University of Illinois
  4. Valerie Claire Haven, UMass Boston
  5. Lori Holden, The California State University Chico
  6. Dara Millen, Blackboard
  7. Stephanie Cupp, Blackboard
  8. Saroj Primlani, North Carolina State University
  9. Joanna Hunt, Blackboard
  10. William Murray, Blackboard
  11. Terry Thompson, The University of Washington
  12. Kevin Price, University of Illinois
  13. Jon Gunderson, University of Illinois
  14. Dean Brusnighan, Purdue University

  Discussion

  Update on sub-groups activities

  1. Not much recent activity in Testing, Documentation, and QA sub-groups.

     One question from the Testing sub-group: Since the BB-TESTING distribution list is fairly small, does anyone object to using the more populated general list for discussion of current accessibility issues related to existing Blackboard products, prior to Mark Burris (leader of the Testing subgroup) opening support tickets with Blackboard related to these issues? Doing so would allow more people to participate in confirming, troubleshooting, and/or discussing the issue; but would result in an increase in traffic to the general list.

     Terry and Alan both voiced their support for doing so, and no one voiced opposition.

  2. Design Group: Soon (mid-September), the Design Group will begin beta testing Blackboard's "Next Generation" product. Participation in the Design Group and beta test requires that the participant sign a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA). New NDA's will be accepted through the end of September. Terry will post a separate announcement to the general list, including the NDA form once he's received a current copy of the form from Dara.

     The beta test will continue through October, but everyone is encouraged to get involved early, because the earlier feedback is provided to Blackboard the more likely it is to result in positive changes.

     Alan noted that beta testing would particularly be critical for applications like the Grade Center, which includes a new, dynamic, relatively complex user interface.

     Stephanie expressed her excitement about the upcoming beta test, and noted that the structure of the test was designed to address lessons learned from the previous beta test of Grade Center, e.g., specific test scenarios have been developed up front so the testing process will be more acutely focused and less overwhelming.

  Accessibility in Blackboard Support and Documentation

  Hadi and Jon met by phone on Friday September 5 with Jason Minkoff, head of Blackboard's support team, to discuss accessibility as it relates to Blackboard support. Various support solutions are available depending on clients' specific licenses, but generally end-users do not have direct access to Blackboard support. They receive support from their on-campus support teams, who serve as liaisons to Blackboard. Jon and Hadi described several related problems:

  1. The people who know the problems (end users) don't know how to get that information reported to the Blackboard people.
  2. The on-campus support staff at many campuses do not understand accessibility issues, and are consequently unable to help.

  Saroj noted that these problems are even more pronounced in a K-12 environment, where there is typically far less of a support infrastructure than there is in a higher education environment.

  Possible solutions that were discussed:

  1. Blackboard should provide more information on its website (or somewhere) advising various groups of users on how to resolve accessibility issues, e.g., (for users) information about keyboard shortcuts, tips for using Blackboard effectively with a screen reader, etc.; (for faculty and/or disability services) how to provide disability-related accommodations such as extended time to students; (for faculty) how to ensure that course content is accessible. This area of the Blackboard site should also document the current process for seeking help related to Blackboard accessibility, so that users who go to the site seeking help will leave with a clear path to follow for receiving the support they need.

     Terry recommended adding content like that recommended above to the current Blackboard Accessibility site (access.blackboard.com), which doesn't appear to have been updated in years, and is therefore a poor indicator of all the work that Blackboard is doing to address accessibility. Jon added that not many companies provide this type of information, and by providing it Blackboard would go a long way toward showing their commitment to individuals with disabilities.

     Stephanie noted that Melissa Anderson, who led an accessibility session at BBWorld, is in the process of reshaping her presentation as a website that will be linked from the Blackboard Accessibility page. She also noted that a universal design course has already been developed and is available for installation within Blackboard. Some have reported technical problems with this course, and Hadi asked whether it could be accessed independently of Blackboard. Given these questions, Stephanie will ask Andy Jacobson to post a message to the list regarding current status and availability of the course.

  2. Accessibiliity should be included in the training that Blackboard provides to its on-campus liaisons.

  Accessibility of the Blackboard Website

  Hadi asked for an update on the accessibility of the Blackboard website. Stephanie said that marketing is working on it, but warned the group that we should expect changes to the website to move much more slowly than changes to the product.

  SLATE and Accessing Higher Ground Conferences

  Hadi asked whether anyone from Blackboard would be attending these conferences. Will Murray will be attending SLATE, and is interested in meeting with anyone who has an interest in Blackbaord accessibility.

  No one from Blackboard is planning to attend Accessing Higher Ground.