Blackboard Brings Virtual Collaboration to Learners with Disabilities
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ â Blackboard Inc. (âBlackboardâ) today announced two accessibility milestones for the latest version of its online virtual collaboration tool Blackboard Collaborateâ˘. Todayâs announcement marks the companyâs latest steps toward providing industry-leading inclusive technology for teaching and learning.
According to SSB Bart Group, Blackboardâs accessibility partner, Blackboardâs browser-based web conferencing tool supports the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.0 at Level AA, which includes features like live captions, 4.5:1 contrast, consistent navigation, and more. SSB Bart Group also gave the technology approval for meeting Section 508 standards in the United States, which apply standards to electronic and information technology used by federal agencies.
One example of an organization currently using these accessibility features is at the University of Montana, where the schoolâs Accessibility Interest Group uses the new Ultra experience of Blackboard Collaborate to conduct their regular webinars.
âItâs extremely important to us that we use tools and technologies that share the same values and standards that weâre working hard to achieve through our Accessibility Interest Group,â said Marlene Zentz, Senior Instructional Designer and Accessibility Specialist at the University of Montana. âThe new Blackboard Collaborate is not only the tool we use to allow our campus leaders to keep working toward making teaching and learning an inclusive process on our campus, but the tool that our disabled students themselves can use to collaborate and learn at their highest potential.â
âBlackboard is fully committed to delivering product experiences that conform to the highest levels of global accessibility standards,â said JoAnna Hunt, Blackboardâs Accessibility Manager. âThe publication of support statements for both the WCAG and Section 508 standards for Blackboard Collaborate with the Ultra Experience is the first of many achievements on our path to delivering on our promises of truly inclusive teaching and learning technology.â
Read more about Blackboardâs commitment to accessibility or get involved in the companyâs ongoing accessibility work, by joining the Accessibility Community.
For more information about Blackboard, please visit www.blackboard.com or follow @Blackboard on Twitter.
About Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard is the worldâs leading education technology company. We challenge conventional thinking and advance new models of learning in order to reimagine education and make it more accessible, engaging, and relevant to the modern-day learner and the institutions that serve them. In partnership with our customers in higher education and K-12 as well as corporations and government agencies around the world, our mission is to help every learner achieve their full potential by inspiring a passion for lifelong learning. For more information about Blackboard, follow us on Twitter @Blackboard.
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blackboard-brings-virtual-collaboration-to-learners-with-disabilities-300167085.html
span.p_span{font-size:8pt !important;font-family:"Arial" !important;color:black !important;} a.p_a{color:blue !important;} li.p_li{font-size:8pt !important;font-family:"Arial" !important;color:black !important;} p.p_p{font-size:0.62em !important;font-family:"Arial" !important;color:black !important;margin:0in !important;} ;}
theartofmadeline
prguitarman
yousharknotpass
titsay
origamiaround
baratheonpilled
jacobvanloon
