Tips and Resources for Providing an Accessible Online Course Blackboard Ally and Beyond
During a recent University System of Maryland online gathering , our Assistant Vice Provost jointly presented with College Park about tips and strategies for digital accessibility.  We work in partnership with DoIT, and directly with Instructional Technology, beyond our collaboration and communication with faculty and the Faculty Development Center.  We are broadly sharing resources campus-wide to refresh awareness, including:

Tips for Creating an Accessible Online Course (from Educause)
which is also posted on  SDS's Information for Faculty Resource website (link). and

Faculty Accommodation Guidelines/FAQ for Remote Instruction (link). 

These postings supplement and complement ongoing work with DoIT's Instructional Technology office, their department supports Blackboard, Ultra, Collaborate, Ally (Accessibility information linked here) and more.  UMBC's DoIT has a strong and enduring association with Educause that informs the drive for inclusive excellence online. The collaboration between Student Disability Services, students with accommodations, Instructional Technology and faculty/Faculty Development began when course content started  to shift online and continues today.

Faculty can learn more about Instructional Technology's web-based  PIVOT training here. The Planning Instructional Variety for Online Training was mentioned during this week's online Student Town Hall.  Additional FAQ information and technology-based training options are also available through DoIT.

Voicethread training, and Universal Design for Learning is being promoted by Intstructional Technology via this link. (Lots of captioning provided via this app during URCAD - it's not just for faculty!)

On a broader scale, UMBC is active with the Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD).  The next Maryland meeting includes collaboration with IT and instructional Technology Departments to continue on the path of inclusive excellence.


A  gentle reminder - Accessibility and Disability Services remains a resource for anyone fielding a UMBC-related accessibility question or concern.  ADS and Student Disability Services are also available for accommodation questions and intakes during this period of telework, and distance learning, including if there is a change in the need for accommodation. Details can be found here:

Faculty, staff and student employee accommodation information (link)
Academic (Student) Accommodation/SDS link

Accessibility Concerns may be reported to our office via this link at any time.  Office staff can be reached via 410-455-5745 and slazar@umbc.edu during regular business hours. 

Photo of Sign reading You Got This Next to a laptop by Prateek Katyal on Unsplash
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Facilities Management and the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services are hosting a review of recent, current and potential construction projects that enhance accessibility, improve the physical environment of UMBC, and benefit the entire community. There are new projects on the horizon, and your ideas, suggestions and feedback will inform the process for UMBC's continued participation with the AccessMD Program. 

Please RSVP on the event page linked here.  ASL interpretation will be provided. Individuals with disabilities requesting accommodation should contact the organizer, slazar@umbc.edu, as soon as possible. In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide reasonable accommodation. 

If you have any remaining questions or suggestions prior to the discussion contact Celso Guitian in Planning and Construction Services via cguitian@umbc.edu / 410-455-5578 or Stephanie Lazarus, ADA/Section 504 Coordinator via slazar@umbc.edu / 410-455-5745. If you cannot attend, but have ideas for additional projects, please reach out to us, we want to hear from you!

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We have previously posted about mental health supports, and peer support and mentorship is an additional avenue for mental health in the academic community.


Are you a current student with a disability interested in working with other honor students?  Look no further than UMBC's  Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society [link] for the embodiment of Disability, Achievement and Pride. We're seeking a few good  undergraduate (24+ credits/3.10+ GPA) and graduate (18+ credits/3.30+ GPA) students  who are registered with Student Disability Services. Click on the Delta Alpha Pi link to learn more.
]]> Several graduates have lived the experience of academic progress, and even outstanding academic success like Linda Wiratan, UMBC graduate and Rhodes Scholar Finalist in the link below.  She walks... https://news.umbc.edu/meet-umbcs-linda-wiratan-rhodes-scholar-finalist/ https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/84499/guest@my.umbc.edu/529de4ab7106d49bfa1d581e72dea5c8/api/pixel awareness chemistry college dapi depression disability graduate health honors mental Office of Disability Access and Resources https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/original.jpg?1565792941 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/large.png?1565792941 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/medium.png?1565792941 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/small.png?1565792941 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxsmall.png?1565792941 Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/084/499/6f47bd5a46462d35930e41179af1a428/xxlarge.jpg?1557842665 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/084/499/6f47bd5a46462d35930e41179af1a428/xlarge.jpg?1557842665 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/084/499/6f47bd5a46462d35930e41179af1a428/large.jpg?1557842665 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/084/499/6f47bd5a46462d35930e41179af1a428/medium.jpg?1557842665 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/084/499/6f47bd5a46462d35930e41179af1a428/small.jpg?1557842665 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/084/499/6f47bd5a46462d35930e41179af1a428/xsmall.jpg?1557842665 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/084/499/6f47bd5a46462d35930e41179af1a428/xxsmall.jpg?1557842665 1 0 false Tue, 14 May 2019 10:32:12 -0400 Tue, 14 May 2019 10:33:57 -0400