Live accessibility training sessions in June

In support of the University’s efforts to improve digital accessibility in course content, there are several live training sessions taking place in June, hosted by the Teaching Transformation & Development Academy.

Visit the full event page for information on other sessions hosted by TTaDA throughout the year. Past sessions are also available to watch on-demand.

Further information and guidance on the topic of digital accessibility can be found on the Accessible UND page.

Editor’s note: Based on popular demand, TTaDA is offering three additional sessions this month tailored specifically for UND staff on June 22, 23 and 24. This post has been updated to include these sessions.

Upcoming digital accessibility events in June

Blackboard Ultra Document Accessibility, Part 1
Tuesday, June 16, 1 – 2 p.m.
Working on building Blackboard Ultra courses? Want to learn more about how to make your Blackboard Ultra Documents accessible? The Teaching, Transformation, and Development Academy (TTaDA) is here to help! In this first part of a two-part session, you’ll learn how to create a Blackboard Ultra Document and add content to it, including text, lists, links, attachments, images, tables, and video embeds. You’ll then learn how to start to make that content accessible by applying text styles to text and image descriptions to images.

Accessibility Virtual Office Hours – Virtual
Wednesday, June 17, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Working on the accessibility of your digital resources? Need additional support? Meet with TTaDA staff to improve the accessibility of your digital course resources and course effectiveness! These office hours are designed to be active you should plan on sharing a digital course resource or two (e.g., a Microsoft Word document or a PowerPoint slide presentation) with TTaDA staff.

Blackboard Ultra: Ally – Course Accessibility
Thursday, June 18, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
This session will demonstrate using Ally for Accessibility within a Blackboard Ultra course. How do you know if your Blackboard course materials are accessible? How do you fix it if they are not? Learn more about Blackboard Ally in Ultra to determine the accessibility of your content and tips for designing your content for all learners. Discussions will include effectively adding descriptions to images, creating accessible Word documents, as well as manipulating specific content in your course to strive toward accessibility for all. The second half of the workshop will include time for assistance in making documents accessible, so have your documents ready.

Accessibility Virtual Office Hours – In Person
Friday, June 19, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Working on the accessibility of your digital resources? Need additional support? Meet with TTaDA staff to improve the accessibility of your digital course resources and course effectiveness! These office hours are designed to be active you should plan on sharing a digital course resource or two (e.g., a Microsoft Word document or a PowerPoint slide presentation) with TTaDA staff.

Accessibility Fundamentals
Monday, June 22, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
This Basic Digital Accessibility Training introduces the core concepts of creating digital content that is usable by people with disabilities. Participants will learn foundational accessibility principles for documents, websites, and multimedia, including clear structure, alternative text for images, color contrast, keyboard navigation, and accessible communication practices. The training also provides an overview of the legal foundations of accessibility in the United States, including key requirements under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which require public entities and federally funded programs to ensure equal access for individuals with disabilities. By the end of the session, participants will understand why accessibility matters, the legal responsibilities organizations must meet, and practical steps they can take to make digital content more inclusive and accessible.

Word Document Accessibility 101: Identifying and Fixing Common Issues
Tuesday, June 23, 10 – 11 a.m.
Wondering why your Word document is receiving a low score in Blackboard Ally? This workshop will guide participants through identifying and addressing common accessibility issues in Microsoft Word documents. Issues include alt-text for images, heading structure, tables, links, and lists. A hands-on tutorial will walk you through addressing these issues in a sample document, demonstrating how to leverage Word’s Accessibility Checker tool to fix accessibility errors.

Accessible Document Design in Microsoft Word
Tuesday, June 23, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Discover how to make your communications more accessible with Microsoft Outlook’s built-in accessibility features. This session covers structuring and formatting emails for readability, creating accessible email signatures, writing meaningful link text, using color intentionally and accessibly, and attaching documents that meet accessibility standards. Real-world examples will demonstrate how small design choices improve readability and usability for everyone.

Crafting Accessible Emails in Microsoft Outlook
Wednesday, June 24, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Discover how to make your communications more accessible with Microsoft Outlook’s built-in accessibility features. This session covers structuring and formatting emails for readability, creating accessible email signatures, writing meaningful link text, using color intentionally and accessibly, and attaching documents that meet accessibility standards. Real-world examples will demonstrate how small design choices improve readability and usability for everyone.

PowerPoint Accessibility 101: Identifying and Fixing Common Issues
Thursday, June 25, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Curious why your PowerPoint presentation is receiving a low score in Blackboard Ally? This workshop guides participants through identifying and addressing common accessibility issues in Microsoft PowerPoint, such as reading order, missing alt text, and color contrast. A hands-on tutorial will walk you through a sample presentation, demonstrating how to leverage PowerPoint’s Accessibility Checker to fix accessibility errors.

Blackboard Ultra Document Accessibility, Part 2
Monday, June 29, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Working on building Blackboard Ultra courses? Want to learn more about how to make your Blackboard Ultra Documents accessible? The Teaching, Transformation, and Development Academy (TTaDA) is here to help! In this second session, you’ll build on what you learned previously and learn how to make your lists, links, tables, and color accessible in Blackboard Ultra Documents. *Important note: This session is the second part of the workshop on Blackboard Ultra Document accessibility. For optimal learning, make sure to take the first half of this session before enrolling in the second.