computer keyboard, a blank smartphone laying on top of the keyboard, and the word Accessible appearing above the keyboard

Highlighting accessibility resources

Accessibility continues to be a high priority at NIU. Here are just a couple of our notable accessibility resources, as well as an exciting announcement!

Accessible Word Document Basics

Documents icon. Stack of paper sheets with check mark in lower corner of top page

On February 17, a special presentation on Accessible Word Document Basics was delivered by speaker Mark McCarthy, a Senior Accessibility Engineer at the University of Illinois System Office Administrative Information Technology Services. If you missed this valuable presentation, the recording is available for you to learn more about creating accessible Word documents.

Blackboard Ally Resources for Students

Blackboard Ally alternative format download iconBlackboard Ally is enabled in all courses at NIU, so let your students know what it is and how it benefits them. NIU’s Ally for Students webpage provides an overview of what Ally is, explains to students how to download alternative formats for course documents in Blackboard, and covers how to use the Ally File Transformer tool to transform any file into an alternative format. All you need to do is share the link with students and announce that Blackboard Ally is available to them!

Students who need assistance with or have questions about Blackboard Ally should contact the Division of IT Service Desk by phone at 815-753-8100 or via email servicedesk@niu.edu.

Coming Soon: Blackboard Ally Badges!

Wow! comic book effect image with starsFeeling competitive (with others or just yourself)? CITL is in the process of developing digital badges through Badgr as visible recognition for faculty who address accessibility issues with their Blackboard course materials using Ally. The badges will recognize faculty for taking steps—small or large—toward more accessible course materials.

Faculty will submit a self-nomination form once they believe they have qualified for one of the badges. CITL staff will verify qualification and issue the badges via Badgr. Once awarded a badge, faculty can share it via LinkedIn and other social networks, and they could place the badge on their syllabus, in Blackboard, or on their faculty website.

There will be multiple badges to earn and different levels for each badge. There will also be an Ally Hero badge for those faculty who earn the top level of all of the other badges!

Stay tuned for more details!


Visit the Blackboard Ally webpage for Instructors for FAQs and details on how you can use Blackboard Ally to improve the accessibility of your course materials.

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