[Art_beyond_sight_educators] National Federation of the Blind and Blackboard to Demonstrate New Accessibility Features at CSUN

[Freeh, Jessica]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org



National Federation of the Blind and Blackboard to
Demonstrate New Accessibility Features at CSUN



Blackboard Learn Platform Brings Accessibility Enhancements for the Blind



San Diego, California (March 25, 2010): The 
National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the 
nation’s leading advocate for equal education for 
blind students, and Blackboard Inc., will present 
and demonstrate the new accessibility features of 
the Blackboard Learn™ platform at the California 
State University, Northridge, (CSUN) 25th annual 
International Technology & Persons with 
Disabilities conference, held in San Diego, CA, 
March 22–27.  The presentation of Blackboard’s 
improved and more accessible experience will be 
held on March 25 at 4:20 p.m. Pacific Time.



Blackboard Learn, an online learning platform, is 
used by thousands of institutions to provide 
online education, course materials, discussion 
boards, assignment submissions, electronic 
grading, and numerous other components intended 
to enhance the learning experience or to provide 
distance education.  Previously, blind students 
encountered a number of accessibility barriers 
when using the Blackboard platform with nonvisual 
screen access technology.  Blackboard Learn, 
Release 9,  showed great improvement over prior 
releases, and during the past year, Blackboard 
has invested further in a range of enhancements 
to Blackboard Learn that represent significant 
improvements to the usability of Blackboard for blind users.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National 
Federation of the Blind, said: “We are pleased to 
help Blackboard present the accessibility 
features of the Blackboard Learn platform to the 
influential audience at CSUN.  These features 
will ensure that blind students are not

at a disadvantage in classes utilizing Blackboard 
and can access course materials online just as 
their sighted peers do.  We commend Blackboard 
for their hard work in this area.”



The accessibility improvements to Blackboard 
Learn include faster navigation and improved form 
interaction, allowing blind users to submit 
assignments, participate in discussion forums, 
send and receive e-mail, take tests and quizzes, 
and participate in polls.  Blind instructors can 
also submit content with the improved accessible forms.



For more information about the National 
Federation of the Blind, please visit <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org.



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About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National 
Federation of the Blind is the largest and most 
influential membership organization of blind 
people in the United States.  The NFB improves 
blind people’s lives through advocacy, education, 
research, technology, and programs encouraging 
independence and self-confidence.  It is the 
leading force in the blindness field today and 
the voice of the nation's blind.  In January 2004 
the NFB opened the National Federation of the 
Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and 
training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.