Students with certain visual disabilities needing more control over
colors and fonts should consider using the Opera browser, which allows
much more control over page display than other browsers. Users can set
up their own stylesheet, and they can choose to always override styles
specified in pages with their own choices. What's best, they can
instantly switch between author mode (look as specified in page) and
user mode (look as specified by them). There also are easy zoom
functions and other nifty accessibility features, e.g. more keyboard
shortcut support than anywhere else, mouse gestures, etc.

And yes, I know that Opera isn't a supported browser for Blackboard,
and that there will be issues with Java applets (e.g. WebEQ, chat). I
don't recommend using Opera exclusively, but it can be a very handy
tool in one's hopefully well-equipped toolbox.

--Volker

On 3/30/06, Irwin, Brian <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Something I found on our disabled students support site:
>
> http://students.shu.ac.uk/services/disability/colour-picker/index.html
>
>
> This will generate a .CSS file that you can choose to use to override most
> pages using IE.  You need to choose change colour for tables and for other
> elements to get it to work in Blackboard.
>
> Once you have the stylesheet, if you click on Internet Options, then
> Accessibility, and Format documents using my style sheet (possibly with
> ignore colours specified as well), then it seems to work for most BB pages
> as far as the background goes.  It might be necessary to specify link
> colours and the like as well.  This approach combined with the Windows
> accessibility options for changing window colours and text should be
> effective for most users (though it doesn't always look as pretty in
> Blackboard).
>
> This page won't be publicly available forever, but it might help you get an
> idea of the type of style sheet students need to have to help with
> disability issues.  You can probably tweak it to come up with the best
> Blackboard stylesheet possible, but I haven't tried.
>
> Brian
>
> Brian Irwin
> Lecturer in Academic Professional Development
> Academic Practice Group
> Learning & Teaching Institute
> Sheffield Hallam University
> 0114 225 3874
>
>
>  ________________________________
>  From: Blackboard/Courseinfo userslist
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> kim.f
> Sent: 29 March 2006 12:12
>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Accessibility features in Blackboard 7
>
>
>
> Jen,
> Just tried Matt's suggestion - not sure if it's what you're after... I find
> you can only set font and background colours in some documents but it
> certainly doesn't appear to affect the GUI of Blackboard itself. I think
> this can only be done by someone who has Admin rights and therefore 'control
> panel' access. I suggest if you know a class is going to need this facility
> that perhaps the Admin can set up the site appropriate to the user needs. I
> hope BB does have accessibility to colour/font changing or else it won't
> pass muster for SCORM!
> Cheers,
> Kim.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Matt Hughes
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 11:45 AM
> Subject: Re: Accessibility features in Blackboard 7
>
>
>
>
> Hi Jen
>
>
>
> It's not Bb that you change the colours in but in Internet Explorer. Go to
> Tools>Internet Options>Colours and untick the 'Use Windows Colours'
>
>
>
> Then the user should be able to choose the colours they want. Health
> Warning: doesn't always work how you want it!
>
>
>
> Matt
>
>
>
>
> Matt Hughes
>
> Senior Lecturer
>
> Faculty of Health & Social Care
>
> University of West of England
>
>
>
>  ________________________________
>
>
> From: Blackboard/Courseinfo userslist
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Jen Fuller
> Sent: 29 March 2006 11:15
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Accessibility features in Blackboard 7
>
>
>
> Dear All,
>
> Does anyone know if it is possible for students to change and choose
> background colours and text colours within Blackboard? This would make a
> huge difference to certain dyslexic students when reading as they are able
> to read for longer, distinguish words more clearly and headaches are
> reduced. Any information on other accessibility features that you have found
> useful in Blackboard would also be much appreciated.
>
> We are soon to upgrade to Blackboard version 7.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Jen
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> Jen Fuller
> eLearning Technologist
> Glasgow Metropolitan College
> 60 North Hanover Street
> Glasgow
> G1 2BP
> t: 0141 566 6222 ext 4415
> e: [log in to unmask]
> w: www.glasgowmet.ac.uk
> ----------------------------------------------------
>
>  ________________________________
>
>
> This incoming email to UWE has been independently scanned for viruses and
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--
Volker Kleinschmidt
Client Support Engineer
Blackboard Client Support