Navigate the Collaborate panel
Using the "button" or link quick keys (B in JAWS or VO + Command + L in VoiceOver) look for the button labeled "Open Collaborate Panel".
If the link quick key in VoiceOver doesn't identify this action, try VO + Command + G to go to the next graphic, or VO + Right Arrow to read the next item until you find it.
Activating this button opens a 'tab list' which works as follows:
- The first tab "Chat" is focused by default. Use the TAB key on your keyboard to interact with the elements within the chat panel including reading and posting messages.
- Use the right and left arrow keys to move through the tabs (Chat, Attendees, Content, and Settings).
- Once a tab has focus you can use the TAB key to move through the elements on the page. Or back to the list of tabs.
- Tab to the "close Collaborate Panel" button to exit out of this experience.
Use the keyboard controls at the top of the Chat panel to move between messages. The keyboard controls are only available after messages have been posted in Chat and are only available with keyboard navigation.
Chat history in Chrome, Firefox, JAWS, and NVDA
- From the “Type a message and press Enter or Return to chat.” edit field with the placeholder text Say something, Shift+Tab to open the chat navigation. Focus is placed on the Last chat message button.
- Shift+Tab to navigate to navigate to:
- Next chat message button
- Previous chat message button
- First chat message button
- Tab to navigate from First chat message button back to the Last chat message button.
- Spacebar on a chat message button to navigate to the related message. Keyboard focus remains on the Next and Previous buttons until the first chat message or last chat message in the thread is reached. Keyboard focus then moves to Previous chat message button if the last chat message was rendered or Next chat message if the first chat message was rendered.
- Tab to leave the chat message buttons and return to the “Type a message and press Enter or Return to chat.” edit field with the placeholder text Say something.
Chat history in Safari on a Mac
VoiceOver screen reader must be enabled to navigate the chat messages as the Tab key doesn't typically work in the Safari browser.
- From the “Type a message and press Enter or Return to chat.” edit field with the placeholder text Say something, Shift+Tab to open the chat navigation. Focus is placed on the Last chat message button.
- Use the VO key + Right Arrow navigate to navigate to:
- Next chat message button
- Previous chat message button
- First chat message button
- Use the VO key + Left Arrow to navigate from First chat message button back to the Last chat message button.
- Spacebar on a chat message button to navigate to the related message. Keyboard focus remains on the Next and Previous buttons until the first chat message or last chat message in the thread is reached. Keyboard focus then moves to Previous chat message button if the last chat message was rendered or Next chat message if the first chat message was rendered.
- Tab to leave the Chat message buttons and return to the “Type a message and press Enter or Return to chat.” edit field with the placeholder text Say something.
Navigate the Chat panel with voice commands
Dragon Naturally Speaking users can use the voice commands for standard navigation. For example, use “Scroll Down” and “Scroll Up” to see all the messages in the Chat panel.
- To access the attendees list, you'll first need to reveal the Attendees panel by tabbing to and activating the button labeled "Open Collaborate Panel." If the button is labeled "Close Collaborate Panel," the panel is already open.
- Next, find and activate the "Attendees" tab with the Enter key. You are now in the Attendees panel.
- Tab to and press Enter on the "Access list of attendees" button. You can only access this button by using the Tab key. It is only visible when it is focused.
- Press Spacebar to activate it. If you are a moderator, you can now use Tab to move through the controls for each attendee.
Screen reader users can tab through polling and choose an option from the available list. Screen readers only announce the numbers for each choice. Moderators need to make sure attendees know what choice each number represents.
More on polls for students
More on polls for instructors
Application sharing is not currently supported for screen readers in Blackboard Collaborate. If you are using a screen reader, you can share files and a blank whiteboard with your attendees. You cannot share an application that is open on your device. For example, you can't share a Microsoft® PowerPoint® open on your computer.
Share files
Screen reader users can access text from PowerPoint and PDF files shared in the session. This provides an easy way to follow along as slides change.
Moderators and presenters must select Share Files and upload the files to Collaborate for screen readers to access the text.
Navigate slides
- To move to the next slide, press Alt + Page Up. On a Mac, press Alt + Fn + Up Arrow.
- To move back a slide, press Alt + Page Down. On a Mac, press Alt + Fn + Down Arrow.