HRSM Digital Accessibility Initiative

The University of South Carolina College of HRSM is committed to offering workshops, resources and support to help faculty and staff create accessible, inclusive digital content for all users.

Workshops & Support

“Go-for-the-Green” Workshops

In-person and virtual sessions offering practical tips for creating accessible documents and media.

Workshop #4 – Final Round for Course Prep. This session offers an accessibility demo and individual coaching, allowing participants to get expert advice on fixing accessibility issues in their own course materials.
- Virtual: Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Register Now
- In-Person: Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Close-Hipp Lab 650 | Register Here

One-on-One Coaching

Personalized support available from Tammy Macek or instructional designers in the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE).

Resources at Your Fingertips

USC's Digital Accessibility Toolbox — Step-by-Step Guides
Center for Teaching Excellence — Course Accessibility Checklist
Communications and Marketing — Social Media Accessibility Guidelines
All about Blackboard's Ally Tool
Special helps:
- Check the color contrast (font/background) on your content with the WebAIM Color Contrast Checker (works best using the Edge Browser).
- Create alternative text for complex formulas using Latex
- For video commentary, try Audio Descriptions webpage
Read Articles, Resources and training from Utah State University

Spring 2026 Workshops from CTE

Blackboard Ally: Making Digital Accessibility Simple
Blackboard’s Ally tool simplifies the process of identifying and resolving accessibility issues across a variety of file types. In this session, learn how to use Ally’s features to check accessibility, fix issues, and improve your course materials.

Wednesday, Jan. 14 | 10:50-11:20 a.m. | Register - Blackboard Ally
Monday, Feb. 2 | 1:10-1:40 p.m. | Register - Blackboard Ally
Wednesday, March 4 | 9:40-10:10 am. | Register - Blackboard Ally

Creating Accessible Word Documents
All course materials hosted on USC platforms, including Blackboard, must be digitally accessible. This session focuses on Microsoft Word and covers how to use heading styles, the accessibility checker, and other tools to create accessible syllabi, assignments, and handouts.

Wednesday, Jan. 21 | 12:00-12:30 p.m. | Register - Word Documents
Wednesday, Feb. 11 | 10:50-11:20 a.m. | Register - Word Documents
Monday, March 16 | 2:20-2:50 p.m. | Register - Word Documents

Designing Accessible PowerPoint Presentations
PowerPoint presentations can powerfully support student learning when designed accessibly. This session explores key accessibility practices such as reading order, alternative text, and slide structure to ensure every student can engage with your visual content.

Friday, Jan. 23 | 10:50-11:20 a.m. | Register - PowerPoint Presentations
Monday, Feb. 16 | 10:50-11:20 a.m. | Register - PowerPoint Presentations
Monday, March 30 | 1:10-1:40 p.m. | Register - PowerPoint Presentations

PDFs without Barriers
PDFs are one of the most common file types shared across courses and websites, but they can also be one of the least accessible if not properly designed. This micro-workshop explores how to create and remediate accessible PDFs, whether you’re exporting from Word, PowerPoint, or scanning existing materials. Learn how to check PDFs for accessibility as well as resources to address the most common errors.

Video Captioning and Transcription Made Easy
Captioning and transcripts make video content more engaging, flexible, and accessible. Learn how to use USC’s supported video platform, Panopto, to easily add and manage captions for lectures and other recorded materials.

Wednesday, Jan. 28 | 10:50-11:20 a.m. | Register - Video Captioning and Transcription
Monday, Feb. 23 | 1:10-1:40 p.m. | Register - Video Captioning and Transcription
Thursday, April 2 | 2:20-2:50 p.m. | Register - Video Captioning and Transcription

Digital Accessibility Microlearning Series on Demand (Fall 2025)

Free Webinars from Maine CITE

Creating Accessible Online Content (Part 3) | Register | Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 | TBD | Webinar

Your HRSM Digital Accessibility Contacts

Web & Mobile Apps: Matt Freed
Course Content: Tammy Macek
Non-Course Content: Georgia Petritsis
Social Media: Allen Wallace
HRSM Liaison: Karen Edwards

My HRSM