diff --git a/docs/source/conf.py b/docs/source/conf.py
index 31d9a3bee..42a7ee173 100644
--- a/docs/source/conf.py
+++ b/docs/source/conf.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     rig,
     session,
     subject,
-    quality_control
+    quality_control,
 )
 
 dummy_object = [
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
     rig,
     session,
     subject,
-    quality_control
+    quality_control,
 ]  # A temporary workaround to bypass "Imported but unused" error
 
 INSTITUTE_NAME = "Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics"
diff --git a/src/aind_data_schema/__init__.py b/src/aind_data_schema/__init__.py
index c02cc6a60..5d3d4791e 100755
--- a/src/aind_data_schema/__init__.py
+++ b/src/aind_data_schema/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 """ imports for AindModel subclasses
 """
 
-__version__ = "1.1.0"
+__version__ = "1.1.1"
diff --git a/src/aind_data_schema/core/rig.py b/src/aind_data_schema/core/rig.py
index ef26f34bf..cc354406e 100644
--- a/src/aind_data_schema/core/rig.py
+++ b/src/aind_data_schema/core/rig.py
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ class Rig(AindCoreModel):
     notes: Optional[str] = Field(default=None, title="Notes")
 
     @field_serializer("modalities", when_used="json")
-    def serialize_modalities(modalities: Set[Modality.ONE_OF]):
-        """sort modalities by name when serializing to JSON"""
-        return sorted(modalities, key=lambda x: x.name)
+    def serialize_modalities(self, modalities: Set[Modality.ONE_OF]):
+        """Dynamically serialize modalities based on their type."""
+        return sorted(modalities, key=lambda x: x.get("name") if isinstance(x, dict) else x.name)
 
     @model_validator(mode="after")
     def validate_cameras_other(self):
diff --git a/tests/test_rig.py b/tests/test_rig.py
index d1d86f454..32b243125 100644
--- a/tests/test_rig.py
+++ b/tests/test_rig.py
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 """ test Rig """
 
 import unittest
+import json
 from datetime import date, datetime
 
 from aind_data_schema_models.modalities import Modality
 from aind_data_schema_models.organizations import Organization
 from pydantic import ValidationError
+from pydantic_core import PydanticSerializationError
 
 from aind_data_schema.components.devices import (
     Calibration,
@@ -821,6 +823,30 @@ def test_rig_id_validator(self):
                 calibrations=[calibration],
             )
 
+    def test_serialize_modalities(self):
+        """Tests that modalities serializer can handle different types"""
+        expected_modalities = [{"name": "Extracellular electrophysiology", "abbreviation": "ecephys"}]
+        # Case 1: Modality is a class instance
+        rig_instance_modality = Rig.model_construct(
+            modalities=[Modality.ECEPHYS]  # Example with a valid Modality instance
+        )
+        rig_json = rig_instance_modality.model_dump_json()
+        rig_data = json.loads(rig_json)
+        self.assertEqual(rig_data["modalities"], expected_modalities)
+
+        # Case 2: Modality is a dictionary when Rig is constructed from JSON
+        rig_dict_modality = Rig.model_construct(**rig_data)
+        rig_dict_json = rig_dict_modality.model_dump_json()
+        rig_dict_data = json.loads(rig_dict_json)
+        self.assertEqual(rig_dict_data["modalities"], expected_modalities)
+
+        # Case 3: Modality is an unknown type
+        with self.assertRaises(PydanticSerializationError) as context:
+            rig_unknown_modality = Rig.model_construct(modalities={"UnknownModality"})
+
+            rig_unknown_modality.model_dump_json()
+        self.assertIn("Error calling function `serialize_modalities`", str(context.exception))
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()