from the schematic I've traced the user LEDs to the PCF8575PWR I2C AND SMBus I/O EXPANDER chip on I2C0 of the processor, however the TMS320DM8148 data sheet describes a dizzying number of registers occupying a 4K address space for the I2C channel with no indication of how it actually works. Also the other pins on the chip control all sorts of other stuff which I wouldn't want to accidentally disturb.
I notice that addresses 0x48028000-8fff aren't mentioned in DM8148_EVM.gel so perhaps I can blast away at the port harmlessly once I've found out how to ?
PS it's a shame the leds are not mounted on the edge of the card so they're visible as now I'll have to buy a hand mirror to be able to see them from my desk :(