Alternative Media

Disability Resource Services (DRS) provides alternative media for course materials, including textbooks and other required course materials, to qualified students with disabilities. Qualified students who are registered with DRS may be eligible to receive all or part of their course materials in an alternative format. Converted materials provide equal access to the educational experience.

Procedures

• Students must qualify as having a disability that is covered by the ADA and/or Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act with text conversion specified as an appropriate academic accommodation.
• The student and a Disability Resource Specialist determine that text conversion services are a reasonable accommodation and it is added to the Accommodation Plan.
• The student and a Disability Resource Specialist determine which alternate format(s) the student will use and which text(s) will be converted.
• Students requesting alternative format materials must complete a Text Conversion Request (PDF, 263KB) and submit it to DRS.

In order to assure the availability of textbooks and other materials in alternate format, all relevant textbook information must be provided to DRS as soon as it is available. Students are responsible for obtaining this information as soon as possible after they register for classes. It can take up to 3 weeks to complete a request.

The following alternative media formats are currently offered and supported by DRS:

• Electronic Text
• Digital audio CD in an MP3 format
• Braille
• Large Print

Specific file formats provided by DRS:

• Kurzweil 3000 file (.kes)
• Kurzweil 1000 file (.kes)
• Text file (.txt)
• Rich Text Format (.rtf)
• MS Word file (.doc)
• MP3 audio

Other links with important information for students:

• Key Points
• Using Alternative Media Properly