Alternative Formats

Services

Alternative Formats

  1. Student Disability Services (SDS) provides textbooks and other materials in alternative formats as an accommodation for all eligible students who cannot read standard print effectively due to visual and/or other cognitive impairments. Textbook/print conversion is a time-intensive process, especially for technical subject matter, and can require several weeks or even months to complete. To ensure availability of alternative text from the first day of class, students are advised to register early and submit an Alternative Format Request Form to SDS well in advance of the start of the semester. SDS cannot guarantee timely accommodation for late requests, but will make every effort to accommodate on a first-come, first-served basis according to the date the request is submitted.

  2. In converting printed text to an alternate format, SDS will consider the student's request for a preferred medium, the date the material is submitted to SDS, the volume and quality of the printed material, and the expected date of return in making the decision as to which medium to utilize in converting the material.

  3. Students must be enrolled in courses for the semester they are requesting alternative formats for their books. Students must bring a copy of their receipt and a copy of their class schedule to SDS in order for the request to be processed.

  4. The student is required to purchase each book that they are requesting to satisfy copyright laws. Students must show proof of ownership (such as a receipt) to SDS to receive services.

  5. It is the student’s responsibility to provide a course syllabus to ensure materials are being converted in the appropriate order. Failure to provide a syllabus may result in materials not being converted in the order in which they are required.

  6. It is the student’s responsibility to submit their materials at least four to six weeks prior to the first class. Later requests will be filled in the order in which they are received.

  7. The student may not revise, convert, disassemble, modify, sell, license, rent, loan or otherwise share the alternative formats to any other person.

  8. SDS will make every effort to give the student the format that is preferred, although we cannot always guarantee that your preferred format will be available.