Readers for Textbooks & Handouts:
The Office of Disability Services (DSS) is responsible for converting print materials into an accessible format for students with visual impairments, learning disabilities, or mobility impairments that impact their ability to read printed materials.
Recorded textbooks and handouts will be provided to students who are eligible based on disability documentation, which indicates that the student has limitations in ability to read printed material. The student is responsible for purchasing his/her own course materials. The DSS will obtain a copy to create the alternate format.
Students are required to first attempt to obtain their books through a taped provider such as Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFBD). Additionally, the school library and your public library may have the required reading on cassette and/or CD that you could check out.
Steps for Requesting Textbooks on Tape:
- Register for classes
- Review books for each class and decide which books need to be recorded.
- Be sure to provide the Special Needs Assistant with the following information:
· Title of book, Edition, Author, Copyright Date, ISBN, and Publisher
- Provide a copy of each course syllabus for the text that is being read to the Special Needs Assistant within the first week of the academic term.
- It is the student’s responsibility to check with the DSS to see if a specific book is already on tape/CD.
- Student must pick up audio material in a timely manner. Failure to do so may result in a suspension of service.
- All tapes/CDs must be returned to the DSS at the end of the academic term. Students who do not do so may not receive tapes for the next term in which they are enrolled.
- Electronic Files can be obtained through the publisher within 2-4 weeks from the date of request. The student may attempt to contact the publisher online to request an electronic file, or provide all of the book information to the Special Needs Assistant at least thirty (30) days prior to the beginning of the academic term, or as soon as possible.
Note: Failure to complete this sequence may result in a disruption of service. If the student withdraws from the class, they must notify the DSS immediately.
Brailed Material:
The Romeo 25 Braille Embosser with the Duxbury Translator Software will turn text into Braille, so class notes and textbooks are accessible to the blind or visually impaired student. The student is responsible for purchasing his/her own course materials. To access this service:
Textbook
- The student must provide the Special Needs Assistant with the following
· Title of book, Edition, Author, Copyright Date, ISBN, and Publisherthirty (30) days prior to the beginning of the academic term.
- The student should provide the course syllabus within the first week of the term to the Special Needs Assistant to determine reading requirements.
- The student must return the Brailed material at the end of the academic term. Failure to do so may result in suspension of service.
Note: Failure to complete this sequence may result in a disruption of service. If the student withdraws from the class, they must notify the DSS immediately.
Handouts
1. Materials turned in on a disk in MSWord format by 1:00 PM will have a turn around time of one (1) day.
2. Materials turned in on a disk in MSWord format after 1:00 PM will have a turn around time of two (2) days.
3. Materials turned in that are not in electronic format will have a turn around time of three (3) days.
Note: Electronic files turned in must be in MSWord. If the student withdraws from the class, they must notify the DSS immediately.
Enlargements:
Enlarging of text and images (black & white Xerox only) are created on an as-needed basis. Twenty-four (24) hours notice is recommended although impromptu requests can often be accommodated. If it is urgent that the student has the material and the DSS has no advance notice, the student is often asked to enlarge the material himself/herself using an in-house copier.