Text accommodations

1. Text accommodations • Some students need print material to be in a format other than hard copy print. The accommodation for this need is an alternative format text or “alt text” accommodation. Copies of book chapters or articles Books

2. Alt text = many things The alt text accommodations is met using different formats. • Different formats allow for different uses, and which format is right for you will depend on your individual needs. • Digital image of book or article. • A kindle e-book or journal article. • Electronic text (“e-text”)files of the book or article. • Audio, either read by a human… • or read in synthetic speech. • Braille • Braille ready files of the book or article. • Brailled figures.

3. Alt text E-text vs. e-book

4. E-Text Limited release by the publisher, or created by ODS • For most LD and sensory based print disability, requests for alternatively formatted text will be fulfilled with e-text. • E-Text is electronic text file(s) which students request through ODS. • ODS asks publishers for PDFs or Word documents of the book. • If necessary, we edit the files to make them fully accessible. • If files are not available, ODS can create electronic text for you. • It can take up to 6 weeks to obtain, edit, or create, but e-text offers a very flexible format.

5. With e-text, you can… • Change the color of the font. • Change the color of the background. Change thefontsize. Read with a high contrast setting. Search for key words in the text. Convert to Braille using a printer or refreshable Braille display. • Hear the text read out loud in a synthetic voice.

6. E-Book It’s not the same as e-text. • A digital book marketed by publisher. • Often can be used only with a specific program or device. • Good for mobility/dexterity based book needs. • May not allow you to transform text to audio or high contrast. • May not meet needs for sensory or LD print disability.

7. Student responsibilities What you need to do before the semester starts!

8. Student responsibilities • Request and pick up your accommodation letters through Disability Services. • Register for classes early. • Look up and create a list of your books. • Contact your professor or professor’s department if books are not listed. • Figure out which books you need in alternative format. • E.g. you may not need electronic text of a graphic novel. • See if you can purchase the book in the format that is accessible for you. • If so, purchase the book in that format. • If not, purchase the hard copy book and then make an alt text request to ODS.

9. Student responsibilities Finding your books Watch a video tutorial on how to look for your books through your course schedule. This video is best viewed in HD format.

10. Student responsibilities Can you get it in accessible format? Caféscribeelectronic textbooks • Available through Suffolk University Bookstore for some textbooks. • Rent e-book textbooks and read in the Caféscribe reader program. • Online reader program has built in text-to-speech, zoom, contrast, and text search features. • Caféscribe's mobile reader app does not have these features at this time. • Link to Caféscribe’s homepage.

11. Student responsibilities Can you get it in accessible format? Caféscribeelectronic textbooks Watch a video demonstration of some accessibility features in Caféscribe books. This video is best viewed in HD format.

12. Student responsibilities Can you get it in accessible format? CourseSmart electronic textbooks • Rent e-book textbooks and read using CourseSmart's online reader program. • To use with JAWS or Kurzweil, students must activate CourseSmart's accessible reader through customer service. • Accessible reader can only be used online. • CourseSmart ‘s “standard” online reader can be used with programs that speak selected text, like the text to speech utility on Macs. • CourseSmart's mobile reader app does not support “speak selection”. • Link to CourseSmart’s homepage.

13. Student responsibilities Can you get it in accessible format? Bookshare accessible e-books • Online library of digital books for individuals with print disabilities. • Books can be downloaded and read on free software that provides text to speech. • Fiction and popular non-fiction books, it does not distribute college level textbooks. • Free membership for individuals with disability. • Free reader programs (e.g., Read:OutLoud Bookshare). • Requires certification of disability status.

14. Student responsibilities Can you get it in accessible format? Bookshare accessible e-books Watch a video demonstration of some Bookshare’sRead:Outloud program. This video is best viewed in HD format.

15. Student responsibilities Can you get it in accessible format? Other resources Learning Ally – Audiobooks Online library of audiobooks, including college and graduate level textbooks. The audiobooks are read by human volunteers. The downloadable audio files can be played on computers or devices with specialized software ($20 for a 1 year license). Learning Ally membership costs $119 per year. https://www.learningally.org Public Libraries – Audiobooks, e-books Boston Public Library’s downloadable audiobooks Boston Public Library’s audiobook CD and choose “filter by audiobook CD”. Search for your public library at http://www.publiclibraries.com or http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/librarysearch. Audible, Amazon – Audiobooks, e-books Commercial audiobooks as downloadable files or CD, e-books. Cost varies. AudibleAudiobooks at AmazonKindle books at Amazon

16. Requesting alt text through the Office of Disability Services

17. Requesting alt text Student responsibilities • If you can’t find your books in a format that works for you, you should make an “alt text” request through ODS. • Once you’ve submitted your receipts to us, you can use our online request form. • Include complete and accurate information about yourself, your book, and your course. • If you need described or transformed figures, reformatted pages, or significantly edited text, you need to get a copy of your course syllabus to ODS. • Check your Suffolk University email! We may need to contact you about your request.

18. Requesting alt text Student responsibilities Watch a video demonstration of how to use the ODS online alt text request form. This video is best viewed in HD format.

19. Requesting alt text What happens after you submit your receipt and alt text request? • ODS staff will try to find the book as e-text from the publisher or as an accessible, free e-book through Bookshare. • If the book is available in one of these formats, we will notify you and give you directions on how to get the book files from us. • After your first semester, most alt text material will be given to you through Blackboard. • We will offer you training in using your alternatively formatted text to meet your needs.

20. Requesting alt text What happens after you submit your receipts and your request? • If accessible format is NOT available, we’ll contact you and offer to create accessible text from a scan of your book. We will ask you for: • A copy of your class syllabus with reading schedule. • A clean copy of your book. Writing and other marks in books can slow down or halt e-text creation. • We’ll cut the binding of the book and scan it, then return the unbound book to you. • Scanning takes about a week to complete. • Editing is an ongoing process. • Readings will be provided to you 1 week prior to when you are assigned them in class.

21. Using alt text

22. Using alt text – e-Text Watch a video demonstration of a program performing text to speech on a Word document. This video is best viewed in HD format.

23. Using alt text – e-Text • Audio reader programs for computers • Natural Reader (free demo versions for Mac and Windows). • Kurzweil web-license (Windows only). • Audio reader programs for mobile devices • Voice Dream (iOS) • EZ PDF Reader Pro (Android) • Audio reader utilities • Text to speech in Mac and “Speak selection” iOS. • “Speak selection” will work for PDFs opened in iBooks. • Speak selection in MS Office. • Adobe Reader “Read Out Loud” function.

24. Questions and answers

25. Questions and answers • What readings can I request in alternative format? • Required course readings, including books, articles, and course pack materials. • For any readings that aren’t from a book your professor had you purchase, you should set up an appointment with the ODS alt text specialist by the start of the semester. • My professor says all the readings are already scanned and on Blackboard. I’m all set, right? • No. Just because it’s electronic, doesn’t mean it’s accessible. Most scanned documents are NOT electronic text. They are images of text.

26. Questions and answers • What about PowerPoint presentations? • Professors are expected to make the content they create accessible – but please let us know if it’s not! • There are no books listed for my classes, and no professor assigned. I called the department but haven’t heard back. What do I do? • Contact Disability Services. We’re happy to help. • ODS main phone number 617-994-6820 • Alt text specialist lsabadini@suffolk.edu

27. Questions and answers • How do I get training on using my alternatively formatted text? • Contact Disability Services to set up a training appointment. • ODS main phone number 617-994-6820 • Alt text specialist lsabadini@suffolk.edu • I’m having a hard time digesting all of this information. Is there someone who can help me navigate this process? • Yes! Contact Disability Services to set up an in office or phone meeting with our alt text specialist. • ODS main phone number 617-994-6820 • Alt text specialist lsabadini@suffolk.edu