student guidelines for alternate textbook formats.

Before following these guidelines, any student who wishes to request that their textbooks be converted to an alternate format must have that request approved by Disability Services. Generally, students will follow these steps to obtain textbooks in an alternate format, such as audio or electronic.

1. Student enrolls in course
2. Student contacts professor for textbook information: title, author, publisher, edition, copyright year, and ISBN
3. If the professor does not respond to two requests for information, please inform Kate Clark immediately
4. Student requests textbook from Disability Services Office
5. DSO checks with RFB&D, then the Publisher
6. If unavailable from other sources, DSO will request a copy of the book and syllabus and the book will be taped or scanned (if the syllabus is not available, the first three weeks of reading assignments is helpful)

CD PLAYERS

Students are encouraged to obtain a device that reads DAISY files since books are often provided in that format. DAISY is a highly user-friendly format and works well with the reading demands of college courses. Such devices include Book Port from APH, Victor Reader Vibe or Victor Reader Wave from RFB&D or any other CD player that has DAISY capability.  Any student who does not own a DAISY-capable device may request software for their home computer from the Disability Services Coordinator.

 

SENDING AN E-MAIL TO AN INSTRUCTOR

Students must contact instructors well in advance to obtain information about the textbook/s used in each course. Many students choose to do so by e-mail. For best results, please send an e-mail similar to this one:

Hello Dr. XXX,

I am an undergraduate student enrolled in HIST 1000-002 this coming Fall 2007.  I’m writing to obtain information about the textbook/s used in the course.  Due to a disability, I must make arrangements for this book to be converted to an accessible format.  Please provide the following information as soon as you can: Title, Author, Publisher, Copyright Year, Edition and ISBN.

I will submit this information to Disability Services for conversion.

Thanks very much for your time,
XXX

ADDING/DROPPING COURSES

If a student adds a class, they must inform the DSO of the books needed.  Only those books specifically requested will be supplied.  Likewise, if a class is dropped, please inform the DSO so that resources are not wasted pursuing a book which is no longer needed.

 

CHECK-OUT/CHECK-IN PROCEDURES

Students will be contacted via e-mail when a book has been converted to an alternate format and is ready to be picked up from EAB 117. If a student believes a book should be ready, but has not received notice from DS they must call or e-mail the Coordinator to check on the progress of the book.

Books on tape or CD will not be checked out until those materials used in the previous semester are returned to the DSO in Eppley 117.  The check-in process may take up to 48 hours so please do not delay in returning materials at the end of a course.

 

TIME FRAME

Because the conversion process can be very time consuming, students are often asked to bring in a copy of the book well in advance of the semester.  Please make arrangements to purchase books approximately 4 weeks or more before the semester begins.  If the student has their books paid for by a state agency, this may require contacting the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired or Vocational Rehabilitation well in advance.

 

OPTIONAL VS. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS

Only those textbooks which are required for a course will be provided in an alternate format unless the student specifically requests otherwise.