Alternative Textbook and Course Materials

1. Students should first check if the required book is available in a digital or alternative format. eBooks can be ordered or accessed for free from the following sites:

   Bookshare: an accessible online library for people with print disabilities. Free memberships for qualified U.S. students and schools.

   Learning Ally: a non-profit volunteer organization that produces a library of accessible educational materials.

   National Library Service: a network of libraries that provides free library service to persons who are unable to use standard printed material.

   Project Gutenberg: offers over 40,000 free eBooks.

   Read How You Want: an accessibility site from which you can obtain a title in whatever font size or accessibility format you desire.

   VitalSource: an e-textbook platform that uses VitalSource Bookshelf, which can be accessed online or via download.

2. If you are unable to locate your textbook(s) with the sites listed above, you have the option to submit an alternative format request. Contact your DRC consultant to ensure you are eligible for alt-formats and provide them the requisite information for each textbook.
3. Provide a copy of your book purchase receipt. Proof of purchase is required by publishers to insure that students are purchasing a copy of the textbooks. Alternate-format textbooks are provided at no cost. Once we receive your book request and purchase receipt, we can begin processing your request.
4. To request alternate course materials (e.g., journal articles, individual chapters, etc.), contact your DRC consultant and provide the required materials for conversion.

Students are required to purchase all course material and provide proof of purchase to the DRC. If the DRC can acquire the course material through the publisher, the DRC will contact you once it’s received. All requests will be handled in a timely manner but may vary depending on availability, size, and complexity of material. If we are unable to obtain a digital version of a book due to its copyright status or the absence of a digital file, we kindly ask students to provide a physical copy of the textbook. We will then scan the book and create a digital file. In the event that the book needs to be disassembled for scanning, we will ensure it is re-bound using our in-house spiral binding process.

The DRC assists students in obtaining alternative text and course materials in the following formats:

• PDF (image or searchable)
• RTF (Rich Text Format)
• Paper enlargements
• Braille
• Captioned videos
• Audio description (i.e. descriptive narration of images, videos, graphs, etc.)
• MP3 (Audio format)
• xhtml (Audible mathematics output format)