Alternative Media for Text
Student's who feel that alternate print media would be a reasonable accommodation related to their disability must first meet with a DSPS counselor to arrange for authorization of appropriate services.
Alternate Text Media typically involves either obtaining electronic text from a publisher or converting existing text to an electronic file that can be read aloud with a text reader.
Students eligible for and desiring alternate media related accommodations must first meet with their DSPS Counselor to establish support service guidelines. There are also thousands of books currently available on both audio tape and in accessible digital formats from membership organizations such as:
- Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic (1-800-221-4792)
- Bookshare.Org
- American Printing House for the Blind (1-800-223-1839)
- Louis Data Base
Legal Background:
Under existing law, a publisher or manufacturer of instructional materials offered for adoption or sale in California is required to comply with specified requirements, including providing to the state, at no cost, the right to transcribe, reproduce, and distribute the material in braille, large print, recordings, or other accessible media for use by pupils with visual disabilities. This right includes computer diskette versions of instructional materials if made available to any other state, and those corrections and revisions as may be necessary.
The computer files or electronic versions of the printed instructional material shall be provided to the university, college, or particular campus of the university or college at no additional cost and in a timely manner, upon receipt of a written request that does all of the following:
- Certifies that a student with a disability attending or registered to attend that university, college, or particular campus of the university or college has purchased the printed instructional material.
- Certifies that the student has a disability that prevents him or her from using standard instructional materials.
- Certifies that the printed instructional material is for use by the student in connection with a course in which he or she is registered or enrolled at the university, college, or particular campus of the university or college.
- Is signed by the coordinator of services for students with disabilities at the university, college, or particular campus of the university or college or by the campus or college official responsible for monitoring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) at the university, college, or particular campus of the university or college.
Related Alternate Media Links:
HTC Alternate Media Specialist
Alt Media Guidelines California Community Colleges