Documentation conversion services may be available to students when the documentation demonstrates a disability-related need for the accommodation. This may include students who have a visual disability (i.e. blind or low vision), learning disability, visual perceptual disability,traumatic brain injury, and specific physical disability that restricts turning pages or otherwise manipulating print material

Important Notice to all Users:

• The Student Needs Coordinator can only request text in electronic format that the student has purchased; a receipt must be shown before the E-Text will be released to the student.
• Delay in the student submitting the request and materials to the Student Needs Coordinator may cause a delay in the receipt of the E-Text.
• The Student Needs Coordinator can only provide E-Text in a reasonable time period depending upon a number of variables.
• The Student Needs Coordinator retains the right to determine the most effective and timely accommodation after appropriate consultation with the student as to his/her accommodation preference.

Conversion of text to any alternative media format requires TIME! Students who require these services must adhere to the following guidelines and procedures:

Determination of Eligibility for Alternative Media Formats:

The student must contact the Student Needs Coordinator to thoroughly discuss their specific individual accessibility needs, requests, service procedures, and the most effective/timely means for using these services and accommodations. These alternative media formats include: electronic text (in MS WORD, PDF, etc), audio recordings from Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D), and Braille.

Before the Semester Begins:

It is important for the student needing alternative media for textbooks and/or required classroom materials to begin early and work with the course instructor and the Student Needs Coordinator to develop a plan for provision of print materials in alternative format. To do this the student must:

1. Contact the instructor of each course in advance of the semester (preferably minimum of 6-8 weeks). Inquire about required textbooks. Identify all printed materials(hand-outs, PowerPoint slides, Visual Aids that will be used, additional required readings (i.e. Library Reserve). Discuss with the instructor the option of him/her providing Word/text files of materials directly to the student when appropriate.
2. Contact the Student Needs Coordinator and follow the appropriate steps, depending on the type of format needed, to obtain the alternative media.

Electronic Text (E-Text):

If a textbook is determined to be able to be converted into electronic format the Student Needs Coordinator will attempt to locate the textbook in an electronic text via request from the publisher. The publisher may provide the E-Text or Permission.Once permission or E-Text has been received from the publisher it will be converted to CD-ROM disk for speech output.

The student will be required to:

• Purchase the required text to be converted (proof of purchase must be shown before CD-ROM will be released to the student).
• Provide the Student Needs Coordinator with proof of purchase (receipt from bookstore)for the text(s).
• Complete,agree to terms,sign, and return to the Student Needs Coordinator the“Electronic Format Request Form” located in the Student Needs Coordinator office.
• The student must show proof of registration for the course in which they are requesting the text book for; a copy of the syllabus is preferred. Ideally,this should be done before, or by the end of the first week of the term.
• Agree not to copy or reproduce any alternate format provided by the Student Needs Coordinator, nor allow anyone else to do so. Misuse of the material may resulting disciplinary action by the College. Students will be provided with one alternate format copy for each material required for academic use. The electronic file is copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed in format other than a specialized format exclusively for use by a person who is blind or persons with other print disabilities. Any further reproduction or distribution in a format other than a specialized format is an infringement of the agreement with the publisher.
• Copyright laws require that a student return any material received from the Student Needs Coordinator to the Student Needs Coordinator at the end of the semester. If there are any unreturned materials an encumbrance may be placed on the student’s account which will suspend the release of grades, registration of classes, release of transcripts, or receipt of diploma upon graduation.

Note: The student must notify the Student Needs Coordinator if dropping a course where E-text material has been requested.

Pick-Up of Completed Materials:

The Student Needs Coordinator will notify students upon completion of requested materials. Students should pick up within 5 working days of the notification unless other arrangements are made. If a student consistently does not pick up completed materials, additional materials will not be converted until the student has met with the Student Needs Coordinator to discuss and evaluate the need for the accommodation.