Alternate Media Request Form

The use of electronic digital text (E-text) has emerged as a convenient and popular method of providing access for those who cannot use standard printed (12 point font) materials. Partially sighted individuals can use E-text by taking advantage of built-in options within many standard software applications (e.g. adjusting font size, contrast, or background color) or through the use of specialized screen magnification software. If you're interested in learning about screen readers, see our Assistive Technology Resources page.

E-text can also be used with reading software like Kurzweil or JAWS to output the text to a speech synthesizer or refreshable Braille display. The main advantage of E-text is that it can be easily stored, indexed/searched, and converted to large print or hard copy Braille. E-text exists in many formats such as PDF, MS Word (DOCX), RTF, ASCII, PageMaker, Quark, EPUB, EPS, etc. We then take these formats and produce the format most suited for the student.

Converting materials into an audio format can be done through several methods.

1. Using an E-Text digital file (PDF/Word) with a document reader like Kurzweil.
2. Converting an E-Text file to an MP3 audio file through a text to speech synthesizer software program.
3. Audio books services like Learning Ally or Audible. Learning Ally is a program and service that provides digital textbooks and novels read aloud by a human voice, as some students prefer the natural sound of a human reader. Learning Ally has a limited library, so please be aware that your request may not be possible to fulfill through Learning Ally.

For those with sufficient vision, large print is often desirable. Although they are somewhat bulkier, materials in large print have all the advantages of regular print (12 point font). They are relatively portable, require no special equipment, convey all the graphic and spatial information contained in the original, and can be easily referenced. Depending on the document, maximum of large print is between 30-40 font size.

Braille is a system of reading and writing for individuals who are blind/visually impaired. The basic unit is the braille cell. From these six raised dots you can get 64 possible combinations. There are many more inkprint symbols than the 64 braille symbols. For example, most computer systems handle about 96 different inkprint symbols. This problem is solved by using contractions, assigning more than one braille cell to represent certain inkprint symbols; and in some cases, by using specialized codes for unique applications like math and music. Some digital refreshable braille displays have 8 braille dots in a cell to represent computer functions. Thus, learning to read and write braille requires considerable training and practice just like most written languages.