While some students may require all their materials to be accessible, there are other students who may only require accessible formats for textbooks/books and long-readings. There are a wide range of options available for students who require this accommodation. Since many publishers are creating accessible content from the start, students often can purchase their materials directly.

When accessible textbooks are not available for purchase, SAS can help find or create the necessary materials. This can include:

Finding the book through a service like Bookshare or AccessText.
Working with publishers to acquire the requested texts.
Scanning and creating the required text materials.

Key Things to Know

Many publishers offer accessible materials for purchase. If accessible materials are available for purchase, students should acquire those materials directly from the publisher.
Before sharing a digital copy of the book, students are required to show proof of purchase and sign the SAS Alt-Format Agreement Form.
Early identification of required materials and alternate format requests are important in order to ensure timely receipt of materials.
If students approved for this accommodation require other course materials to be accessible, they may contact the SAS AT Specialist for additional assistance.

Student Responsibilities

Students are responsible for…

Meeting all general accommodation responsibilities as outlined as outlined on the SAS Website.
Sharing their course schedule and any schedule changes with SAS as soon as possible
Searching for accessible copies of textbooks to purchase
When assistance is needed in finding an accessible book,
- Signing the SAS Alt-Format Agreement
- Notifying SAS through the Alt-Format Request Form
- Providing proof of purchase of the material
Sharing any concerns with SAS as soon as possible

Accessible Textbooks/Books and Long-Readings Process

Generally, the process for accessible Textbooks/Books and Long-Readings is:

Student sends their accommodation letter and meets with the instructor - As with other accommodations, it is important the student and instructor meet to discuss the accommodation and how to best meet the needs within the context of the course.
Student searches for accessible copies of their materials for purchase - Publishers are increasingly creating accessible content from the start. This means that many times accessible materials are already available from the start. When this is the case, students can simply purchase an accessible copy.
If a student cannot find an accessible copy to purchase,
1. Student requests the material through the SAS Alt-Format Request Form.
2. Student provides SAS with proof of purchase.
3. SAS works to find or create the material. Generally, SAS can find the material through Bookshare, AccessText, or in collaboration with a publisher. At times, SAS may need to create the material from a physical copy. This process can take upwards of 2-3 weeks depending on the complexity, length, and subject specific content.
4. SAS shares the material with the student through Accommodate.
5. Student accesses their materials within their student portal in Accommodate.

Implementation Recommendations

As an instructor implementing this accommodation, we recommend that you...

Talk with the student about their need for accessible audio information. Questions can include, but are not limited to:
- Do you require accessible educational materials for in-class materials and the materials shared outside of class?
- What types of supports help you to best access your materials?
- Are there certain types of content for which you do not require accommodations?
- Do you use any specific devices or software to assist in accessing materials?
Review your course to identify any educational materials that are used or may be used
If using third party materials or platforms, ensure these platforms are accessible prior to purchase/adoption
Ensure any scanned materials are clear and legible (text is straight, no dark areas in the text, all text is legible, etc.).
If support is needed from SAS related to creating content, contact SAS as soon as possible. Depending on the complexity of the content, creating accessible content can take multiple weeks, so being proactive and timely is critical.

Common Questions

Are all textbooks available from publishers accessible?

Unfortunately, not all publishers have accessible content available for purchase. Before adopting a book within a course, SAS recommends the instructor explore whether the publisher has accessible copies available. Considering accessibility from the start can help avoid delays in processing or acquiring alternative materials. If a material is inaccessible, SAS can work to find or create an accessible copy of the material.