DSS is able to help eligible students with alternative formats for course materials such as textbooks. Alternative formats include accessible (text-based) PDF, EPUB, plain text (.txt), rich text (.rtf), Braille, and Word documents.
How to Request Alternative Formats
Students approved for alternative formats may request conversion services from DSS.
To submit your conversion request:
Visit with Dean Hazelbaker, Dean of Students
Questions About Conversion Services
Contact DSS
Email: [email protected]
Interim Accommodations While Waiting for Alternative Formats
DSS strives to provide book conversions within 10 business days of receiving the file or cutting the book. However, this is sometimes not possible, especially during high traffic times of the semester. DSS will notify students so that they can consider asking for interim accommodations. Students should contact DSS to obtain interim accommodations.
Examples of interim accommodations include:
- Requesting a reasonable extension of the course deadline for an assigned reading from faculty.
EPUB
EPUB is the industry standard for digital publication. EPUB provides a high degree of accessibility and optimizations. Users can change the color, font size, and background color of the display, and the book will reorganize itself on a device. EPUB can be read on Android, Apple, Windows, and most other ebook readers.
How to Find eTextbooks in EPUB
The VitalSource Bookshelf app includes text-to-speech, search and navigation, and study tools.
Other Popular Reading Apps
DAISY Consortium’s Inclusive Publishing has reviews of popular reading apps, including Digital Editions, Edge, and iBooks.
Thorium Reader (free) for PC
Dolphin Easy Reader (free) for iOS and Android
Voice Dream Reader (iOS)
Youtube video library
For Faculty
Almost all texts used by UMW have a digital version available to all students. This electronic file can be used with a text-to-speech reader (Panorama in CANVAS) to support students who have difficulty reading, or who wish to use multiple modalities when reading textbooks. In cases where a professor uses note packets, out of print texts, or other customized materials, Disability Support Services will arrange to have them digitized, upon student request. NOTE: If you are replacing a traditional textbook with scanned readings, including those from the library subscription databases, be aware that PDF’s of scanned journal articles and books may be completely unusable by assistive technology. You can use Panorama, our accessibility checker, to determine if those digital documents are accessible for those using assistive technology and remediate them if necessary.