Alternative Text (Alt Text) Services
Some students are not able to read print (or text) in the standard way due to a disability.
For example, some students:
• cannot read standard print because of blindness or vision
impairment
• have a physical disability which prevents them holding or
turning the
pages of a book or printed item
• cannot follow a line of print due to a learning or
concentration disability, These situations illustrate a functional
limitation for which students may wish to request alternative text (alt
text) services.
What is Alt
Text?
Types of Alt Text Formats
How to Obtain Alt Text Services
Steps for requesting Enlarged Print
Steps for requesting Braille
Steps to take requesting E-Text
Additional Information
about Alt Text
Online Organizations Offering Assistive Technology
to Students
Questions?
What is Alt Text?
Alt text is defined as “course materials and/or textbooks which are converted into formats that are accessible and usable by students with disabilities.”
In other words it is the same material, just in a different form.
The purpose of alt text is to allow access to people who, due to a disability, cannot easily use standard print materials.
An example of alt text is a printed textbook which is scanned and converted to a digital file, commonly referred to as etext. The etext file is then read by software, often called a screenreader, so the student may listen to the textbook rather than read it in the standard way.
Types of Alt Text formats Available to LCC Students with Disabilities
• electronic text (etext)
• Braille
• large print
• tactile graphics
• audio files in MP3 or WAV format
How to Obtain Alt Text Services
** In order to receive alternate text services, students must have a documented disability on file with the Office of Disability Support Services (ODSS). **
1. Before the beginning of
each semester**, schedule an appointment to meet with an ODSS counselor or
advisor.
2. To schedule an appointment with ODSS, call (517) 483-1904 (Voice) or
(517) 483-1207 (TTY).
3. If you are eligible for alt text, you will receive the Alternative Text
(alt text) Request form and the Student Agreement for alt text form after
your ODSS appointment.
4. Fill out the Alt Text Request and the Student Agreement for alt text
forms (one sheet, front and back pages) and follow the instructions on these
forms.
5. Turn in the completed alt text request forms to the Reader Services
Coordinator at the Counseling/Advising Front Counter.
6. Once you have turned in your alt text forms and other requested
materials, Reader Services will begin processing your alt text request.
**NOTE: Many reasonable accommodations require significant pre-planning, therefore, registration with the Office of Disability Support Services prior to situations requiring accommodations is essential.
Requests must be completed well in advance of enrollment as some accommodations may take six weeks or longer to be determined and/or arranged.
Lansing Community College will attempt to provide accommodations in a timely manner; however, it is the student's responsibility to request accommodations and provide proper documentation in advance of the semester for which accommodations are requested.
Accommodations will not be made retroactively.
Steps for requesting Enlarged Print textbooks and course materials
1. Students must have met with an ODSS counselor/advisor before action is taken on any request for enlarged print or tactile graphics.
2. Fill out the alt text forms -- Alt Text Request Form and the Student Agreement for use of Alt Text Form (found on back).
3. Turn the alt text forms in to the Readers Services Coordinator as soon as possible. (Students may drop the forms at the Counseling & Advising Center front counter OR email it directly to the coordinator at moored14@lcc.edu
4. Textbook enlargements are made by cutting off the book binding from the student’s personal copy of the textbook(s).
5. The student must supply Reader Services with the textbook he/she would like to have enlarged before the start of the semester. It takes at least 12 business days from the date of drop-off to complete a textbook enlargement.
6. The student must drop off textbooks to be enlarged at the Counseling and Advising Center (GB 204) front counter to be given to the Reader Services Coordinator. The student must include his/her name, phone number, and course information when dropping off textbooks or course materials.
7. If the student needs occasional course material enlarged, he/she should drop the material off at the Counseling/Advising Center Front Counter with attention to the Reader Services Coordinator. The student needs to turn in this material at least 5 days prior to need.
8. If the student will need ongoing and regular enlargements of course assignments, he/she will need to meet with the Reader Services Coordinator at least once in the semester preceding the needed accommodation to avoid a disruption to this accommodation.
9. Requests are processed on a first-come/first-served basis.
1. The student must have met
with an ODSS counselor/advisor before action is taken on any Braille request
2. To begin a request for Braille, the student must set an appointment with
the Reader Services Coordinator ten weeks prior to the start of the
course(s) for which the Braille accommodation is requested.
**The ten week lead time is necessary to the
production of the Braille accommodation for the greatest degree of quality,
efficiency and effectiveness.
3. The student will fill out the Request for Alternative Text forms as soon as possible. (Students may drop the forms at the Counseling & Advising Center front counter OR email it directly to the coordinator at moored14@lcc.edu
4. If Braille transcription will be a necessary accommodation throughout the student's academic program, the student will need to meet frequently, at least once each semester, with the Reader Services Coordinator to avoid a disruption to this accommodation.
5. The student must supply Reader Services with all written material that is to be transcribed into Braille, including textbooks and course materials as arranged with the Reader Services Coordinator.
6. If the student needs occasional course material Brailled, s/he must drop the material off at the Counseling/Advising Center Front Counter with attention to the Reader Services Coordinator. The student needs to turn in this material at least 10 business days prior to need.
7. Requests are processed on a first-come/first-served basis.
1. Students must have met with an ODSS counselor/advisor before action is taken on any request for Braille.
2. Fill out the alt text forms -- Alt Text Request Form and the Student Agreement for Use of Alt Text Form (found on the back).
3. Turn the alt text forms in to the Readers Services Coordinator as soon as possible. (Students may drop the forms at the Counseling & Advising Center front counter OR email it directly to the coordinator at moored14@lcc.ed
4. Initial processing and delivery of e-text files may take up to 12 business days. Be early to get e-text when it is needed.
5. Students must turn in the Alt Text Request Form
along with a copy of the course reading assignment schedule, often included
in the course syllabus, and a copy of the proof of purchase (receipt) for
each textbook for which e-text is requested.
a. The receipt must have the student's name on it.
b. Address the receipt to: Dianne Moore, Reader
Services Coordinator
c. Drop both the course reading assignment and the
receipt copy at the
Counseling & Advising Center
front counter, or scan and email copies
to :
moored14@lcc.edu
6. VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Students will not receive e-text files until the proof of purchase has been turned in to and received by the Reader Services coordinator. Initial processing and delivery of e-text files may take up to 12 business days.
7. VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: If a copy of the reading assignment schedule has not been received, delivery of e-text files will discontinue after the second week of the semester until a copy has been turned in to Reader Services. It may take up to 7 business days to resume delivery of e-text.
Additional Information about Alt Text
1. Eligibility for this service is determined by ODSS and is based in part on the professional documentation provided by the student.
2. Alt text services must be requested prior to each semester it is needed.
3. Before the beginning of
each semester that alt text is requested:
a. The student must meet with an ODSS
advisor or counselor,
b. The student must fill out and turn in the
Alt Text Request forms and any
requested materials.
4. To receive the very best service: be EARLY. Service is placed in order by date of receipt of the student’s completed Alt Text Request forms which includes such information as proof of textbook purchase, class schedule and textbook information.
5. Students requesting materials in alt text must own a physical copy of the textbooks or other course material before the alt text format will be distributed.
6. No e-text will be scanned or requested from publishers until the student has turned the Alt Text request forms to the Counseling/Advising Center Front Counter for the Reader Services Coordinator.
7. If the digital files do not arrive from the Publisher, the assigned Reader will need to follow the course reading assignment schedule:
8. If a copy of the reading assignment schedule has not been received, delivery of e-text files will discontinue after the end of the second week of the semester until a copy has been turned in to Reader Services. It may take up to 7 business days to resume delivery of e-text.
9. Requests for materials in alt text will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Once a request is made, preference will be given to the format specified by the student. However, the recommendation by Reader Services will be used in determining the specific format for each academic course.
10. Alt text requests must be submitted as soon as the student learns of their need; late requests will be honored however, all timelines set are determined by the student’s initial completion and submission of the Alt Text Request forms.
11. When creating alt text from textbooks, the book bindings may be cut off from the student’s textbook. A spiral binding will replace the original binding before the book is returned to the student.
12. The student will not share, copy or reproduce any alt text files provided by Reader Services, nor allow anyone else to do so. Misuse of this material may result in disciplinary action by Lansing Community College.
13. Students will be provided with one alt text copy for each material required for academic use. This alt text file is copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed in a format other than a specialized format exclusively for use by blind or other persons with disabilities. Any further reproduction or distribution in a format other than a specialized format is an infringement of copyright laws.
14. A letter of understanding regarding #12 and #13 above will be signed by the student and Reader Services, and will be kept on file with Reader Services. .
15. If a student repeatedly abuses alt text services by not picking up requests or repeatedly dropping classes after alt text has been produced, alt text services may be suspended until you meet with Reader Services Coordinator .
16. Student questions regarding alt text services should be addressed directly to ODSS or the Reader Services Coordinator.
Online Organizations Offering Assistive Technology to Students
Bookshare.org™ is free for all U.S. students with qualifying disabilities. Student memberships are currently funded by an award from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Bookshare dramatically increases the accessibility of books.
Bookshare believes that people with disabilities deserve the same ease of access to books and periodicals that people without disabilities enjoy.
Lansing Community College has a roster that Reader Services maintains for Bookshare.org. ODSS students may make an appointment with the Reader Services coordinator to order e-text from Bookshare.org or to sign up for a free individual membership. Just call Dianne Moore at 483-5263.
FREE AudioAccessSM Individual Membership For Any Qualified Student!
We are pleased to announce that you may be eligible to receive one year of digitally recorded audiobooks, including children's literature and textbooks, FREE, from RFB&D®*.
Beginning on January 26, 2009, through January 25, 2010, any student with a qualified learning or print disability in the U.S. can sign up for 12 months of free access to RFB&D's CV Starr Learning Through Listening® Library of more than 46,000 textbooks and literature, via Internet download.
This special offer, in celebration of RFB&D's 60th anniversary, is made possible by the generous contributions of RFB&D's donors and major funding from the U.S. Department of Education.
Signing up is easy. Click here to apply now for a free AudioAccess Individual membership!
Dianne Moore
Reader Services Coordinator
517-483-5263
moored14@lcc.edu
