Alternative Textbooks

Students with Disabilities

All students eligible to receive alternative texts or books on tape are so notified in the confirmation letter mailed to them upon becoming a client of the Office of Learning Services.

These alternative textbooks are ordered through Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D). The tapes are provided free of charge to the client through a paid membership maintained by the Office of Learning Services. Please note: not all textbooks are available through RFB&D. Students may need to seek other sources for books such as www.bookshare.org. Students may obtain a student membership to access alternative texts. Students may also research Braille materials through the www.aph.org website and Louis database. Students may also use computer readers in the Assistive Technology Lab at 338 Lyle Hall to use regular textbooks. Students are welcome to contact the Office of Learning Services for additional requests.

Prior to the start of each regular semester (Fall and Spring), this office will determine the required textbooks for each class of each student with an alternative textbook accommodation. Students must notify the Office of Learning Services one month prior to the start of each semester if they want alternative texts.

Textbooks will be ordered from RFB&D. Some textbooks are available immediately and some are in a queue to be taped when personnel are available. However, some textbooks are not available from RFB&D. You are encouraged to contact the Office of Learning Services for assistance if www.bookshare.org, www.aph.org, and the Assistive Technology Lab do not meet your needs.

Upon receipt of the tapes, students are notified by telephone that the tapes are ready for pick up. Students are expected to come to the office in a timely manner to get their alternative textbooks. Unless students have made other arrangements with the Office of Learning Services, the Office of Learning Services will assume students are no longer interested in their alternative textbook accommodation when they do not pick up alternative textbooks provided for them for two consecutive semesters.

Taped textbooks from RFB&D require the use of a tape player that specifically plays four-track, adjustable-speed tapes. Many students with a disability requiring taped textbooks already own a tape player of this type. The Office of Learning Services maintains an inventory of several of these tape players, available to clients on a first come, first served basis. The tape player is loaned to a student on a semester by semester basis. The student must return the tape player promptly at the end of each semester.

RFB&D has recently changed most of its audio books to a digital format. This new digital format requires a specific type of playback equipment. There are also many new products available from RFB&D, which include desktop audio and software tools. Please contact RFB&D for more information.

At the end of each semester, students must return all alternative textbooks borrowed from this office. The Office of Learning Services must account for each alternative text in order to obtain additional ones for the following semester.