Accessible Text - Assistive Technology Initiative :: Equity & Diversity Services

Assistive Technology Initiative Office

Accessible Text

Procedure for Requesting Accessible Formats | Bookshare Book Files | CourseSmart | Mobile Apps | E-Text Resources

The Assistive Technology Initiative (ATI) provides accessible text to students, faculty and staff with print-related disabilities. It also aids in the development of accessible text to units within the university community.

We use a high speed scanner to convert hard copy documents into digital formats. Formats include, but are not limited to:

Braille exams
Digitally formatted text books (Word document, WYNN format, text, PDF, Bookshare DAISY or Bookshare Braille)
Digitally formatted course handouts
Braille and tactile handouts (limited)
Large print handouts
Electronic reserve materials converted to accessible e-text

Procedure for Requesting Accessible Formats

To qualify to receive material in alternative formats, students, staff, and faculty must have a documented "print" related disability. Student requests for alternative text start at the Office of Disability Services (ODS). All other requests can be made by contacting the ATI at 703-993-4329.

Student’s Responsibility

Register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS).
Request an Assistive Technology Referral (AT Referral) at ODS.
Register with the Assistive Technology Initiative (ATI).
Complete the Accessible Text Agreement (PDF) with the ATI each school year the student is in need of copyrighted material in accessible formats.
Complete the Accessible Text Request Form (PDF) for each required textbook, reading, etc. for which an accessible format is needed and submit these to the ATI in person or via email at ati@gmu.edu.
Provide hard copies of the text, syllabi and purchase receipts as needed for textbooks.
If the request is for a quiz or exam, complete a Test Form with ODS and the staff will facilitate the process with the professor, ODS and ATI.
Contact the ATI if there are any changes in your course schedule or syllabus that affect your book requests. Also, contact the ATI if you have questions or experience any difficulties with your requested materials.
Pick up the hard copy and/or electronic copy at the ATI.

ODS’s Responsibility

Review documentation to determine qualification for alternative text.
The ODS sends the AT referral to ATI.
ODS provides editors for text on a case-by-case basis.
Exam and quiz requests are processed with the ODS. The ODS will facilitate the process with the professor, ODS and ATI.

ATI’s Responsibility

ATI receives AT Referral from ODS and conducts informal Assistive Technology assessment as needed.
ATI collects Accessible Text Agreement form each school year.
ATI receives Accessible Text Request form(s) from student at office or via email.
Once requests and receipts are received, ATI contacts publishers. (This is done via AccessText or individual publishers. ATI will also check if the book is already available in electronic format from VA HEAT. If the student uses DAISY books from Bookshare or Learning Ally, ATI will encourage the student to make requests at those sites when books are available from those resources.)
Once hard copies of materials are received from the student, ATI prepares text for scanning if needed, such as removing the binding from the textbook. (If the text is already available in an electronic format, ATI will return the text without removing the binding.)
ATI scans the text through a high speed scanner.
ATI runs OCR on file with ABBYY FineReader.
ATI formats the text as needed.
ATI saves the text in the requested format, such as Word, Rich Text, Text, PDF. (Students may create MP3 or Wave files on their own.)
ATI burns the text onto CD.
ATI rebinds the text. (This is a plastic comb binding. If the student wishes to rebind the text on his or her own, indicate this on the Accessible Text Request Form and the text will be returned to the student unbound.)
ATI contacts the student via email to inform him or her that the rebound text, along with the electronic format on CD, is completed and available for pick up at ATI.

Bookshare Book Files

Organizational Membership
We now have an organizational membership with Bookshare. You may request Bookshare books by completing the same Accessible Text Request Form (PDF) you use for other book requests. You will indicate whether you want the book in a DAISY format or a BRF (Braille Refreshable Format) format. If your book is not available from Bookshare, we will email you to find out if you want us to scan your text instead.

Individual Membership
If you would like to pursue an individual membership with Bookshare and search and download books directly, visit their website. Let the ATI know that you would like an individual membership and the staff can provide you with the form you'll need.

DAISY Readers
If you decide to use Bookshare books in the DAISY format, we can provide you with a free DAISY Reader from Bookshare. There are two readers available - one is geared toward students with learning disabilities (Read:OutLoud Bookshare Edition) and the other is geared toward students who are blind or visually impaired (VictorReader Soft Bookshare Edition). The Read:OutLoud version is now available for both PC and Mac Users!

Apps

Bookshare app for iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone: Read2Go is available at the Apple App store for $19.99. Images are supported in Read2Go; however, users will need to transfer books with images through iTunes in order to view them.

How to transfer books to Read2Go from iTunes

NEW! Free Bookshare app for Android: Go Read

If you want to know how to use Bookshare books with other assistive technologies you may already use at Mason or at home, check out these resources:

Bookshare Reading Tools

Quick Start to Opening Bookshare Books with Read:OutLoud Bookshare Edition, Victor Reader Soft Bookshare Edition, WYNN or Read & Write Gold (MS Word)

Read:OutLoud Bookshare Edition User Guide

VictorReader Soft User Guide (MS Word)

CourseSmart

For students who wish to rent eTextbooks instead of print titles, CourseSmart is a good option.

The STudent E-rent Pilot Project (STEPP) was launched by Georgia Tech's Alternative Media Access Center, in partnership with CourseSmart® and the AccessText Network, through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. This program is designed to meet the textbook rental needs of any postsecondary student and aims to help improve low-cost access to higher education textbooks for all students, including those with print-related disabilities.

To rent an eTextbook:

Create a free account on www.coursesmart.com.
Search for titles.
Contact accessibility@coursesmart.com or call 866-588-3197 to enable the accessible reader (if using JAWS®, NVDA, VoiceOver, TextAloud).
Preview the first chapter of a book before renting (and test how it works with your screen reader) or rent the book by adding it to your cart and proceeding to checkout.
If a book needs structural tags added to improve its accessibility, submit your title requests to accessibility@coursesmart.com.

For instructions and demos on how to use CourseSmart texts with assistive technology (including, but not limited to, Apple OSX, Read & Write Gold, and VoiceOver), please visit Georgia Tech's STEPP site.
For more information on accessible etext from CourseSmart, please visit: CourseSmart Customer Support.

Mobile Apps

Visit our Mobile Apps page for more information on mobile apps for etext!

Bookshare: Read2Go for iOS and Go Read for Android
CourseSmart: eTextbooks for iOS and CourseSmart for Android and Kindle Fire
Learning Ally: Learning Ally Audio for iOS
Texthelp - Read & Write Gold: eBook Reader for iOS and Android (Note: Android version has limited functionality.)

E-Text Resources

Sample accessible text forms may be found on AHEAD's E-Text website
Sample forms are under "Resources from the AHEAD E-Text Solutions Group."

Copyright Resources for colleges and universities

Please note: These resources are provided as a service to the accessible text community. Their inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by George Mason University or the Assistive Technology Initiative. The degree of accessibility of these resource websites may vary.

Sources of Legally-Available Digital Versions Textbooks and Other Written Works from the Association of American Publishers

These sites offer free electronic books (in text and/or audio format) which are in the public domain.
"The term 'public domain' refers to creative materials that are not protected by intellectual property laws such as copyright, trademark or patent laws. The public owns these works, not an individual author or artist. Anyone can use a public domain work without obtaining permission, but no one can ever own it." (Stanford Copyright & Fair Use Website)