University Student Initiatives Manual (USI)

Effective: 1/1/1983

Revised: 7/1/2008

USI 701–07: Alternative Format Services

Purpose

To facilitate equal access to course materials for qualified students with disabilities who are eligible for textbooks and other course materials in alternative formats (including but not limited to Braille, large print, E-Text, and audio textbooks)

Sources

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 United States Code §§ 701–796

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 United States Code § 12101 et seq.

Commission on Civil Rights

Disability Resource Center

University Registrar’s Office

Business Services

ASU Bookstore

Policy

Textbook/print conversion is a time-intensive process, especially for technical subject matter, and can require up to four months (e.g., mathematics, science, foreign language texts) to complete. To facilitate the availability of these accommodations from the first day of class, students must enroll in classes during Priority Enrollment, provide qualifying disability documentation to the Disability Resource Center (DRC), meet the accommodation request deadlines, and follow specified procedures. DRC professional staff authorize and refer students to the appropriate DRC service providers, who:

1. facilitate the ordering and acquisition of recorded textbooks from Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) and other sources
2. provide recorded portions of textbooks and class handouts for students

and

3. produce certain class materials in alternative formats (e.g., Braille, E-Text, audio text, and large print).

Eligible students can access adaptive equipment at various sites at each ASU campus. Students requiring enlarged text may use text enlargers and computers with text enlargement software in select areas on most campuses. For locations, see individual campus procedures.

Following a review of the text to be converted and the nature of academic assignments, all printed materials are produced in a format approved by the appropriate DRC professional staff.

Students with personal RFB&D memberships are responsible for acquiring and returning their own RFB&D audio-recorded or digital texts. Students who are accessing RFB&D tapes or digital recordings through the DRC/ASU institutional membership must return borrowed tapes or digital recordings to the DRC. The DRC staff is available to assist with problems and for backup when tapes or digital recordings do not arrive as scheduled.

Note to continuing ASU students:

To facilitate the availability of alternative format accommodations from the first day of class, qualified students with disabilities are assigned a priority enrollment appointment. Students must enroll within three days of their priority enrollment appointment and contact the DRC within 10 days of enrolling to facilitate accommodations from the first day of class. If a student fails to follow this policy, DRC will make every effort to accommodate as close to the first day of class as possible on a first-come, first-served basis.

Note to new ASU students:

New ASU Students enroll in classes at an ASU orientation session. Therefore, new ASU students should attend an orientation session as early as possible upon admission to the university and complete all specified DRC procedures in order to facilitate the availability of alternative format accommodations as close to the first day of class as possible on a first-come, first-served basis.

See the DRC Web site for detailed information and procedures for accessing services and accommodations available for qualified students at specific ASU campuses and sites.

Cross-References

For further information, see

1. USI 701–02, “Eligibility for Accommodations—Required Disability Documentation”
2. USI 701–03, “Priority Enrollment for Students with Disabilities”
3. USI 701–08, “Interpreting Services for Students Who are Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing”

   and

4. USI 701–11, “Adaptive Equipment Checkout for Eligible Students with Disabilities.”

---

skip navigation bar USI manual | ASU policies and procedures manuals | Index of Policies by Title | University Student Initiatives Web site

Back to Top