Alternate Format Materials
The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) can provide materials in an alternate format to eligible students with pre-approved and qualifying disabilities. Various formats can be made available. Provision of alternate format materials is dependent on the documentation of the disability. Students that have Alternate Format as an accommodation are responsible for requesting alternative formats for textbooks and any course materials they will need for the semester. Please be aware that alternative format production can take several weeks; therefore, be sure to follow the procedure below.
Requesting Materials in an Alternate Format
To receive course materials in an alternate format, students must first be registered with OSD and be approved for the use of this accommodation. The following steps detail the process for requesting materials in alternate format:
- During the intake, an OSD Manager or Specialist will review the student's documentation for a print-related disability, and verify the need for the Alternative Format accommodation.
- After the intake meeting, the student will receive an email from either the OSD Assistant Director or the Assistive Technology Specialist with contact information and instructions on how to request alternative formats.
- Requests for alternate format materials can be made by submitting an Alternate Format Request Form. The form link is: https://forms.valenciacollege.edu/osd-alternate-format-request.
- Students who require Alternative Format for published materials with ISBN numbers are required to purchase their textbooks or materials, and then provide the Office for Students with Disabilities their proofs of purchase. This may be done in person or via email.
Students are advised to discuss any questions or concerns about the Alternative Format
process with the Assistive Technology Specialist or the Assistant Director of OSD.
As a reminder, the production of Alternative Format materials can take up to 30 business
days from the date the materials become available for production. The management of
requests for materials to be converted is operated on a ‘first-in, first-out’ basis.
(The earlier the request is made, the sooner the request will be processed and prepared
for pickup). Requests received less than 30 days prior to the start of a term will
be processed and delivered as quickly as possible. However, there is no guarantee
on delivery by the start date of classes.
Students who qualify for this accommodation are strongly encouraged to obtain memberships with Learning Ally and Bookshare.
The Office for Students with Disabilities will make every effort to provide the format the student prefers. However, we cannot guarantee that the preferred format will be available. In this case, an effective alternative can be discussed and provided.
Students
Register for an appointment to take a course exam.
Students are advised to review this Alternate Format Agreement Policy prior to requesting materials in an alternate format.
- I agree to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities if any of my contact information changes, including phone numbers, name changes, etc.
- I agree to notify the Office for Students with Disabilities if I drop a class, and I will immediately return all alternate format materials for that class.
- I agree to notify the Office for Students with Disabilities if my class will use a different textbook than the one(s) I requested, or if my alternate format requests change in any other way.
- I agree to check my alternate format materials as soon as I receive them, and to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities immediately if there are issues.
- I agree to return all alternate format materials to the Office for Students with Disabilities and to delete electronic copies from my computer and/or devices at the end of the term.
- I understand that turnaround time is 30 business days from the date the material is available for production, and that the material is provided on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis.
- I understand that the Office for Students with Disabilities makes every effort to provide alternate format materials in my preferred format, but cannot guarantee that the preferred format will be available. In that case, I will receive an effective alternative.
- I understand that this accommodation is based on documentation I have provided to the Office for Students with Disabilities.
- I understand that if my files are provided by a publisher, I must present a receipt for each book before I can receive my alternate format materials.
- I understand that when my requested materials are ready, I will be notified via my VC email.
- I understand that I must be registered for the classes for which I am requesting alternate format materials, and I acknowledge that the Office for Students with Disabilities can only provide me with textbooks and course materials in an alternate format for classes in which I am currently enrolled.
- I understand that failure to abide by this agreement may constitute a violation of copyright laws and of the Valencia College Student Code of Conduct. Therefore, failure to abide by this agreement may result in disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Handbook, the College Catalog, and on the Valencia website under College Policies.
| Alternate Format Resources for Students |
|---|
| National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped |
| Bookshare |
| Learning Ally |
| Gutenberg Library |
| Audible |
| LibriVox |
| The American Printing House for the Blind |
| Kindle |