ALTERNATE FORMAT BOOK ACCOMMODATIONS
Office of Disability Support Services (DSS)
University of Delaware
119 Alison Hall
Telephone: (302) 831-4643
Fax: (302) 831-3261
E-mail: DSSoffice@udel.edu
Textbooks in alternate formats are available to students at the University of Delaware who have
met the Office of Disability Support Services’ book accommodation requirements based on
provided disability documentation (see General Guidelines for Documentation of a Disability). If
you are a student at the University registered with the DSS Office who does not receive
textbook accommodations and you feel you may be eligible for them please contact the DSS
Office at (302) 831-4643.
The following are guidelines for students receiving accommodations for books in alternate format
from the DSS Office.
1. Before submitting a book request:
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Consider the type of classes and the amount of reading required per course.
Decide which texts you would benefit from having in an alternate format.
To meet copyright requirements students are required to purchase their textbooks and
be able to provide a receipt of purchase.
2. Consider which type of alternate format would benefit you. Possible alternate formats:
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Audio file or mp3 – a digital voice recording of each book chapter. These recordings can
be played on any mp3 player, computer, or burnt to an audio CD.
o
RFB&D CD – entire recorded textbook on CD (if available), playable on any RFB&D book
player (players available for free rental at the DSS Office). These CD’s are in a Daisy
format and allow students to bookmark important sections and skip forward or
backward by heading. Note: Any rented CD players are due back to the DSS Office at the
end of each academic semester.
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Kurzweil – Students will be sent Kurzweil files of each book chapter. Kurzweil is a
computer program available to students in the Morris Library Assistive Technologies
Center (ATC). This program allows students to see scanned book text while listening to
the text being read, making notes, highlighting and creating guides on the interactive
computer program. Kurzweil also has a writing program that assists with the writing
process.
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Texthelp – Text Help is a program similar to Kurzweil which allows you to see text on a
computer screen while listening to the text being read aloud. While Texthelp does not
offer the study skills functions on PDFs, students can take notes while still viewing the
text on the computer. An added benefit to text help is it reads directly from any PDF file
and will be available to you on any computer hooked up to the UD server. All
periodicals in the library that are in an OCR recognized PDF form can be accessed
immediately.
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3.
Word – plain text files of book chapters with the pictures, charts and graphs edited out.
Word files are used by blind or visually impaired students with screen reading programs
such as JAWS.
Fill out and submit one “Alternate Format Book Request Form” for EACH COURSE in
which books are being requested.
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The form can be submitted on line through the Disability Support Services website.
(ADD link)
4. Attach a copy of the course syllabus to each “Alternate Format Book Request Form”
o The course syllabus serves as the official book request(s) for that course for the entire
semester. The DSS Office will keep up to date with the assigned readings listed in the
syllabus, sending required book chapters a week before they are due for the course.
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Note: If a specific class begins to deviate from the syllabus it is the student’s
responsibility to inform the DSS Office of different required readings or changed due
dates for required readings.
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Syllabi may not be available immediately for requests submitted prior to the start of the
semester. DSS will complete the first two chapters of the books requested. Further
chapters will be completed once the syllabi are submitted.
5. Students will receive an email providing instructions on how to set up access to the UD
server for Texthelp. Book chapters will be uploaded to the student’s folder on the server.
Students can also request to have their files Drop-boxed to their email account.
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There can be up to a 5 business day period between the day the DSS Office receives the
request and when the first set of readings is delivered. Keep this in mind, and be sure to
request books and other readings in a timely manner.
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“Alternate Format Book Request Forms” can be submitted on line at: add link
o Syllabi can be attached to the form or emailed separately to
DSSoffice@udel.edu or faxed to (302) 831-3261
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Contact Disability Support Services with any questions or concerns. DSS is
located at 119 Alison Hall, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19701
Please Note: Failure to follow established procedures could result in suspension of the
accommodation and reinstatement will be at the determination of the DSS Director.
I acknowledge receipt of these guidelines and regulations and agree to abide by them.
_______________________________________
Signature
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Date