Alternative Textbooks

Students with print disabilities such as visual impairments or learning disabilities may qualify for accommodations of alternative forms of textbooks. Alternative forms include digital ebooks, large print, or braille. If you have the accommodation of E-Text, you will work directly with your access advisor to make sure course materials are accessible. If you need large print or braille, you will work directly with your access advisor on these requests.

Accessible E-Texts: Digital eBooks

VitalSource and RedShelf are providers of accessible digital formats of books and texts and are available to everyone. The accessible digital formats are compatible with adaptive technologies such as Read&Write and Read Aloud so that you can listen to the audio of the text.
The K-State Campus Store also offers accessible eBooks for rent or purchase in a format called BryteWave, which is compatible with VitalSource, RedShelf, and other adaptive technologies and platforms.

Request an Accessible E-Text

If you are a student with an E-Text accommodation and are unable to find accessible text using the resources above, the SAC can search for alternative textbooks. A signed E-Text Agreement including the book title, author, ISBN, and course reference number must be sent to accesscenter@k-state.edu. We are required to have your proof-of-purchase (can be a receipt, screenshot of a receipt or a completed online order, or showing us your physical copy of the book) and the signed E-Text Agreement before we can provide you with the alternative text.
If we are able to acquire an accessible copy of your book, we will notify you and send you the e-text via K-State email. You can then use software such as Read&Write (see below) on your computer to read or listen to the books. If we cannot find an alternative copy of your book, we will inform you through K-State e-mail.

Text-to-Speech

Read&Write is a feature-rich software program that is available to all K-State students, faculty, and staff with an eID and password. Visit the IT Read&Write webpage to download the product. If you have any difficulties with the download process, contact the IT Help Desk at helpdesk@k-state.edu or call 1-800-865-6143.

There are many reasons individuals find text-to-speech helpful:

• Listening along while visually reading content may help with focus and reading comprehension.
• Creating an MP3 file using the Audio Maker feature to listen to text may help you study while on the go.
• Listening to text that you have written such as an essay, speech, or report may help you improve fluency and catch spelling and grammar errors.

Read&Write has four features focused on reading text. The first is the play, pause, stop, rewind and forward buttons found on the tool bar.

If you are reading a Word document, you can simply click play and the text will be read to you starting from the location of the cursor.

If you are reading on the web, you can select "Read the Web" from the main menu.

When you hover over the text, it will start reading. You can continue to use the play and stop buttons.

PDF Reader is utilized when you have a PDF to read. Once you click on PDF Reader, you will be asked to locate the file on your computer. The PDF will then be opened.

To start reading, take your cursor and click on any word to start the reading process.

The fourth feature for reading is the Screenshot Reader. Screenshot Reader is used when you have a limited amount of content to read. Screenshot Reader performs OCR (optical character recognition) before starting to read.

When you click on Screenshot Reader you will select the portion of text you want to hear. You can utilize Screenshot Reader in Canvas for limited amount of content. If it is a multiple page article, you will need to download the article to be able to open the PDF in PDF Reader.

Creating a searchable PDF using Read&Write

There may be times when you come across a PDF that has been saved as an image. The PDF is not searchable nor is it available to assistive technology such as text-to-speech. Read&Write is equipped with an OCR (optical character recognition) engine that allows you to scan a PDF and create a searchable PDF. The scan tool can be used with a scanner or you can select the file folder, if the PDF is already in digital format on your computer.

For this example, we will select the file folder. You can then drag and drop or select a file. You have the option of keeping the PDF format or saving the file as a Word document. Read&Write then scans the article through OCR. This may take a while depending on the number of pages. You will be asked to save the file with a new file name. Once the scanning is complete, the article will be presented in PDF Reader. The article should now be searchable and readable. To start reading, click on a word. To learn more about all the different features of Read&Write, visit the Read&Write YouTube Playlist.

Canvas Alternative Formats with Ally

Ally is a free tool on Canvas for students to download lessons and files in different alternative formats based on individual learning needs or preferences. It gives more dynamic access to learning content directly from the source document. Visit the Ally Student Guide for more information.

Other Organizations that Provide Accessible Books

Bookshare

Bookshare is the world's largest online accessible library of copyrighted content for people with print disabilities. Bookshare is free to U.S. students through a Department of Education grant. To learn more, call 650-352-0198 or visit the Bookshare website.

Learning Ally

Learning Ally is a non-profit organization that has many textbooks available in audio format. Students can enroll at a cost of $135 per year. Learning Ally is an online library with a wide range of books available for school or for pleasure reading. Applications are available from Learning Ally by calling 1-800-221-4792 or by visiting the Learning Ally website.

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

The National Library Service administers a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail or through the BARD download website. Applications are available from NLS by calling 1-888-657-7323, or by visiting the NLS website.