The Different forms of Alternative Text

What  are the Alternative Text?  Alternative texts are available in three alternatives:

1.) Audio form, from RFB&D or Bookshare org.  If you can receive CD’s from Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) you will fill out the forms at the DS office before coming to the AT office where we will help you make your request to RFB&D. After reviewing your Books in Alternative Request Form and your class list, the AT office will inform you, if the text is available from RFB&D or Bookshare.

 2.) An e-file from the publisher, which can take up to 5-6 weeks to receive, is requested if your texts are not available in audio. This step is done first before scanning of the text. We will need to have a copy of your class syllabus to help us with the order of downloading into a program.

 3.) Scanning the text, and then putting it into a readable program. If you have your own program, Kurzweil or something else, we will help with the scanning, and then put it on our web site for you to download to your program. Your needs for this text, editing or word text form, will be decided at the meeting between you and the AT program coordinator. If we need to scan the text, the office will need you to bring in both a copy of the class syllabus and the book for scanning. We cannot guarantee late requests, so the sooner the AT office has your request the sooner we can work on filling the request.

We do ask that you fill out the alternative text form, at the end of the semester for the next semester or 6 weeks before the start of the semester. Request from publishers can take up to 5 - 6 weeks and audio text up to 14 days and scanned text can take weeks.

Guidelines for Using Reading for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) Service

For students who are certified as legally blind or students with print disabilities, the accommodation of books on CD’s/ RFB&D can be used.  Students will first need to sign up for, “Reading for the Blind & Dyslexic” (RFB&D) with the UWSP Office of Disabilities Services, 103 Student Services Center, 715-346-3365.  The office will assist you in filling out the RFB&D application form.  You will need to provide the Disability Services office with a copy of your current class list and a list of the required texts.  They will check for the texts that RFB&D may have available.  The office will place your first order to RFB&D, and the CD’s will come to the Assistive Technology Office (AT) room 430 LRC.  To use this service you will need to have a CD player or software that can be ordered from RFB&D.  There is a software program available, to use, in the Assistive Technology Lab, room 430A LRC, and a few players for check-out on a short-term basis, as inventory permits.

The Assistive Technology coordinator will assist you in ordering your CD’s or setting up your own account to download to your computer, the first year at UW- Stevens Point, and then it will become the student’s responsibility to place the orders to RFB&D.  The AT coordinator will help any students that would need help placing their orders during their time at UW-Stevens Point.

Students need to remember that it can take up to 10 - 14 business days to get CD’s from RFB&D, so you need to get your forms filled out before classes start.

Books that are not available from RFB&D will be obtained in other alternative text forms.  You will need to fill out the Alternative text form (on-line) and make an appointment (non-line) with the Assistive Technology Coordinator by, using the on-line form, e-mailing assisttech@uwsp.edu, or calling 715-346-4980 during office hours.