Accessible Media

Accessible media accommodations include alternative ways to access print and digital materials. These accommodations most often assist students with physical, visual, or learning disabilities who may experience difficulties accessing books, articles, readings, course materials, and web pages. Here are some examples of accessible media:

• Print Text: Some disabilities make it challenging to access digital materials. In that case, a student may be approved to receive print materials instead.
• Large Print: Visual disabilities may make it challenging to access printed materials and digital materials. While access to magnification software can help, it is not always sufficient for all materials. When that is the case, students may be provided with large-print material instead.
• Electronic Text: Students with print disabilities may need to use a combination of digital formats and read-aloud software (such as text-to-speech software or a screen reader) to access audio versions of their textbooks, course materials, or research materials.
• Braille: Some students with print disabilities, often visual disabilities, rely on Braille to access information. This may take the form of hardcopy Braille or electronic Braille depending on the student’s individualized needs. Typically, Braille readers use a combination of technology and methods for accessing print materials such as hardcopy Braille, tactile graphics, electronic Braille, audio, a screen reader, and/or a refreshable Braille display. This accommodation is typically provided through collaboration among the student, SSD, individual instructors, and Accessible Technologies.

Locating and/or producing alternate materials takes time. Students are encouraged to submit their alternate text needs to the SSD office as soon as they receive their course schedules. Complex materials, such as Braille, should be discussed at least 1-semester ahead of taking the course when possible. Alternate Text requests will be accepted after the due dates, but requesting early helps ensure that requests are fulfilled in a timely manner.

Please follow these instructions to make your Accessible Alternate Formats Request in AIM:

• Log in to AIM
• Navigate to the “Alternative Format” module

If requesting a textbook:

• Navigate to the “My Requests” section
• Click “Review Requests or Add Books”
• In the “Requests” section, students will be able to view all requests for remediated course materials. Any textbooks listed in the bookstore will automatically be added to this section. However, students will need to confirm those requests before they are sent for remediation
• In order to confirm a request for a textbook, the student will go to the row for that textbook and click the blue “select” button, and that will confirm that the student would like a remediated version of the textbook

If requesting other course materials, such as handouts or other types of files uploaded to a course by an instructor:

• Navigate to the “My Requests” section
• Click “Review Requests or Add Books”
• Scroll to the “Reading Materials” section
• Select the relevant class from the “Select Class” drop-down menu
• Insert “All Course Materials” in the “Reading Material Title” text box
• Click the “submit request” button
• The request for remediated course materials has been submitted. This will include all files for the entire course
• If the student would like to submit a file, they can on this screen, but it is not required or necessary
• Click the “Back to Review Requests” button
• Complete this process for all courses in which a student would like remediated course materials

All other requests:

• Navigate to the “My Requests” section
• Click “Review Requests or Add Books”
• Scroll to the “Reading Materials” section
• If it is related to a course, select the relevant class from the “Select Class” drop down menu
• Complete the form with all relevant information
• If the information is not easily available, please submit the request without entering the information. The only required responses are whether or not this request is related to a specific class and the title of the reading material.
• Click the “submit request” button
• The request for remediated materials has been submitted
• If the student would like to submit a file, they can on this screen, but it is not required or necessary
• Click the “Back to Review Requests” button

For questions or support, please contact us at ssdalternatetext@vt.edu

Students who do not have an accommodation for accessible media may still benefit and obtain alternative formats from university-wide resources. Students can access accessible media through the Ally tool in the Canvas learning management system, by using the advanced search for University Libraries e-text resources, or Internet Archive. To request adding this accommodation, please contact your Access Team Advisor (located on the AIM Student Dashboard).