Disability Services for Students
Alternate Format Requests
Eligibility for Alternate Format Text
Students with a documented print disability may be eligible for alternate format text. Print disability means a disability that prevents a student from effectively utilizing print material and may include blindness, other serious visual impairments, specific learning disabilities or the inability to hold a book. To find out if you are eligible for alternate format text, please schedule an appointment with the Director of DSS by calling (541)552-6213. Phone appointments are available for distance ed students.
Handouts and other short documents (less than 50 pages)
If you would like handouts, syllabi, articles, PowerPoint presentations, or other short documents in alternate format, we can do that! We need at least 36 hours' notice during business days.
- Electronic format documents: email the document(s) as an attachment. In the email, please specify the format you need and when you need them done.
- Hard copy documents: bring them in to the Access Center and fill out the (short!) form letting us know which format you need and when you need them done.
In most cases, we will email completed requests to your student email. If you are requesting Braille, we will send an email to your student email when it is ready for pickup.
Textbook requests (4-6 weeks lead time required)
It is the student's responsibility to submit a Request Form 4-6 weeks prior to the first class. Later requests will be filled in the order in which they are received. While we make every effort to give you the format that you prefer, we cannot always guarantee that your preferred format will be available.
We may need to scan your book in order to provide you with alternate text. If this is the case, we will remove the binding from your book, scan it, and have it rebound with a spiral binding. This does not affect your ability use the Bookstore's book buy-back process at the end of the term.
To check the status of your textbook request(s), go to the AMX Database. Click on "Student" under the login header. Choose "Southern Oregon University" and enter your student ID number. (This is your number beginning with 940. Enter in format xxx-xx-xxxx, like a social security number. Your SSN will not work.)
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Do I still have to buy the textbook? Yes. Copyright laws require that you purchase the text you are receiving. We need to see proof of purchase (such as a receipt) before we can issue you your alternate text. Receipts may be faxed or emailed, in addition to being brought in in person - a great option for distance ed students.
- When do I have to return alternate text versions? All alternate text materials are on loan for one quarter and are due back to DSS on the last day of the quarter in which they were checked out. Unreturned materials may be charged to your student accountat a rate of $50 per text. Late returns may result in interruption or withdrawal of your alternate text service.
- Why do I have to request books so early? Some of our alternate texts are received from other organizations, which have turnaround times of various lengths. If we are scanning the text, a human proofreader must work with the text to eliminate scanning and formatting errors. Also, please remember that we serve a number of students, each with several classes, all starting class at the same time you are! The earlier you get your request in, the more certain you can be that you will have what you need when classes begin.
- What other resources do I have for alternate text? Do I have to use DSS services? We encourage students to find as many tools for success as possible. Some texts are available directly from the publishers at a reduced cost (usually 50%) if you wish to outright purchase an e-text instead of a hard copy. If this is of interest to you, please email Shawn Foster. For many more places to find alternate format text, see the Alt-Text Resources page.
By filling out this form and requesting alternate text services, you agree to abide by the SOU Alternate Text Usage Agreement.
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