Faculty & Staff Resources

Check for Accessible Versions of Course Texts

As a best practice to support equity and student success, accessible versions of course materials should be available to all students at the time they are used and should not require students to register with Disability Resources or perform the work of creating accessible versions. As long as faculty report course adoptions to the bookstore by posted deadlines, the bookstore, Library, and/or Disability Resources will take on the responsibility of ensuring the availability of accessible editions.

  • The bookstore will attempt to source accessible electronic versions of texts alongside print editions.
  • The library will review materials to identify any accessible formats they can make available.
  • Disability Resources can arrange access via accommodations for students who have registered with their office.

Make Print Materials Accessible

Digitization

Notice: The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.  The person reproducing materials is responsible for any infringement.  

Subject to copyright and Fair Use guidelines, print materials may be digitized into a format that is compatible with screen readers. Faculty may consult Academic Technology for additional information about creating accessible digital versions of materials.

Create accessible PDFs from print

  • The library and Academic Technology offer access to overhead book/document scanners that can produce accessible PDFs. The scanner software can automatically remove the book gutter and fingers from scanned images. Staff are happy to assist users in learning to use the scanner.
  • Free apps like Microsoft Lens can create accessible PDFs using your phone's camera.
  • The BlazerPrint/Papercut Xerox devices managed by MCLA IT can create searchable PDFs of scanned items.

Create accessible PDFs, EPUBs, etc. from previously scanned files 

  • The UDOIT Advantage tool in Canvas can identify scanned and untagged PDFs and generate accessible versions.
  • Other programs like the full version of Adobe Acrobat can also convert PDFs into accessible formats.
  • In the case of very poor quality scans, cleaner copies may be available in the library's collections or via interlibrary loan.

Magnification

A print magnification station is located on the upper level of Freel Library.

Access via Accommodations

When commercial or freely-licensed versions of course materials in accessible formats are not available, students with documented disabilities may register with MCLA's Disability Resources Office, who can often arrange for students to obtain copies of materials in alternative, accessible formats from a variety of sources. Due to publishers' and copyright restrictions, these alternative formats are usually only available to the individual student making the request. Please note that obtaining accessible copies and/or converting materials into accessible formats can require substantial lead time -- as much as eight weeks.

Definitions

For these purposes, "accessible” means that a student with a disability is afforded the opportunity to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an equally effective and equally integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use, and without delay. Digital accessibility standards are met by adherence to the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 level AA, or any successor policy version duly approved by the W3C.