Alternate Format

A student registered with the Accessibility Support Center may be eligible to receive an accommodation for text in alternate format. Examples of formats offered include electronic text, digital audio, and braille. More information about formats is available on this page under the "Available Formats" heading.

Requesting Alternate Format

Requests for alternate mewdia can be made through MyASC and by appointment with the Alternate Media Specalist after the student's accommodations are approved. For assistance in submitting requests, please make an appointment with the Alternate Media Specialist. To arrange an appointment, email asc@cabrillo.edu, or call (831) 479-6379 or (831) 479-6370.

Available Formats

Students requesting e-text must make their request for e-text in a timely manner, before the semester when the book is required. To receive e-text students must show proof of purchase for their textbooks. The alternate media specialist will attempt to find the e-text from the publisher or other e-text databases and resources. If the e-text is not available, the Alternate Media Specialist will remove the spine of the book, scan it, proofread the scanned text, and convert the e-text to an appropriate format for use with screen-reading software such as Kurzweil, Text Aloud or JAWS.

Some textbooks can be obtained as audiobooks (books read aloud by human readers or computer) from Learning Ally (Formerly, Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic). Students then can listen to their texts using free Learning Ally software or an MP3 player. Be advised that not all textbooks are available from Learning Ally, particularly if the texts are new editions or are highly specialized. If the audio file is not available, the student is advised to have e-text created as described above. MP3 files may also be prepared by the Alternate Media Specialist upon request but can take considerable time to produce, depending on the content.

Braille is a system of reading and writing for blind individuals. ASC provides braille embossing and tactile graphics created on special heat-sensitive paper to produce raised lines and images.

ASC uses closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) and document cameras for page magnification if the electronic text is not available. CCTVs are available in the Library and at ASC. A CCTV or document camera is also available to be transported to classrooms upon request. Documents may also be enlarged using oversized paper and the ASC photocopier.