Alternate Media

Alternate media is an alternative to standard printed academic materials such as textbooks, lab manuals, class handouts, and exams. Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) provides academically related material in alternative formats for students who are registered with ARC and who have been deemed eligible. Eligibility for alternate instructional material is based on professional documentation provided by the student that verifies a disability which inhibits the functional use of standard instructional material in print format.

Please note: This accommodation must be approved by the student’s Accessibility Advisor and the Technology Equity Inclusion (TEIN) office, and approval is determined by the symptoms and severity of the student's disability.

Request Process

1. An individual with a disability requesting alternate media for the first time must meet with the Accessible Content Specialist in TEIN to determine eligibility for services.
2. Once found eligible, the individual must read, agree to, and sign the Alternate Media Agreement (in compliance with AB 422).
3. Each semester, students requesting texts in alternate media formats must contact the Accessible Content Specialist in the TEIN office. Requests for alternate media are handled on a first come, first served basis. Alternate media requests(opens in new window) should be submitted online. 
4. Conversion of materials may take up to six weeks.

Production Process

Textbooks are converted from hard-copy formats to electronic formats, such as, but not limited to, Kurzweil, PDF, Word documents, or MP3 audio files. It is a time-consuming process, as each textbook is edited closely to ensure it accurately matches the original.

1. The Accessible Content Specialist sends out a reminder to submit course information and then receives the request from the student.
2. Textbooks are in either hard-copy or electronic formats. TEIN will look for textbooks in their own library, in the libraries of the other 23 CSU campuses, and the nine UC campuses, or requests them from publishers. If the textbook is not available from these sources, TEIN will request a hard copy from the student to manually scan.
3. Textbooks received in electronic format will be edited for accuracy.
4. Textbooks received in hard-copy format will be de-spined to be produced in electronic format for editing. 
5. Once edited, textbooks are converted to the appropriate electronic format for use by the student.
6. Textbooks are then made available to the student.

 Guidelines

• Student must be currently enrolled or finishing an incomplete in the course for which they are requesting alternate media.
• Student must own a physical copy of the textbook or other course material and provide an original receipt to TEIN.
• Material provided to TEIN for the purpose of conversion to alternative format may be disassembled and returned to the student in its altered condition.
• TEIN/ARC will not be held responsible for any damage to materials that occur due to conversion to an alternative format.
• Due to the volume of requests for alternate media, TEIN requires up to six weeks to convert textbooks into alternate formats (conversion time is determined on a case-by-case basis).
• Due to the volume of requests for Alternate Media, TEIN requires one week to convert course handouts into alternate formats (conversion time is determined on a case-by-case basis).
• Upon review of material to be formatted and converted, TEIN staff will notify the student regarding conversion progress.
• Students will not copy or reproduce alternatively formatted instruction materials nor allow anyone else to do so pursuant to the requirements of the copyright revision act of 1976 as amended (17 U.S.C §101 et seq.). Students understand that any violation of this agreement may be considered a violation of the CSU, Chico Code of Conduct and could result in discontinued service.