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How It Works

A female African-American student sits at a desk in her dorm room, wearing headphones and working on a laptop computer.

A Student Requires a Textbook in
Electronic Format

College students with disabilities which impair their ability to read printed text visit their school's Disability Support Services office to request accommodations. Once a student is determined to be eligible to receive textbooks in an alternate format, the school's Disability Service Provider (DSP) uses the AccessText Network to request electronic files from our member-publishers.

 

 

 

 

The DSP Requests a Publisher File

 

  • The AccessText application is online, accessible, and available at any time.
  • The process of making a file request takes only a few clicks and minimal data entry.
  • All request activity is tracked by the AccessText application, for referencing at later dates.

Screen capture of the AccessText Network request file page.

 

Screen capture of a data sheet of processed requests.

A Publisher Processes the Request

 

  • Publishers will process requests in the order in which they are received.
  • The publisher file is delivered in three days or less in 92% of fulfilled requests.
  • The most common format provided by publishers is unlocked PDF.

 

 

The DSP Receives a File

 

  • The DSP is notified by email when the publisher file is ready for download.
  • The DSP downloads the file to a computer.
  • If a file is not available, the publisher may provide permission to scan.

Screen capture of the AccessText Network request fulfilled page.

 

The DSP Provides Student With Electronic Format

Once the school receives the publisher file, they use it to prepare an accessible format that meets the student's needs, such as braille, audio, large print, or e-text. The DSP verifies that the qualified student has purchased the book or that the book has been purchased for them before providing the file to the student. The school can provide this file to other qualified students by entering a new request in AccessText for the Request Type of "Permission to Redistribute Alternative Text."
 

Other Useful Features of AccessText
 

  • Members can export their request history anytime in a convenient spreadsheet format.
  • Members can contribute accessible files to the Exchange to share with other members.
  • Publishers can store files on the AccessText server to eliminate repetitive uploading.
  • The AccessText staff provides comprehensive member support via phone and email.
  • Members receive advance notice of webinars featuring leading assistive technology companies.