Alternate Media Accommodations

Under both State and Federal laws this University must provide students who have print-related disabilities with appropriate alternate media accommodations. Alternate media accommodations are most often the translation of printed materials into electronic text formats; large print versions of print materials; or Braille versions of print materials. Students who are not provided with these approved accommodations in a timely manner (at the same time materials are provided to other students) may file a civil rights claim against the University. These legal obligations are imposed upon the University as a whole.

As a matter of routine, SDRC intends to alert course instructors when we know of an SDRC-approved alternate media student registering for your class. We will send you an e-mail alert with some specific instructions on how to proceed.

Under existing confidentiality laws, SDRC cannot release the student's name to you. Such students may, however, self-identify if they so desire. If the student chooses not to self-identify and, therefore, raise additional needs with you, further accommodations may not be necessary. However, knowing that such a student has enrolled in your class, it would be prudent to make a general announcement at the beginning of class: "If anyone needs any handouts or other printed materials in alternate or accessible formats because of a documented disability with SDRC, please let me know".

California State University Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI)

Recently, The California State University (CSU) system launched a Chancellor-led Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI). The purpose of the ATI effort is to ensure that all CSU campuses are in compliance with existing Federal and State laws mandating disability-related access to technology as well as to ensure a culture of inclusive learning.

ATI identifies three priorities:

1. web accessibility
2. classroom instructional materials accessibility
3. accessible electronic and information technology

CSUEB Instructional Materials Accessibility Policy

CSUEB is committed to providing excellent service to all students with disabilities, including those requiring alternate media. In addition, the Faculty Academic Senate of CSU East Bay is supportive of our students with special needs as evidenced by the passage of titled “Policy on Timely Adoption of Textbooks, Course Readers, and Course Materials Ordered Through the Bookstore”, passed on April 16, 2007. This policy (attached) states that it is a shared responsibility among the Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC), the Library, the Bookstore, and the course instructor to accommodate students alternative media needs. Implementation of the policy will ensure students with special needs have equal access to all instructional materials.

There are other faculty-related materials and resources that might prove useful to you as you strive to respond to these students' needs. They are Instructional Materials and Accessibility, the Media and Academic Technology Services (MATS), the Online and Hybrid Support Center (OHSC), and ITS/AT Office.

Here's a checklist of how all of these resources fit together.

• As you prepare any additional printed course materials (other than text books and course readers), please refer to the attached “Instructional Materials and Accessibility” document to identify other print materials that may need to be made accessible for this student. Media and Academic Technology Services (MATS) and the Online and Hybrid Support Center (OHSC) are available to assist you in making the necessary adaptations to your course print materials (other than textbooks and course readers) and to help answer questions. If you need assistance in making these materials accessible, please call the ITS/AT Administration Office for consultation at 510-885-4366.
• If you place required course materials on a reserve list at the Library, please also be sure to alert the library that you have an alternate media student registered for your class so that the library will be prepared to provide any of their holdings placed on reserve in the appropriate accessible format. For technical assistance with Library materials, please contact Jason Chavez at jason.chavez@csueastbay.edu. Please note that if you bring your own materials to the Library to be placed on library reserve, you must also bring an alternate format copy of these print materials in the format indicated above.
• SDRC is responsible for “translating” the student's textbooks and any course readers into the required alternate media format. To this end, we ask you to declare your textbook/course reader materials as soon as possible (if you haven't already) so that we may have the time needed to produce these materials, usually about 6-8 weeks. The enclosed “Policy on Timely Adoption of Textbooks, Course Readers, and Course Materials Ordered through the University Bookstore,” approved by the Academic Senate in April 2007 governs faculty responsibility in this area. Please send your course's syllabus and any course readers to SDRC's Alternate Media Coordinator for Textbooks and Course Readers at alternate.media@csueastbay.edu so we can ensure that the right text is being prepared in a timely manner.