At the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville, a request for text material to be provided in an alternative format is considered an accommodation. Students seeking alternative formats must follow the process for Academic Accommodations Requests: Disclosing a Disability. Once the accommodation is approved through DRS, the procedures below should be followed.
Procedures for Requesting Materials in Alternative Format
- Students requesting alternative format materials must complete the Alternative Format Request Form each term that these accommodations are required.
- Students must provide proof of book ownership and, in most cases, will need to provide DRS with a hard copy of the requested material.
- Students must be registered in the course for which they are requesting alternative format materials.
- In converting text materials, DRS will take the student’s format preference from the Alternative Format Request Form into consideration. However, it should be noted that DRS will provide the materials in the format that is most administratively efficient.
- Turn-around-time for alternative format requests are determined on a case-by-case basis. DRS will make every effort to convert materials in a timely manner. In some cases, completion times may vary for edited vs. unedited versions of the text.
- Not every item will be readily available in every format.
- Some text items do not lend themselves to certain alternative formats.
- Alternatives to the preference will be discussed with the individual student.
- Not every item will be readily available in every format.
- Materials provided to DRS for the purpose of conversion to alternative format may be disassembled and returned to the student in an altered condition.
- Standard copyright laws that apply to materials to be converted also apply to the alternative format editions of these materials. That is, the files may not be reproduced or distributed in a format other than a specialized format exclusively for use by blind or other persons with disabilities.