Alternate Format
What is Alternate Format?
Alternate Format is the process of making information available in an accessible format for individuals with visual and other print-related disabilities. The most common formats we convert material into is searchable PDF and Word. This service is available through the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at no cost to students at UIC.
DRC Alternate Format Mission
The alternate format team facilitates the exchange of accessible materials in pursuit of a more welcoming and inclusive educational experience for DRC students. We maintain our presence in our students academic journeys by converting documents as needed alongside a standing invitation to meet with students to share tailored resources and supports via email and video conferencing. We aim to empower DRC students to use existing, free, and easily accessible technology that can be seamlessly integrated into their educational lives and beyond.
Important Information About Alternate Format:
- An alternate format implementation form must be filled out one time after you’ve been approved for alternate format
- An alternate format request form must be submitted every semester
- Turn-around time for this service depends on the nature of the request and the time during the semester it is received. If you have any specific concerns about turn around time of your request, please email the alternate format team at accesstext@uic.edu
- After receiving an alternate format request, the alternate format team will verify the accessibility of required course readings with instructors and convert required course readings that are inaccessible to the student based on information outlined in their letter of accommodation
- If you do not see required course readings uploaded to Box that you expect, email accesstext@uic.edu immediately
- Requested course materials due prior to DRC receipt of request form will be converted only if the student requests past material be converted for the purpose of cumulative midterms/finals and as time allows
If you have any questions or comments about alternate format process, you can contact the alternate format team via email at accesstext@uic.edu
Submit Alternate Format Request
Steps to Get Required Course Readings in an Alternate Format:
- Schedule a meeting with a DRC Disability Specialist to determine whether alternate format is an appropriate accommodation for your documented disability and which format best fits your needs. Check out our Registration Page for more information.
- Submit the Alternate Format Implementation Form one time after you’ve been approved for alternate format
- Submit the Alternate Format Request Form every semester
- Create a Box account
- Box is the UIC cloud content management service. All students have access to a free Box account through UIC.
- Textbooks and if necessary, other required course readings will be uploaded to your Box account as they become available
- The alternate format team will verify with your instructors, the compatibility of requested courses readings with student’s assistive technology
- The required course readings that need remediating will be converted and uploaded to your Box account by Friday evening before the week the reading are required by the course.
- Example: Week 4 readings will be uploaded by Friday of week 3
Please Note:
If you do not see requested course readings on Box by the time you need it, contact the alternate format team immediately via email at accesstext@uic.edu.
If you need assistance with any of these steps you can contact the alternate format team via email accesstext@uic.edu
Alternate Format FAQs
What is my first step if I need Alternate Format Services at UIC?
Schedule a meeting with a DRC Disability Specialist to determine whether alternate format is an appropriate accommodation for your documented disability and which format best fits your needs. Check out our Registration Page for more information.
Request Alternate Format Every Semester
- Complete the Alternate Format Request Form. Submitting the form will start the process to convert course material into an alternate format.
- If you require textbooks in an alternate format, gather the book title and ISBN for each textbook and include this information in your request. If you don’t know this information, you can look it up on the UIC Bookstore website.
- If you indicate on the request form that you need required course readings converted, the alternate format team will reach out to your instructors to verify their compatibility with your assistive technology and convert them as needed.
**Please note turn around time is dependent on the nature of the request and keep in mind that it is never too early before the semester begins to submit a request!
If you need assistance with this step, contact our alternate format team at accesstext@uic.edu
Set up your Box account
All students who make an alternate format request are required to have a Box account to access any converted required course readings.
All students have access to a free Box account through UIC.
- Create your Box account
- The alternate format team will create and give you access to a Box folder titled “***Student’s Name Alternate Format”
- Within this folder you’ll find course folders that contain textbooks and/or weekly folders (depending on the course structure) as they become available
Explore Text-to-Speech Options Available
Where Do I Find Converted Course Readings Once I've Made a Request?
What to Expect:
The alternate format team will acquire your requested textbooks via publishers or accessible libraries and upload them to the appropriate course folder of your Box folder as they become available.
What to Expect:
- The alternate format team will work with your instructors to verify the compatibility of the required course readings with your assistive technology and convert them if necessary
- Once required course readings are converted, they will be uploaded to your Box folder, where you’ll find them within the desired course folder and/or within a subfolder titled by week
- Converted course readings will be uploaded to Box by Friday evening before the week the reading is needed. Example: Week 4 readings will be uploaded by Friday of week 3
- If the alternate format team determines that the required course readings provided by the instructor are already compatible with your assistive technology, then the alternate format team will not convert or upload these readings
What to Expect:
If the format of your required course readings fall outside textbooks and PDF readings (such as webpages or education apps), the alternate format team will reach out to you to discuss resources to access these readings in an alternate format.
Check out the Text-to-Speech Resources page