Alternate Media
Alternate media
is a means of making accessible educational materials, such as texts
or videos, which would otherwise be difficult or impossible to use by
people with sensory or processing disabilities.
In keeping with the policy that all persons shall
have equal access to programs, facilities, admissions, and activities,
Santa
Monica College makes
every effort to provide material in alternate formats for students with
disabilities.
Types of alternate media which are
provided include:
Electronic versions of texts
and other documents
--for use
with screen readers and magnification software
Electronic digital text (E-text) has become
the most popular method of providing access for those who cannot use
standard printed materials. Partially sighted individuals can use E-text
by adjusting font size in standard software or through the use of specialized
screen magnification software. E-text can also be used with screen reading
software to output the text to a speech synthesizer or refreshable braille
display. E-text can be easily stored, can be searched and indexed, and
can be converted to large print or hard copy braille
E-texts are either created on campus by scanning the material or are
acquired from the publishers, under the provisions of AB
422, which requires publishers to provide E-text under certain circumstances.
Large-print copies of instructional
material
For those with sufficient vision, large
print is often desirable. Although they are somewhat bulky, materials
in large print have the advantage of being relatively portable and requiring
no special equipment while conveying all the graphic and spatial information
contained in the original material.
Recordings
of texts
Recorded audio format is one method of
making information accessible to persons who are blind or visually impaired.
Many individuals with learning disabilities also use materials in audio
format because they find it difficult to process printed information.
Audio material is commonly recorded on cassette tapes, but it may also
be stored on CD-ROM or other storage media
SMC acquires many literary works and standard college textbooks in audio
format from organizations such as Recordings
for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D).
Braille versions
of texts and other documents.
Braille is a system of reading and writing
which is used by approximately 10 percent of blind and visually impaired
individuals. Braille can be quickly referenced without any equipment
and can include charts, tables, simple diagrams, and a reasonable approximation
of the format of a printed document.
Santa Monica College is equipped to provide
braille material for students through the use of braille translation
software and a specialized braille printer.
Requests should be made far in advance
of need, as the process takes a considerable amount of time to produce.
Braille materials may also be supplied
via the California Community College Alternate Text Production
Center.
Tactile Graphics
Santa Monica College has special equipment
which allows diagrams printed on special heat-sensitive paper to produce
raised lines and images
Captioned versions
of videos
Santa Monica College is presently equipped to
create captions in-house for videotapes and digital videos.
College staff do their utmost to provide alternate
format materials in a timely manner in the medium requested, or in another
equally effective format.
College Publications
Upon request, Santa Monica College can
also provide alternate-format versions of the college catalogue, announcements
about cultural or recreational events sponsored by the college or other
information produced by the college. To request
a college publication in alternate format send an e-mail to DSContacts@smc.edu.
The California Community Colleges Guidelines
for Producing Instructional and Other Printed Materials in Alternate
Media for Persons with Disabilities contains more details about
the provision of alternate media by the California Community colleges.
See also Cerro
Coso Community College's alternate media page.
For additional information contact the college's Alternate
Media Specialist at 310-434-8934.
