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Berea College

To inquire about accommodations or if you have questions or concerns regarding an existing accommodation or access concern, please schedule an appointment with DAS Senior Specialist, Holly Hatfield, via <a href="https://calendly.com/hollyhatfield">Calendly</a>.

Schedule an Appointment with DAS Specialist

<div data-type="core">Do you have trouble building study time into your schedule? Do you find yourself waiting until the last minute to study for exams? Do you find yourself re-reading your textbook chapters, only to forget the information immediately after?
The <a data-internal-link="true" href="https://www.berea.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/How-to-Study-and-the-Study-Cycle.pdf">Study Cycle</a> is a guide to help you build effective studying into your everyday life. On the surface, each step may seem obvious, but all too often students take shortcuts and miss important opportunities to benefit from the interplay of each step of the cycle. In the Study Cycle, each step builds on the previous one and distributes your learning throughout the semester, which is much more effective than waiting until the day before the test to study.
<a href="http://Studying 101">Studying 101</a> is a handout with many tips on effective studying that allows you to experiment to find what works best for you. Actively engaging in your course material (not just reading) is crucial to your understanding. Memorizing, highlighting, and/or underlining will not help you connect or develop critical thinking about a topic.
How to Study and the Study Cycle and Studying 101, courtesy of The Learning Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
</div>

Learning Strategies

Prior to the start of the semester, students approved for alternative format accommodations must determine alternative text needs for their courses. Students can work with instructors to identify any required textbooks, in-class handouts, or other materials posted in a classroom management system, as well as any other required readings that will need to be made available in accessible format.​
<h2>Alternative Format Process</h2>
<ol>
<li>Students should research to see if the book needed is already in a digital/alternative format. Please review a list of resources below.</li>
<li>Berea College is a partner with SensusAccess to offer a file converter tool that makes inaccessible documents (such as Word or PDF files) into more accessible media (such as searchable PDFs, audio MP3 files, Braille, or e-text).  SensusAccess is available to all Berea faculty, staff, and students that have an active College email address. Please note that the quality of the converted document depends on the quality of the original document, and all conversion files will be delivered via email. Try SensusAccess now.</li>
<li>In addition to SensusAccess, students approved for alternative format accommodations have the option to submit an alternative format request via their AIM portal.  Follow these steps to formally request your books through DAS each semester: Find the list of your required course materials:
<ol>
<li>Open your class schedule in <a href="https://login.berea.edu/">MyBerea</a></li>
<li>Visit the online college bookstore, <a href="https://berea.textbookx.com/institutional/index.php">Akademos</a></li>
<li>Check your syllabus for all course reading materials, or</li>
<li>Contact your professor or department for course reading materials</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>Check if your course materials already exist in an accessible format. You can order books directly from the following sites:
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.bookshare.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bookshare</a>: an accessible online library for people with print disabilities. Free memberships for qualified U.S. students and schools.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.learningally.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Learning Ally </a>: previously Recording for the Blind &amp; Dyslexic or RFB&amp;D, is a non-profit volunteer organization which produces a library of accessible educational materials.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.loc.gov/nls/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Library Service</a>: a network of libraries that provides free library service to persons who are unable to use standard printed material.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Project Gutenberg</a>: offers over 40,000 free ebooks.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.readhowyouwant.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read How You Want</a>: an accessibility site from which you can obtain a title in whatever font size or accessibility format you desire, including DAISY and other text-to-speech editions.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.vitalsource.com/">Vitalsource</a>: an e-textbook platform that uses VitalSource Bookshelf which can be accessed online or via download, and is not tied to any one type of device.</li>
</ol>
It is the student&#8217;s responsibility to purchase all course materials and to provide proof of purchase to DAS.  If DAS is able to acquire the course material through the publisher, DAS will contact you once it&#8217;s received. In the event that DAS is unable to acquire a textbook, DAS will request your copy of the textbook to be scanned and converted. Bindings will be removed from the book in order for the process to occur and, once complete, rebound with a spiral binding. All requests will be handled in a timely manner but may vary depending on availability, size, and complexity of material.</li>
</ol>

Alternative Format, E-Text Resources, & Procedures

Instructions for<a href="https://bereaforms.wpengine.com/mc/index.php?gf-download=2023%2F07%2FDAS-How-to-Request-Alternative-Text-through-AIM1.pdf&amp;form-id=9&amp;field-id=7&amp;hash=58f7b1a0f4f092b97c48750fa50fe22aa12eaf7558402798e1383031d1a09f75" rel="attachment wp-att-97517"> Requesting Alternative Text through AIM</a>.

How to Request Alternative Text via AIM

<h1>Software and Apps</h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/ca/en/mobile/scanner-app.html">Adobe Scan</a> &#8211; Adobe Scan app for your mobile device, scan documents to PDFs, recognize text.</li>
<li><a href="https://aira.io/">Aira</a> – Visual interpreting service, get live, on-demand access to visual information.</li>
<li><a href="http://luminantsoftware.com/iphone/audionote.html">AudioNote</a> &#8211; Note-taking and voice recording &#8211; save time, improve the quality of your notes &#8211; read about <a href="http://luminantsoftware.com/iphone/audionote.html">AudioNote</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.bemyeyes.com/">BeMyEyes</a> &#8211; AI-powered visual assistance for instantaneous image-to-text generation.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.nuance.com/dragon/dragon-anywhere.html">Dragon Anywhere</a> &#8211; Professional grade mobile dictation app for Dragon NaturallySpeaking subscribers</li>
<li><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.audio.hearing.visualization.accessibility.scribe&amp;hl=en_CA">Google LIVE TRANSCRIBE</a> &#8211; Real time, transcribes speech to text anytime, anywhere on your Android device.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.livetranscribe.app/">LIVE TRANSCRIBE for iOS</a> – Real time, transcribes speech to text anytime, anywhere on you iOS device.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.grammarly.com/blog/grammarly-android-keyboard/">Grammarly Keyboard </a> –Type on the keyboard, Grammarly verifies your message is clear, effective, and mistake. Free</li>
<li><a href="https://justread.link/">JustRead</a> &#8211; View web articles in a more readable, attractive, and custom format. Free Version</li>
<li><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/seeing-ai">Microsoft Seeing AI</a> &#8211;  a free app that narrates the world around you. Designed with and for the blind and low vision community describing nearby people, text and objects.</li>
<li><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/mindmeister-mind-mapping/id381073026?mt=8">MindMeister</a> &#8211; Mind mapping for individuals or groups.</li>
<li><a href="https://morphic.org/morphic-basic/">Morphic</a> &#8211; One-click access to key built-in accessibility and usability features. FREE</li>
<li><a href="http://www.naturalreaders.com/index.html">NaturalReader</a> – text to speech for MAC or PC &#8211; <a href="https://libguides.nie.edu.sg/c.php?g=590170&amp;p=4080347">NaturalReader libguide &#8211; </a>resource for using NaturalReader by NIE. Free </li>
<li><a href="https://www.nvaccess.org/download/">NVDA</a> (NonVisual Desktop Access) – a free screen reader which enables use of the Windows Operating system. Free</li>
<li><a href="http://gingerlabs.com/">Notability</a> – Real-time audio recording and note taking &#8211; <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/notability/id360593530?mt=8">Notability</a> (iPad/Mac)</li>
<li><a href="https://sensotec.be/en/knfb-reader-becomes-onestep-reader/">OneStep Reader</a> (formerly KNFB Reader App) – convert text to speech easily anytime, anywhere &#8211; available in iOS, Android, Windows 10</li>
<li><a href="https://antijingoist.gumroad.com/l/OpenDyslexic">OpenDyslexic &#8211;</a> open-source font created to increase readability for readers with dyslexia.</li>
<li><a href="https://otter.ai/login">Otter Voice Notes </a> – Magically turn voice into sharable, smart notes that sync audio, text, and images.</li>
<li><a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/otterai/bnmojkbbkkonlmlfgejehefjldooiedp?hl=en">Otter.ai Google Chrome Extension</a> &#8211; Transcribe and caption Google Meet in real time, save audio transcripts.</li>
<li><a href="https://help.otter.ai/hc/en-us/articles/360049722894-Otter-Quick-Start-Guide">Otter Quick Start Guide</a> &#8211; Helpful step-by-step illustrated guide walks you through installation, set-up, and use.</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/TNW5IxSN26I">Otter Voice Notes instruction and information video</a> &#8211; watch Otter in action, including tips and tricks.</li>
<li><a href="https://blog.otter.ai/studentsuseotter/?fbclid=IwAR20U2DGJuOPFI7EIhhiAGpRKHH6eUFlKeBVQHlpA6wokNVrhTBg6ruy08Y">Otter Voice Notes blog post </a>how Otter changes note taking and organizing for Higher Education students.</li>
<li><a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/read-aloud-a-text-to-spee/hdhinadidafjejdhmfkjgnolgimiaplp">Read Aloud-</a>A text to speech voice reader. Reads aloud web-page articles. Chrome extension. Free</li>
<li><a href="https://getrocketbook.com/pages/how-rocketbook-works">RocketBook &#8211; Write Reuse Organize Scan &#8211;</a>Endlessly reusable notebook connected to your cloud services. Free</li>
<li><a href="https://readdle.com/scannerpro">ScannerPro 7</a> – Mobile or tablet portable scanner</li>
<li><a href="https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/seeing-ai/id999062298">Seeing AI</a> &#8211; Talking camera for low vision and blind students</li>
<li><a href="https://speechify.com/">Speechify</a> &#8211; Power through docs, PDFs, email – anything you read – by listening with our leading text-to-speech reader.</li>
<li><a href="https://speechnotes.co/">Speechnotes</a> &#8211; Take notes with your voice for free, or automatically transcribe audio &amp; video recordings on the spot. Secure, accurate &amp; fast.</li>
<li><a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/taptapsee/id567635020">Tap Tap See</a> &#8211; designed to help the blind and visually impaired identify objects they encounter in their everyday lives. Free</li>
<li><a href="https://ttsreader.com/">TTSReader</a> &#8211; reads out loud texts, webpages, pdfs &amp; ebooks with natural sounding voices.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.voicedream.com/reader/">Voice DreamReader &#8211;</a> Turn text into speech &#8211; App available in iOS and Android.</li>
<li><a href="https://help.apple.com/voiceover/info/guide/10.12/">VoiceOver</a> &#8211;Advanced screen reader built into MAC operating systems.</li>
<li><a href="https://weboutloud.io/">WebOutLoud</a> &#8211; reads aloud the contents of a web page directly in the browser, highlighting words and paragraphs as it goes.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.xmind.net/download/win/">XMind &#8211;</a>Mapping software PC/Windows &#8211; <a href="http://www.xmind.net/features/">Features</a> &#8211; <a href="http://www.xmind.net/download/mac/">XMind</a> mapping software MAC</li>
</ul>
<h2>Accessibility Features Available Within Your Laptop or Desktop</h2>
Most devices have accessibility features already built into their operating systems.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.apple.com/ca/accessibility/mac/">Apple MAC Accessibility features</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/accessibility/windows">Microsoft Windows Accessibility features</a></li>
</ul>
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Student Resources