List members might be interested in two new resources from JISC TechDis, in collaboration with the Publishers Association, which support the delivery of materials in alternative formats to meet the needs of people with a range of disabilities in further and higher education.
Publisher Lookup UK enables education providers and publishers to source electronic formats of textbooks for students with disabilities more quickly and efficiently than existing processes allow. Currently publishers generally provide one of two digital formats - either an e-book or a PDF - but sourcing more accessible formats can be a complex undertaking both from the publishers' and the users' points of view. Publisher Lookup UK provides mechanisms for simplifying request, delivery and access processes between the education and research sectors and UK publishers. The site currently provides links to over 150 imprints and additional guidance on making PDFs accessible to users with a range of disabilities.
The second resource - Guide to Obtaining Textbooks in Alternative Formats - provides guidance to teaching, learner support and library staff or anyone who needs to provide text books in alternative formats for reading-impaired learners. Disability law protects disabled learners by requiring institutions to make adequate provision for disabled students, including the provision of alternative formats in a timely manner. People with a range of disabilities benefit from alternative formats and many learners with disabilities are struggling with traditional printed texts despite alternatives being available.
The new guide not only helps institutions fulfil their legal obligations, but also supports staff to better understand and provide for the needs of their disabled students. JISC TechDis will be disseminating the guide to higher and further education institutional library teams across the UK by the end of July.
For further information please go to:
Publisher Lookup UK - www.publisherlookup.org.uk <http://www.publisherlookup.org.uk/>
Alternative formats guide - www.techdis.ac.uk/getaltformat <http://www.techdis.ac.uk/getaltformat>
JISC TechDis - www.techdis.ac.uk
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