Alternate Format Faculty FAQ

The majority of the students with this accommodation at ºÚÁÏÉçÇøÍø require the provision of accessible (readable) electronic files, which students access using software or apps on their computers, tablets and phones.

FAQs

Alternate format refers to the conversion of academic materials to accessible formats for students with a variety of disabilities, including: 

  • Learning disabilities (e.g., dyslexia, processing disorders)
  • Blindness or low vision
  • Physical impairments that make it difficult to manipulate print materials

The Alternate Format Team is responsible for creating alternate format textbook materials for students with this accommodation upon request. Please forward any requests from students for alternate format to dsafpac@colordo.edu.Ìý

Yes, faculty are responsible for ensuring their course materials on Canvas are accessible with screen readers. Please visit Instructor Guidance: Alternate Format Accommodations for information on how to check your materials for accessibility.

Make sure all of your course textbooks are listed with the CU Bookstore. This ensures that students can see what materials they need and the Alternate Format Team can start remediating those materials before courses begin. Avoid adding new materials during the semester. If you need to add new materials to your course during the semester, ensure that they are available to students at least two weeks before they are needed, in case the accommodated student needs the Alternate Format Team to remediate the materials.

The Alternate Format Team provides this service at no cost to students.

The Alternate Format Team will prepare all alternate format materials for student exams as needed. Please submit materials directly to testing@colorado.edu.

There sure is! The Digital Accessibility team on campus has a plethora of resources for creating accessible content and incorporating universal design for learning (UDI) in the classroom. Please see the links below:

  1. Student Consultation: The Alternate Format Team works individually with students to determine their specific needs.
  2. Material Collection: Students provide a list of required textbooks and additional course materials.
  3. Remediation Process: The team converts materials into accessible formats based on student needs and the quality of the original file.Ìý

Ongoing Support: Students may require additional materials throughout the semester. Faculty should respond promptly to any requests for clearer copies or additional information.

  • Submit syllabi and reading orders early to help Disability Services and Student Testing Center prioritize materials.
  • Provide high-quality digital documents instead of scanned, marked up, or unclear PDFs.
  • Respond quickly to requests for clearer copies or additional details about course materials, as files can take anywhere between 20 minutes to 100+ hours to remediate.