Alternative Textbooks

Find Your Textbook in Electronic Formats

College students with disabilities which impair their ability to read printed text are required to visit Accessibility Services office to request accommodations. Once a student is determined to be eligible to receive textbooks in an alternate format, Accessibility Services will use The AccessText Network (ATN) to request electronic files from member-publishers.

Oglethorpe University has a membership to obtain books found through Access Text Network because students cannot order books themselves.

Accessibility Services will order the book for you after you complete and submit the Alternative Textbook Request Form.  Accessibility Services will process the ordered textbook into the format provided by the publisher.

Students can order their books directly from the source listed and do not need to submit the Alternate Textbook Request Form for that book. To order accessible electronic books directly from Bookshare, the National Library Service, Project Gutenberg or Vital Source, go to the link below and order your book:

  • Bookshare: “is an accessible online library for people with print disabilities.  Free memberships for qualified U.S. students and schools.” To sign up for Bookshare and obtain your electronic book, go to the Bookshare sign up page.
  • National Library Service: “is a network of regional and subregional libraries provides a free library service to persons who are unable to use standard printed material because of visual or physical disabilities. Library patrons can expect to borrow audio or braille books such as they might find in print at a local public library. Books and magazines in audio form (talking books) and braille are delivered to eligible readers by postage-free mail and are returned in the same manner. Specially designed phonographs and cassette players are also loaned free to persons who borrow talking books from their library.”
  • Project Gutenberg: “offers over 40,000 free ebooks: choose among free epub books, free kindle books, download them or read them online. We carry high quality ebooks: All our ebooks were previously published by bona fide We digitized and diligently proofread them with the help of thousands of volunteers.”
  • VitalSource: “is 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. Bookshelf apps are available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. These applications are also industry leaders in accessibility for disabled students. Information about accessibility and VitalSource can be found at the VitalSource Accessibility Support“.

 

Title III of the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 dictates that an institution must make reasonable academic adjustments, provide auxiliary aids and/or services for those individuals with a qualified disability who self identify. To determine reasonable adjustments, auxiliary aids and/or services, Student Success staff will seek current documentation of the student’s disorder/impairment, as well as, information from appropriate University personnel regarding essential standards for courses, programs, services, activities, and facilities. A reasonable academic adjustment is one that does not require a substantial change in the curriculum or alter any of the essential elements or functions of the course, program, service, or activity. Academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services are determined on a case-by-case basis and course-by-course basis.