Audio, Large Print, and Braille Textbooks

If you have a:

visual impairment
learning disability
physical disability

you may be interested in the borrowing program available to UW students for course-related work.

To Receive e-text, audio, large print, or Braille textbooks

Register with the UW Office for Persons with Disabilities (OPD), Needles Hall, room 1132, 888-4567 x35082.
Contact Janet Wason, Adaptive Technology Centre, Dana Porter Library, room 251C, 888-4567 x 33012 to sign up for the programs.
Request early! In some cases you will need to request items one term ahead in order to receive them in time for your courses. Start the request process as soon as you have chosen your courses. Turn-around time can be 3 to 6 weeks or longer, especially during the busy times.

How to Order textbooks in electronic and other formats

Janet will search for and order textbooks in alternate format (e.g., audiotape, Braille, large print, or e-text) for students who are registered with the OPD and have been referred by their OPD advisor.
Please provide Janet with:
1. your contact information (e-mail or phone number)
2. the book title and ISBN
3. the course number, section, and professor's name .
4. the date you purchased the textbook, and from which bookstore.
Request early! Once you've bought the textbook, and Janet has placed the request, the turn-around time can still be 3 to 6 weeks or longer.
Important: The publishers require that you purchase your textbooks before the requests can be placed. We will need to see proof of purchase.
If a textbook is unavailable from institutional suppliers, arrangements can be made to have it transcribed.
Timeliness: We endeavour to provide students with their alternate format textbooks in a timely fashion. However, due to factors beyond our control (e.g., late requests, availability of texts, unexpected workload, or the schedule of publishers and external transcription suppliers), we cannot guarantee that students will receive alternate format materials within the timelines required for their courses. If this situation occurs, please contact the Office for Persons with Disabilities for alternate support.

How to Order courseware in electronic format

Susan Shifflett in the Office for Persons with Disabilities can request the electronic files. Please contact her at sdshiffl@uwaterloo.ca You will need to purchase the print version and show the receipt.

How to Find Alternatives to Print

Contact Janet Wason for help.
Search relevant sites on the Web. Here's how . . .

Go To:
Alternative Formats to Print Sources web page.
http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/access/audiobooksources.html

Or Go To:
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
http://lcweb.loc.gov/nls/
This database shows you what is available across Canada.

| UW Library Services for Persons with Disabilities Info |