Student Options for Text Books
Option A
You may order your college text books in audio or electronic format from Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic if you are a member. Fill out an individual membership application & pay $75.00 to become a member. Books may be ordered in 4 track tapes or CD's. You will need to purchase or borrow a special tape player or CD player. Software/equipment purchase information is available from the web site below. Michigan State Library will loan you a 4 track tape player while you are a student.
1). Go to http://www.rfbd.org/membership_indapp.htm
2). Be sure to follow the instructions for INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP.
3). Complete ALL *REQUIRED FIELDS*
4). Click the "CONTINUE" button at the bottom of the page. Make sure everything is correct & filled in, then click "PRINT"
5). SIGN THE FORM & INCLUDE STATEMENT FROM DOCTOR.
6). Mail form with check or credit card # to:
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic
Attention: Member Services
20 Roszel Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
7). You may also fax the completed form with signature & payment to 609-987-8116
8). Students applying for individual membership MUST ALSO FILL OUT the COPYRIGHT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM: @ http://www.rfbd.org/copyright%20indiv.htm
IF you are a member and your book is not available for RFBD, contact The Office of Disability Services.
Option B
Text-to-speech technology is another option for you to consider. Also called screen readers, this option involves utilizing a scanner and PC with special software. Students scan their textbooks and reading material and the computer reads it back. A scanner and a screen reading program is available in SVSU's open computer labs on a first come, first serve basis. You must bring your own headphones with a long cord.
Students can purchase a scanner & screen reading software to use on their own computer. This option offers students the satisfaction of autonomously meeting their own needs using assistive technology to manage information transfer. The following web sites are just some of the software programs available online:
Textaloud: http://www.nextup.com/
Read Please: http://www.readplease.com/
E-Text Reader: http://www.readingmadeez.com/
Read & Write Gold: http://www.texthelp.com/
Either option is appropriate for post-secondary students. The choice is yours!!!