The Access Centre
Accessible Format Information
Information for Students
Any student who is registered with the Access Centre and diagnosed with a print disability can request their books in an accessible format. Currently, students can choose to have their books as:
- E-Text (PDF or Word)
- Books on Tape or CD
- Please Note: Braille, large print, or DAISY CD are available but may take up to 4 weeks to produce
If you require your course textbooks in accessible format, please contact Sonya Panangaden with the name of your courses and the alternative format you prefer before your courses begin. The production of alternative format can take up to a month, so to ensure you receive your course textbooks on time, contact Sonya as soon as you know your courses. Sonya can be reached at 416.979.5000 ext. 2089 or at sonya.panangaden@ryerson.ca.
Information for Faculty, Instructors & Staff
What is accessible format?
Accessible format is simply providing traditional print books or pamphlets in a different format. Therefore, an accessible format of a printed book could be a word file or a PDF.
Some people cannot read or use regular print because of their disability. This can include people who are blind, people who have low vision, an intellectual or other cognitive disability, and some people with physical disabilities who cannot hold publications or turn pages. There are also people who have difficulties watching or hearing video presentations.
Providing accessible formats will ensure that everyone can access important information. It is also required by law, under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the new AODA.
Accessibility requirements are a component of good communications planning. It is important to consider the communication needs of your whole audience when preparing your materials.
Advanced planning and preparation of materials in multiple formats can greatly reduce the time required to respond to individual requests. This results in improved service, and makes particular sense when producing print or multimedia materials that are targeted at a population that is likely to have multiple format needs, such as our students.
Below are some of the alternatives available to help make information more accessible.
Types of Accessible Format
Large Print
An accessible format for people who have low vision. Large print materials should be prepared with a font (print) size that is 16 to 20 points or larger. This can be created in-house by using Microsoft Word, photocopying or outsourcing to the Ministry of Education.
Electronic Text
Used with screen reading software that enables people who are blind, have low vision or who have learning disabilities to hear a spoken translation of what others see on the monitor. Most common type of electronic text is Word documents and PDFs.
Braille
An accessible format for people who are blind or deaf-blind. It is a tactile system of raised dots representing letters or a combination of letters of the alphabet. Braille is produced using Braille transcription software available in the Access Center or it is outsourced to the Ministry of Education.
Audio Format
An accessible format for people with a vision, intellectual or developmental, or learning disability, and are unable to read print. The Library has an MP3 translation software that will transcribe a Word file into an Mp3 file using a synthetic voice.
Captioning (for Movies and Visual Media)
Captioning translates the audio portion of a video presentation by way of subtitles, or captions, which usually appear on the bottom of the screen. Captioning may be closed or open. Closed captions can only be seen on a television screen that is equipped with a device called a closed caption decoder. Open captions are “burned on” a video and appear whenever the video is shown. Captioning makes television programs, films and other visual media with sound accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Windowing
Windowing enables people who are deaf to read by means of a sign language interpreter what others hear in a video presentation or broadcast. The interpreter appears in a corner or “window” in the screen translating spoken word to sign language. Windowing may include open or closed captioning.
Descriptive Video Service (DVS)
DVS provides descriptive narration of key visual elements, such as the action, characters, locations, costumes, and sets, without interfering with dialogue or sound effects, making television programs, films, home videos and other visual media accessible for people with vision disabilities.
Telecommunications for Persons with Hearing Impairments
Although many people who are deaf or hard of hearing use e-mail and pagers to give and receive information, TTY (teletypewriter) is still widely used. More cell phones are now compatible with TTY and hearing aids, and as they become less expensive and easier to use, their use will be more widespread. Bell Canada Relay Service (BCRS) lets TTY users and hearing people talk to one another by phone with the help of specially trained BCRS operators. Users dictate to the operator the conversation, which is then relayed to the TTY phone. TTY conversation is then relayed to the regular phone user. This service is confidential and the only cost is any long-distance charges that would regularly apply. Local calls using this service are free.
Assistive Technologies
People with disabilities may use one or more of the following assistive technologies in communicating with others or in getting information:
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Speech input and synthesized speech output
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Screen readers, screen magnifiers, screeen projectors
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Audio recorded information
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Text telephones
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Adjustable signal level and tone on audio devices
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Volume control
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Hands-free data entry and response selection
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Intelligent word prediction software
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Alternative pointing devices, such as mouth sticks
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Keyboard controllers
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Book holders and page turners
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Touch screens
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Standardized icons
Website Accessibility
The Digital Media Projects Office provides information on accessible websites.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international organization. One of its primary goals is to develop standards, protocols and guidelines to ensure that the benefits of web-based information are accessible to all people, whatever their hardware, software, network infrastructure, native language, culture, geographical location, or physical or mental ability. More information on guidelines and suggestions for making websites accessible, appears on the World Wide Web Consortium’s (WC3) website 
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