1. Alt-Text Production: Providing More Effective Services & Promoting Student Self-Reliance
Utah Valley University
Laura Loree, Accessibility Services Counselor
Jenna Atkinson, Assistive Technology Coordinator

2. Here’s Why We’re Different
Demographics
Open enrollment
High non-traditional student population
56% work 30+ hours/week
45% are married
23% support at least one child at home
41% are 25 or older (low-tech students)
Large international and ESL population
Unique Situation
Small lab with a small budget on a large campus
Dealing with programs ranging from tech/trade certificates to graduate degrees

3. How did we get here?
Lost long time lab coordinator overnight in the snow 5 miles uphill both ways
No trained lab staff to pick up the torch
No lab coordinator for 14 months
Laura begins supervising lab in addition to full-time counseling
Functional assessment of lab shows major deficits
Jenna assumes position during fall rush; very little experience

4. We didn’t know what we didn’t know
Improper alt-text procedures
Scanning full books at once
Using Kurzweil for OCR
No editing, no alt-tags
MP3 only: no DAISY, no Braille (inaccessible PDFs for everyone)
No ability to produce any STEM content
Reproducing same text repeatedly
No ATN requests: ALL books cut and scanned (bookstore won’t buy back)

5. There’s Gotta Be a Better Way!
Start researching how to do my job
Spoiler alert: ain’t nothing online
Weep softly under desk
Attend CSUN and AHG
Start consulting with local Assistive Tech providers
Have students scan their own books
Unedited PDFs to use with Kurzweil & Firefly
Provide MP3s on CDs

6. What Are We Gonna Do? Student’s who needed texts ASAP
Sampled TTS applications with Word documents for these students
Students LOVED it!
Text displayed while read aloud
Easily navigable
Easily customizable
Cheap/Free
Can use it anywhere
Began to utilize this method more and more for students with varying disabilities
New standard as it works most of the time

7. Text-to-Speech Applications
Natural Reader
Central Access Reader
Kurzweil
Balabolka
Reads Math X
Generate MP3
Platform
OSX, Windows, iDevices, Android
Mac & PC desktops / laptops only
PC, Mac, Ipad, Web
File types supported
PDF, Word, EPUB, HTML, copy+paste, etc
Word, copy+paste
Cost
-$69.50 desktop
-$9.99 mobile app
Free
$700+
Bonus Features
Sync documents across all platforms
Can export to HTML, HTML Flex, etc
Lots of study features, like highlighting, dictionary, etc

8. Our process specifically
Request from publisher and Bookshare first
Process books one chapter at a time
OCR done by Abbyy
Zone edits and reading order
Save PDFs and Word docs
Edit in Word, convert to needed format
Use Dolphin EasyConverter to produce DAISY or MP3 if needed
STEM Content
Students with LD: equations, formulas, etc saved as images
Students with VI: Use Infty to OCR

9. Why It Works for Us Production Distribution “One and done”
All books done as if DAISY in Word
Easily modified to any format: HTML, Braille, etc.
No alt tags needed unless visually impaired
Massive reduction in MP3 production
Distribution
PDFs and Word docs for students
Assist with downloading of CAR, NaturalReader, and Balabolka
Demonstrate built-in accessibility features on computers

10. Why It Works for Students
Students don’t have to rely on AT Coordinator for materials off LMS
Students can generate own MP3s and other file formats
Moves us closer to universal access across campus
TTS programs on every computer in every lab on campus
Composition classes using for peer review
Great for ESL students (Natural Reader translates to other languages)
Makes oral administration of exams easier

11. Where we’re going Working on perfecting project management system
Improving collaboration with the bookstore and university departments
Involving students for accessibility testing
Establishing tech plan for distance ed and satellite campuses
Working on online training modules for instructors
Educating faculty on creating their own accessible documents and PowerPoints

12. Questions?

13. Contact Us Jenna Atkinson – jenna.atkinson@uvu.edu 801-863-8868
Laura Loree –