Electronic books

Many publishers offer their materials in electronic forms, providing easier access and often greater affordability for students. You may assume e-books are accessible; however, some publishers use PDFs of the text that are inaccessible. Consider the following when selecting electronic texts:

1. Ask to see the text ahead of time. If it is a PDF, check the document for accessibility.
2. Ask the publisher if the material is accessible to screen readers. Some publishers may not be familiar with accessibility standards, so you should always check.
3. Ask the Office of Disability Services to run accessibility tests before you make your final decision.
4. If the text is inaccessible, push back on the publisher. With more pressure, they will continue to improve their accessibility standards.

Supplemental materials

Publishers like Pearson and McGraw Hill develop supplemental materials alongside textbooks. Examples include MyLab and Connect (Pearson) as well as LearnSmart (McGraw Hill). Most of these materials are only partially accessible.

Many publishers recognize the need to be accessible and offer options around accessible textbooks and supplemental materials. In some cases, they might distinguish accessible content using a symbol. When designing your course, select this type of material as much as possible. If you are unsure about the accessibility of a particular product, please contact the Office of Disability Services before committing, and they will run tests to help you decide what material to use.