Accessibility Resources

Accessible Technology

Accessibility Resources can support students with textbooks and course materials in accessible formats. Additionally, students can find guidance on software, hardware, apps, learning aids, and other technologies and devices that facilitate accessibility

Class Materials

Information and resources on textbooks/class materials in accessible formats can be found on the Class Materials page.

Assistive Technology at UC

The tools listed in this section are licensed by UC. The features they provide can help provide more accessible experiences for students and employees in their learning, teaching, and work.

See the Free Accessibility Technology for UC Students and Employees article in the UC Knowledge Base for access instructions and resources for each tool.

Students can download alternative formats of documents and content in their Canvas courses on demand using the alternative formats generator.

Please note: The alternative formats provided in Canvas are not intended to replace the accommodation process, but are offered as one of many options for students to access content independently.

How to generate alternative formats in Canvas:

For more details about the alternative format options available via Ally and guidance on selecting the format that works for you, see the resources linked below.

Read&Write

Read&Write offers a collection of literacy support tools that assists with everyday tasks like listening to text, creating study notes, writing, proofreading, and more.

Read&Write Premium is available to all current UC students and employees. 

Instructions to access Read&Write Premium and resources to help you get started:

OrbitNote

OrbitNote offers a collection of tools that make PDFs more accessible and interactive. OrbitNote can scan an image or PDF and generate searchable text, which you can listen to within the app or export to read aloud with your preferred tool. It also offers reading and study support tools such as highlighting, drawing and annotation, and vocabulary support.

Equatio Premium is available to all current UC students and employees.

To access OrbitNote Premium: go to the OrbitNote login page and sign in with your UC credentials.

Instructions to access OrbitNote Premium and resources to help you get started:

Equatio is an equation editor that can generate editable digital math and offers ways to make math more accessible: type, write/draw, dictate, and listen to mathematical expressions, convert images of math to editable math, and more.

Equatio Premium is available to all current UC students and employees.

For instructions to access Equatio Premium and resources to help you get started using it, see:

Access to the products listed below is available to all current UC students and employees. 

JAWS Screen Reader

JAWS (Job Access With Speech) converts text and other information from your computer applications into speech or braille. See the JAWS product page on the Freedom Scientific website for details.

ZoomText Magnifier/Reader

ZoomText is a fully integrated magnification and reading program that can enlarge and enhance everything on your computer screen, echo your typing and essential program activity, and read documents, web pages, and email aloud. See the ZoomText product page on the Freedom Scientific website for details.

Fusion (both JAWS & ZoomText)

A single Fusion license & installation gives you access to both JAWS and ZoomText. See the Fusion product page on the Freedom Scientific website for details.

Instructions to access a sponsored license for JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion and resources to help you get started:

Other Assistive Technology

The tools listed in this section are not licensed by UC, but the features they provide can help provide more accessible experiences for students and employees in their learning, teaching, and work.

EPUB (Electronic Publication) is a file format that is often used for eBooks and other digital publications. The format is reflowable, which means that the content can adapt to different screen sizes, orientations, and resolutions automatically, so it can be read on a wide range of desktop and mobile devices.

To open an EPUB file, you need an EPUB reader program on your device. 

EPUB Features

Useful functions offered by EPUB files and readers include:

  • compatibility with text-to-speech tools
  • the ability to search the entire publication
  • resizable text
  • bookmarking & annotation tools
  • convenience of use on a mobile device

For more information about EPUBs, please see Publuu's What Is Epub? The Complete Guide and LifeWire's What is an EPUB and How Do I Open It?.

EPUB vs. PDF Comparison
Feature EPUB PDF
Layout  Text adjusts to different screen sizes Layout stays the same on all devices
Reflowable Content Can adjust text size & spacing Cannot adjust text size or spacing
Compatibility Requires EPUB readers or app Can be opened on most devices
Interactivity Can include audio, video, hyperlinks, chapter & section bookmarks;  Can include audio, video, hyperlinks, chapter & section bookmarks
Printing Not ideal for printing Prints as it appears on screen
Text to Speech Compatible with text to speech Not always compatible with text to speech
Searchable Text Can search text Can search text if OCR'd

Free EPUB Reader Apps

Desktop and Mobile options:

Desktop only:

Mobile only:

Browser only:

Windows

  • Narrator: a screen-reading application that is built into Windows.
  • NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access): a screen-reading application that can be downloaded free of charge by anyone
    • NVDA download page
    • NVDA is open source software, which means the code is accessible to anyone. This enables translators and developers around the world to continually contribute to its expansion and improvement.

Mac and iOS

Android

Speech to text, or voice typing, is a tool that generates text based on what you say aloud.

  • Read&Write offers Talk&Type
  • Dictation features built into 
    • Office 365 apps - Dictate in Word, Outlook, OneNote, and PowerPoint
    • Windows - Voice Typing
    • Android OS - usually included in the Messages app or keyboard
    • Mac OS and iOS
    • Google Workspace
  • Dragon Speech Recognition Software 
    • Offers powerful speech recognition technology that includes dictation and transcription capabilities, speech commands, and other features that can improve document creation productivity.
    • See the Nuance online store for product options.
    • UC students and employees may be eligible for academic pricing. 

Text to speech tools read text aloud.

Free Software for the UC Community

The following software is available through Digital Technology Solutions (DTS).

Acrobat Pro is available to students in two ways:

To access Acrobat Pro on the computers on the 4th floor of Langsam Library:

  1. Open the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app
  2. Log in with your UC credentials
  3. Select “company or school” account 
  4. Complete DUO authentication
  5. Next, you will see a list of all the available Adobe apps, including Acrobat Pro. 
  6. Open Acrobat Pro.
  7. Log in with your student credentials. This should authenticate access under UC’s enterprise license as long as you are currently a full-time student.

To access Acrobat Pro via MyDesk virtual desktop:

  1. Launch MyDesk Virtual Desktop (there is a download or web option)
  2. Log in using your UC username and password
  3. Open the "Student Desktop"
  4. Once the virtual desktop loads, there should be a shortcut on the desktop for Adobe Creative Cloud
  5. Open Acrobat Pro
  6. Log in with your student credentials. This should authenticate access under UC’s enterprise license as long as you are currently a full-time student.

Microsoft Office

  • UC students can use Office 365 or download the Office apps (desktop versions) to their own devices (on up to 5 PCs or Macs, 5 tablets, and 5 smartphones). 
  • See the Email & Collaboration page on the Digital Technology Solutions (DTS) site for instructions to access Office 365 online and desktop apps.

Learn more about accessibility in Microsoft Office 365 products:

If you have a disability or questions related to accessibility, please contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for technical assistance. The Disability Answer Desk support team is trained in using many popular assistive technologies and can offer assistance in English, Spanish, French, and American Sign Language.