Courtney Meyer
For organizations with limited technical ability to meet the needs of individuals with print-related disabilities, meeting the legal obligations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires external assistance. In 2006, the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities anticipated this need and looked beyond its mission of leading Michigan State University in maximizing ability and opportunity for persons with disabilities to assist other agencies to do the same. By producing alternative format texts in compliance with federal copyright provisions, Michigan State University upholds a reputation for inclusive academic excellence and exemplifies the expertise of the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities in fulfilling accessibility needs.
In completing alternative formatting requests, the RCPD uses a sophisticated software package called ABBYY Fine Reader to recognize books that are electronically scanned. A trained student technician, often a member of the sophomore honorary organization Tower Guard, tells the computer whether the page contains text, charts, or photographs, and verifies that the text has been processed without errors. The books may be converted into audio, electronic, or graphic formats, and then rendered in whichever format works best for the individual utilizing the material.
(An MSU student reads a graph printed in Nemeth Braille.)
Once the accessible materials needs of registered MSU students and staff are met, the RCPD's capabilities are available to assist requests from other educational organizations. Several types of individuals require alternative/accessible versions of textbooks including those who are blind, visually impaired, those who experience a physical disability preventing them from turning pages or holding books, or manifest a documented reading-related learning disability. Thus far the service has been most helpful to Michigan universities and agencies serving persons with disabilities, but it is available to a nationwide audience desiring to improve accessibility while meeting ADA requirements. The RCPD is featured on the American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.'s Louis database of accessible materials. The center's productive ability is also represented on the Michigan Association of Higher Education and Disabilities' listserve, informing other university disability offices of our capacity to assist them where warranted. While other universities and agencies produce alternative format texts, Michigan State University is unique in its ability to produce text in Nemeth (i.e., math) Braille and with tactile graphics, which requires the presence of technical staff who read math and scientific Braille. As Media Access Specialist Dr. Tom Hwang explains, the center's decision to invest in specialized technology reflects its long-standing achievements in accessibility and accommodation. "MSU's top administrators, the RCPD's leadership, and a team of devoted staff invest in specialized technology for persons with disabilities and agree that alternative format production is a strong, necessary service for full inclusion and accessibility."
The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that universities and organizations accommodate the unique needs of people with disabilities to ensure programmatic accessibility. For organizations or universities with smaller populations of individuals with disabilities, or those lacking the ability to fulfill complex client needs, the skill and capacity of the RCPD is much appreciated.