The Alternative text format accommodation assists students with print-related disabilities by providing text in Alternative formats. Alternative formats include large print, audio, braille, and electronic formats, such as PDFs or Word documents. Often students with this accommodation use electronic files of their textbooks and other course materials with a text-to-speech component on personal computers to listen to the reading material.  Successfully using this accommodation can enable students to cut down on their reading time and increase their comprehension. Using this accommodation can enable students to comprehend more information in a shorter time and may lead to greater academic success. Using text to speech software can become a life-long skill that will increase success, not only in college, but in professional and personal lives after college. Requesting Alternative Formats  Requests for Alternative formats should be submitted four (4) weeks, prior to the beginning of the semester. These timelines will provide the DSS with sufficient time to contact instructors and other alternative media resources in order to request a copy of the text for scanning. If a copy of the text is available through any of these sources, the text will be processed into the requested format, and DSS will notify the student when the text is available. If DSS is not able to obtain a copy of the text through any resource, then DSS will need to use the student’s textbook for processing into an alternative format. The student will be notified by DSS and will be responsible for providing their textbook to DSS for processing. The same timelines as listed above should be followed when a student is providing their own text to DSS for processing into an Alternative format. Student texts will be taken apart and rebound with a spiral binding.

 Unleash Your Inner Voice with these Speech-to-Text Apps! Let your thoughts flow freely with these speech-to-text tools, designed to boost your productivity and efficiency. Microsoft Office Dictation: Your All-in-One Voice Assistant Transform spoken words into text directly within your Microsoft Office suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneNote). Dictate notes, emails, or even entire documents effortlessly. This integration makes it a seamless tool for students heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. Explore Dictation in Microsoft 365 Google Docs Voice Typing: Quick and Easy Dictation Quickly capture your ideas in Google Docs using your voice. This built-in tool is perfect for brainstorming, drafting essays, or collaborating on group projects. Its integration with Google's ecosystem allows for seamless transitions between tasks.  Learn about Voice Typing Apple Dictation: Effortless Speech-to-Text on Mac Mac users can leverage this built-in feature to convert speech to text seamlessly. Dictate documents, emails, or messages without lifting a finger. Apple's focus on user experience often results in a smooth and intuitive dictation process.  Read about Mac Dictation Remember: These tools can significantly enhance your writing process, saving time and effort. Experiment with different options to find the best fit for your workflow. Bonus Tip: Combine speech-to-text with other productivity tools like Grammarly for a powerful writing and editing combo.  Disclaimer: This list provides information about potential support apps for college students. It's crucial to use these tools ethically and responsibly. We cannot guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or suitability of the information or apps listed. Use them at your own risk. Resources: Google AI. (2024). Gemini. [Large language model]. https://gemini.google.com/ OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT-4 (Mar 14 version). [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

Your Phone's Built-in Assistants!  Your smartphone is packed with features to make your life easier. Let's explore two essential tools: talk-to-text and recording. These built-in apps can save you time, boost productivity, and help you capture important moments.  Talk-to-Text: Let Your Voice Do the Typing Tired of typing out every message and essay? Your phone's built-in talk-to-text feature can transform your spoken words into written text.  iPhone: Apple Keyboard Provides a convenient and accurate speech-to-text experience. Integrates seamlessly with other Apple devices. Offers dictation customization options. Android: Google Keyboard (Gboard) Includes a powerful speech-to-text function. Offers features like voice commands, punctuation dictation, and language support. Integrates with other Google services for a seamless experience. Recording: Capture Every Sound Your phone's recording app lets you capture audio for a variety of purposes. iPhone: Voice Memos Simple and user-friendly interface for recording voice memos. Offers basic editing tools like trimming and sharing. Automatically saves recordings to iCloud.   Android: Voice Recorder Provides a standard audio recording experience. Features may vary depending on the phone manufacturer. Often includes features like audio quality settings and file management.  Notes and Reminders: Stay Organized Keep track of ideas, to-do lists, and important information with your phone's built-in notes and reminders apps. iPhone: Notes and Reminders Offers a versatile note-taking experience with features like handwriting recognition and checklists. Allows you to set reminders for specific times, locations, or people. Android: Keep and Google Calendar Provides a comprehensive note-taking and reminder system. Syncs across devices for easy access to your information. Offers features like checklists, labels, and voice typing. Reminder: Take advantage of these tools to save time, capture ideas, and document important information. Bonus Tip: Combine talk-to-text and recording for ultimate efficiency. Dictate notes during a lecture or interview, then save the recording for later reference.  Resources: Google AI. (2024). Gemini. [Large language model]. https://gemini.google.com/ OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT-4 (Mar 14 version). [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat