Alternate Format Remediation: Best Practices & Faculty Checklist
When instructors share course materials early and on time, our Alternate Format specialists can create fully accessible files for students to engage with your course content alongside their peers. Below are a concise Best Practices Guide and a Faculty Checklist outlining simple steps to make this possible.
Providing course materials in advance is the most effective way to ensure that students receive accessible materials without delay. Your proactive engagement results in an enormous impact for your students - thank you!
Best Practices Guide for Faculty
1. Submit Materials Early
To ensure every student receives fully accessible materials on time, please share course materials at least 4-5 business days before they are needed in class, and ideally 5-7 days before any exam. Refer to this detailed timeline for different file types.
2. Provide source files and distributed files
Include the editable original source file (e.g., Word, LaTex, PowerPoint, etc.) and the version shared with students (e.g., PDF, etc.). This enhances conversion speed and accuracy.
3. Submit final versions and typed materials
Avoid handwritten notes or drafts, which require additional processing time and subject-matter experts for transcription.
4. Include visual media details
- Images: Supply alternative text (alt text) for images you wish to describe
- See the SU alt text guide
- Videos: Include video links or downloadable files
5. Keep us in the loop
Notify the Alt Format team of new course materials, date changes, or potential delays as soon as possible. Reach out anytime with questions - we’re here to help!
6. Request accessible content for future use
We are happy to provide you with the remediated files we produced for your future use. Published textbooks and journal articles undergo case-by-case review, based on copyright considerations.
Faculty Checklist for Alt Format
- Canvas access to the course site in the TA role
- Course Syllabus
- Schedule of readings, assignments, and exams
- For readings, lectures, handouts, exams, and quizzes:
- Editable, original source file (e.g., Word, LaTex, PowerPoint, etc.)
- Final file distributed to students (e.g., PDF, etc.)
- Alternate text descriptions for images that are not decorative
- Video links or downloadable video files
Additional questions about alternate format remediation? Visit our FAQs page. Reach out to OAE directly at oae-alternateformat@stanford.edu.
Discover how our world-class Alternate Format Specialists transform Stanford University course materials into exceptionally accessible files. We deliver accessible braille (including Nemeth for STEM content), tactile graphics, large-print, HTML for screen readers, MusicXML scores, and more that your student may need for access in your course.