美高梅官网

Accessibility Resources

Accessible Technology

Accessibility Resources offers support with:

  • Textbooks and course materials in accessible alternative formats
  • Guidance on software, hardware, apps, learning aides, and other technologies and devices that facilitate accessibility

This page contains the following topics:

Alternative Formats in Canvas

Students can download alternative formats of documents and content in their Canvas courses on demand using the Alternative Formats generator. Expand the How to Get听Alternative Formats in Canvas section below for听step-by-step instructions to use this feature in Canvas听and resources to help you get started.

Please note:听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.

  • 听article in the 美高梅官网 Knowledge Base
  • : step-by-step instructions to download alternative formats in Canvas
  • : a brief summary of the Ally alternative format generator in Canvas, including what content can be converted by Ally and which file types are available to download

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.

Software and Technologies

Accessibility Resources can provide access to and guidance on various technologies for student accommodations, as well as resources and recommendations for getting the most out of the software and devices available to students.

Free Software Available to 美高梅官网 community

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

Microsoft Office

  • 美高梅官网 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).听
  • See the听Email & Collaboration听page on the Digital Technology Solutions (DTS) site for instructions to access Office 365 online and desktop apps.

Learn more about听:

If you have a disability or questions related to accessibility, please contact the 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.

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Acrobat Pro is available to students in two ways:

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

  1. Open the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app
  2. Log in with your 美高梅官网 credentials
  3. Select 鈥渃ompany or school鈥� account听
  4. Complete DUO authentication
  5. Next, you will see a list of all the available Adobe apps, including Acrobat Pro.听
  6. Open Acrobat Pro.
  7. Log in with your student credentials. This should authenticate access under 美高梅官网鈥檚 enterprise license as long as you are currently a full-time student.

听To access Acrobat Pro听via MyDesk virtual desktop:

  1. Launch MyDesk Virtual Desktop听(there is a download or web option)
  2. Log in using your 美高梅官网 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 美高梅官网鈥檚 enterprise license as long as you are currently a full-time student.

Assistive Technology Available at 美高梅官网

The tools listed in this section are licensed by 美高梅官网 Accessibility Resources. The features they provide can help provide more accessible experiences for students and employees in their learning, teaching, and work. See the听听article in the 美高梅官网 Knowledge Base for access instructions and resources for each tool.

Read&Write

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

Access to Read&Write Premium is available to all current 美高梅官网 students and employees.听Expand the听Read&Write Access & Resources听section听below for access instructions and resources.

For听step-by-step instructions to access Read&Write Premium听and resources to help you get started using it, see the following:

  • 听in the 美高梅官网 Knowledge Base
  • :听demos听of Read&Write tools
  • :听downloads & links to apps & browser extensions

OrbitNote

听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.

Access to OrbitNote Premium is available to all current 美高梅官网 students and employees.听Expand the听OrbitNote Access & Resources听section听below for access instructions and resources.

To access OrbitNote Premium: go to the听听and sign in with your 美高梅官网 credentials.

For听step-by-step instructions to access OrbitNote Premium听and resources to help you get started using it, see the following:

  • 听in the 美高梅官网 Knowledge Base
  • : demos听of OrbitNote tools

Equatio

听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.

Access to Equatio Premium is available to all current 美高梅官网 students and employees. Expand the Equatio Access & Resources听section below for access instructions and resources.

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

  • 听in the 美高梅官网 Knowledge Base
  • :听demos听of Equatio tools
  • : downloads & links to apps & browser extensions

Freedom Scientific Products

Access to the products listed below is available to all current 美高梅官网 students and employees.听Expand the听Freedom Scientific License Access & Resources听section听below for access instructions and resources.

JAWS Screen Reader

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

ZoomText Magnifier/Reader

ZoomText听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.听See the听听on the Freedom Scientific website for details.

Fusion (JAWS & ZoomText)

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

For听step-by-step instructions to access a sponsored license for JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion听and resources to help you get started using it, see the following:

  • : step-by-step instructions to access a license for JAWS, ZoomText or Fusion for your personal device.
  • : guidance on how to use JAWS, ZoomText and Fusion.

Notetaking Support

Messenger Pigeon

Accessibility Resources provides access to Messenger Pigeon (formerly Notetaking Express) for students who have a Notetaker accommodation, either in place of or as a supplement to a volunteer peer notetaker.

Messenger Pigeon is a study app designed to enhance your learning experience through audio recordings, transcripts and summary notes.

  • To log in to Messenger Pigeon or download the desktop or mobile app, please visit the .
  • For guidance on using Messenger Pigeon, please refer to the .

Microsoft OneNote

OneNote available to 美高梅官网 students and employees as part of 美高梅官网's enterprise license to Microsoft 365

Glean

As of Spring 2024, Accessibility Resources is transitioning from听听to Messenger Pigeon.

Other Assistive Technology

The technologies listed below are not provided directly by 美高梅官网, but they are available for users to download or purchase, or are built into the operating systems of common devices.

EPUB Readers

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.听Expand the "Free EPUB Readers" section below for links to free EPUB readers.

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听听and听.

EPUB vs. PDF Comparison
Feature EPUB PDF
Layout听 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;听 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

Desktop and Mobile options:

    • Available for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS
    • Available for Mac and iOS
    • Available for Windows, Android, iOS, Amazon Kindle Fire tablets and Chromebooks
    • Available for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS

Desktop only:

    • Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux
    • Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mobile only:

    • Available for Mac and iOS

Browser only:

  • 听

Screen Readers

Windows
  • Narrator:听a screen-reading application听that is built into Windows.
  • NVDA听(Non-Visual Desktop Access): a screen-reading application that can be downloaded free of charge by anyone
    • 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
  • Mac OS
    • The offers shortcuts to quickly turn on or turn off common accessibility features such as Zoom, VoiceOver, and Sticky Keys.
  • 听听听VoiceOver
    • Apple support:听
Android

Speech-to-Text

  • Dictation features built into听
    • Windows - Voice Typing
    • Android OS - usually included in the Messages app or keyboard
    • Mac OS and iOS
    • Office 365 -听 in Word, Outlook, OneNote, and PowerPoint
    • Google Workspace
  • Dragon Speech Recognition听Software听
    • Offers powerful听speech recognition technology that includes dictation and transcription capabilities, speech commands, and other features that can improve document creation productivity.
    • See the听听for product options.
    • 美高梅官网 students and employees may be eligible for .听

Text-to-Speech

  • Features built into听
    • Windows -
    • Android OS -听
    • Mac OS & iOS (Spoken Content and VoiceOver)
    • Office 365 -听听in Outlook, OneNote, PowerPoint
    • Google Workspace
    • Digital Textbooks (e.g., RedShelf)