Curriculum Access: Electronic Text (Etext)

Click here to view sources of etext.

Development of digital formats for the delivery (capture, storage and retrieval) of materials in an accessible format for people with vision impairments, for people with print disabilities, and for the general population is currently underway.

• books can be transported or stored on CD, DVD, flashdrive, laptop, desktop, personal data assistant, mp3 player, note taker etc etc
• etexts files are smaller, lighter and more portable than several volumes of large print or braille and therefore easier to store and to carry
• appropriate print size can be selected
• contrast can be optimised
• text books are increasingly available for purchase in pdf format – this format preserves the layout, full colour photographs and diagrams of the original print book and may be accessible via Adobe Acrobat Reader in conjunction with the current versions of enlarging and voice output software (eg JAWS, Window Eyes)
• using screen-reading software (eg JAWS, Window Eyes), auditory output on notetakers (eg BrailleNote, PAC Mate) or the voice output within Acrobat Reader, the text can be read using voice
• using a refreshable braille display, the text can be read in braille
• some files on the internet are already formatted for braille production or refreshable braille display
• some files on the internet are formatted for personal data assistants, MP3 players etc
• selected sections of large files can be produced in hard copy – print, large print, braille etc
• correct spelling of words may be available
• the computer’s Dictionary and Thesaurus can be used to look up the meaning of words
• the Search/Find facility can be used to search for page, chapter, word, quote etc
• quotes from the book can be Cut and Pasted into an essay or other document
• audio files (eg wav files) can be converted into MP3 format – MP3 files are much smaller so that up to 18 hours of narration will fit on one CD
• some materials are being produced in specialised formats eg DAISY and with a suitable player or computer software the text can be read in print and via natural voice or digital speech simultaneously
• downloading etext is quick compared to production of the text in braille or large print, particularly with the future introduction of satellite technologies
• etexts from selected websites are available free of charge eg public domain titles
• stand-alone hand-held devices are being developed to allow storage of and access to etext
• people with vision impairments can more easily own a book collection
• some publishers and book sellers(eg Amazon.com, Heinemann, Jacaranda) are selling texts and novels in etext format

• etext (eg class notes, research material, novels available as text/Word/html/pdf/PowerPoint files etc) can be downloaded from the internet, emailed by teachers etc. Many classics, particularly public domain titles such as the works of Shakespeare, are available as etext online for free.
• e-books (eg picture story books, novels, texts presented as PowerPoint, Word, pdf files etc) are available in growing numbers for purchase from book sellers or via the internet (eg Amazon) and can be read on computer
• CD (eg text books and curriculum materials often presented as a pdf file) can be purchased from publishers and book sellers and read on computer or note taker
• audio books on CD (eg novels) usually read by a human voice can be purchased from book sellers such as Bolinda Publishing, the ABC Shop etc or borrowed from local libraries and played on the home stereo system or computer/note taker
• specialised formats which are designed to be accessible for people with print disabilities (eg DAISY) are being produced in growing numbers and can be purchased from book sellers, downloaded from the internet, or borrowed from libraries for people with print disabilities
• MP3 (eg novels, non-fiction) is a mainstream format that is accessible by people with print disabilities. MP3 files can be played with specialised software on computer or note taker or on specialised hand-held players.
• e-braille (eg novels, non-fiction) is text formatted for embossing into braille and is downloadable from the internet eg Texas School for the Blind or available from braille production agencies. E-braille can also be read via notetakers with refreshable braille displays (eg PAC Mate, BrailleNote)
• e-writing is text which is specially formatted so that each new line begins after punctuation. E-writing is available via the internet eg Free-Books.Org

• reliant on mainstream or access technology
• free or available for purchase
• a computer file available as a text- and/or image-based or an audio file (eg doc, txt, pdf, wav)
• a file which may be able to be accessed via computer in regular or large print; as digital audio or voice recording; in refreshable braille utilising specialised hardware and/or software; in embossed braille and/or print or large print hard copy
• a file that can be played on computer/note taker, the home stereo or requiring a dedicated player (eg DAISY player)
• available from a specialist source or able to be purchased from a mainstream source

Some of the issues related to the development of a widely accepted alternative to the audio tape for people with vision impairments include:

Note: some publishers are also selling texts and novels in etext format (eg CD) - see also Alternative Format Materials: Available for Purchase and Curriculum Access: Curriculum Support Materials eg Literacy, Maths etc.

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Below are external links to a number of websites from which you can download etext and audio files (often free).

To see a list of audio players / recorders click here.

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