SDS Assistive Technology

Students with the Accessible Course Content/Alternate Format Text accommodation can request their textbooks and course materials in alternate formats. Remember, you need to purchase your textbook and provide a receipt when you request! Make your request as soon as possible! While we move as fast as we can, it can take up to 3 weeks to procure alternate format copies. If you have any questions, please contact us at SDS@du.edu.

Students, please have the following information available when completing this form:

For Textbook Requests

• Book title, author, edition (if applicable), and ISBN
• Course number
• Proof of Purchase

For Canvas Content Requests

• Course number and section
• Instructor name
• Information about the specific content needed (Week, name of assignment, etc.)

• Alternate Format Text Request Form

If you receive a Letter of Approved Accommodation (LOAA) for a student with an Accessible Course Content/Alternate Format Text accommodation, your course readings need to be accessible by text-to-speech (TTS) technology. At DU, we use Kurzweil 3000 as our TTS technology. 

Please fill out the Alternate Format Request Form to get support with making course readings accessible in Kurzweil 3000.

• Alternate Format Request Form

Kurzweil 3000

Kurzweil 3000 is FREE for all DU students, faculty, and staff to use! You can check out our Kurzweil How To page for more information, tips, and tricks.

• Kurzweil 3000 is a web-based text-to-speech software that can read aloud Word documents and PDFs. 
• To sign up for Kurzweil
  • Go to:  Kurzweil log in page
  • Click “sign in with Microsoft”
  • Sign in using your DU email and password

Built-in Dictation Features

Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Apple Pages all have built in dictation features. Macbooks have a comprehensive built-in dictation as part of their standard software. 

Jamworks is an AI notetaking support platform. With Jamworks, you record your lectures, and Jamworks will create:

• AI generated notes
• AI generated summary
• AI generated audio highlights
• A full transcription of the recording
• Study tools based on the recording. 

It is a slick all-in-one platform  available to students who have been approved for the notetaking support accommodation. Check out our Jamworks How To page to learn more!

Glean for Education 

Glean for Education is an audio recording notetaking platform that will allow you to record alongside your notes. If you are approved for audio recordings in class as an accommodation, reach out to us to request an account and to learn more. Check out our Glean How To page for tips, tricks, and more information. 

Livescribe Pulse Pen

Livescribe Pens record audio while you take notes on paper. If you prefer to take notes on paper, this option is for you. If you are approved for audio recordings in class as an accommodation, reach out to us to request a pen for loan and to learn more. 

Other options

We provide Glean for Education and Livescribe Smart Pens for students with an audio recording accommodation. However, there are other technologies out there that you may wish to peruse on your own.

• Microsoft OneNote
• Notability (iOS)

Some individuals with disabilities struggle with executive functioning. There are a wealth of resources out there to support you, but sometimes it can be hard to narrow them down! Most of these tools are free, and you are welcome to purchase a subscription to any you might wish. Play around and find what is best for you!

Magic ToDo: Goblin Tools

Goblin tools can is a collection of tools designed to help neurodivergent folx with tasks they find overwhelming or difficult: 

• break down any task into manageable steps
• detect the tone of an email
• make your emails more formal
• estimate how long a task will take you. 

Habitica

Habitica is a productivity app that helps you form habits and increases productivity by gamifying your tasks. 

Forest

Forest is an app that supports your focus. Whenever you want to stay focused, you plant a tree. Staying focused for the amount of time you set allows your tree and forest to grow. 

Tomato Timer or Pomofocus

Both of these web apps use the Pomodoro method of time management. 

I-Connect

I-Connect is system that supports self-monitoring for self-advocacy, academic engagement, and pro-social behaviors. 

Mindfulness Apps

There are a variety of mindfulness apps out there! Here are a few popular ones:

• Insight Timer 
• UCLA Mindful App
• Calm

If you are a screen reader user, DU can help you get access to JAWS, NVDA, Windows Narrator or Apple VoiceOver.