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Assistive Technology in the Library

Assistive Technology in the Library

The Library offers assistive technology equipment including hardware and software in the ASI Mac Lab, located on the 2nd floor of Library South near the Library Research Help Desk (see map). For more information about accessibility at the Library, visit Services for Users with Disabilities

Please contact Wei Ma (wma@csudh.edu) if you have questions or would like assistance using assistive technology in the library. 

Assistive technology room with computer.

Hardware in the Library

The Library offers the following hardware in the ASI Mac Lab: 

  • Two (2) Assistive Technology computers
  • One (1) Book scanner (How to use - a step-by-step guide)
  • Two (2) document scanners 
  • Two (2) big keyboards (BigBlue Kinderboard)
  • One (1) CCTVs
  • One (1) smart CCTV
  • One (1) 3-btn Mouse
  • One (1) Joystick
  • One (1) Air bic mouse
  • One (1) Extreme 3D Pro stick mouse
  • Three (3) electric adjustable tables
  • Headphones available for check-out from TLS Desk

Software in the Library

Assistive technology workstations in the ASI Mac Lab have the following software installed: 

SensusAccess - Software

Use SensusAccess services for:

  • How to use (a step-by-step guide)?
  • Accessibility conversions: Image and PDF files can be converted to more accessible formats (tagged PDFs, Word documents, HTML, etc.)
  • Braille services: Documents can be converted to and from contracted and uncontracted Braille. The documents can be formatted and paginated, and delivered as ready-to-emboss files in a variety of digital Braille formats.
  • Audio services: Files can be converted into plain MP3 files as well as DAISY books, including those with spoken math. MP3 audio versions are created using high-quality, customizable computer generated text-to-speech voices. 
  • E-book services: Documents can be converted into EPUB, EPUB3, EPUB3 with media overlays and Mobi Pocket (Amazon Kindle) e-book formats. Furthermore, EPUB may be converted into Mobi Pocket and vice versa. To accommodate users with low vision, the baseline of the body text in an e-book may be raised to allow for more appropriate text scaling in mainstream e-book readers.

For more information about the available output formats, please reference the conversion matrix

Benefits & Examples
All students, faculty, and staff at the CSUDH are encouraged to use SensusAccess when creating or reformatting educational or informational documents. Here are a few examples of how SensusAccess can be used:

  • Individuals with alternate format accommodations can convert documents on their own, any time of day. 
  • Struggling to get through readings? Convert documents to audio files and listen as you read along.
  • Instructors can create an accessible version of course readings formatted as scanned articles or PDFs using SensusAccess. 

User Instructions & Guides for In-Library Tools

The following documents provide instructions on how to use assistive technology in the Library and are available online and in print format in a binder in the ASI Mac Lab. 

Screen Navigation

Text to speech Conversion

Speech to Text Conversion: 

Accessibility Conversion

CopyRight and Fair Use restriction when converting your document to other media, like MP3​