Student Disability Services (SDS) provides required textbooks in alternative formats for ease and accessibility to students who qualify. 

Requesting materials

Eligible students must submit a separate request for each book or course pack.

To request your textbooks in alternative format:

1. Complete the SDS Media Request form for each title. Or, email sds-media@uiowa.edu your textbook and resources list generated from MyUI.
2. Email proof of purchase (image of the receipt or order confirmation) to sds-media@uiowa.edu.

Once the request is completed and the proof of possession is received, you will receive an email from SDS Media Services with instructions on how to access the file.

SDS recommends that students contact their instructor as well as the bookstore to acquire accurate information for their request. Requests should be submitted to SDS no later than two weeks before the start of a semester in order to ensure the timely processing of requests. With each form submitted, a student must also email a copy of the receipt or order confirmation to sds-media@uiowa.edu in accordance with copyright law. Students will be allowed access to reformatted materials after satisfying this condition.

Library and research resources

For assistance with materials from the University of Iowa Libraries please refer to this page on their website: Assistance for People with Disabilities.

Read&Write Gold

Read&Write Gold is a literacy software with support tools for reading, writing, research, and studying. Students may install this software for free by using the following link along with their HawkID and password: Download Read&Write Gold. If you have any issues with downloading the software, contact the ITS Helpdesk.

For training guides, reference cards, and other support visit our Read&Write Gold website.

Conditions and copyright law

Materials distributed in alternative formats are intended solely for purposes of auxiliary aids to students with disabilities accessing University of Iowa courses. Physical media (e.g., PDF or Doc file) is the property of the distributor, and text content is property of the copyright holder. Therefore, reformatted material must not be copied or shared with others as a matter of copyright law. In compliance with copyright law, SDS seeks permission of the copyright holder to convert copyrighted materials to alternative formats on a case-by-case basis.