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Accessibility

SensusAccess

SensusAccess is an online document conversion system that converts text and image-based files into more accessible formats. It can also be used to transform text and image-based files into different output formats such as audio, Braille, or e-text formats. This tool is also available in Moodle via the Brickfield Accessibility Toolkit.

SensusAccess is meant to compliment accessibility. It will not make a document fully accessible, but for images and image-based PDFs, it can create a readable, tagged document that will only require some simple additions for full accessibility.

Who can use it?

SensusAccess is available to NC State faculty, staff, and students. There is no cost associated with the use of this service. Users are free and encouraged to convert as many documents as necessary. SensusAccess is available via the request form for individual files and is also available in Moodle via Brickfield.

  • Instructors are encouraged to utilize the SensusAccess accessibility conversion feature on PDFs shared with students to ensure their readability with screen readers or text readers.
  • Staff are encouraged to utilize the SensusAccess accessibility conversion feature to help ensure that accessible documents are posted to websites. Before posting an image-based file containing text (image or PDF) to a website, staff should run it through the SensusAccess accessibility conversion feature to create a tagged PDF. From there, staff will be able to more easily complete the accessibility conversion process by manually adding a title, language, alt text, headings, and proper hyperlinks, etc.
  • Students are encouraged to use SensusAccess to convert documents or webpages to formats that may work better for them. If they prefer to listen to text, they are also encouraged to use SensusAccess to convert readings for class into MP3s.

How to use SensusAccess?

  1. Visit NC State’s SensusAccess convert a file page.
  2. Choose whether you’d like to convert a File, URL, or Text
  3. Upload your file, enter your URL, or copy and paste the text to convert
  4. Select your output format (Accessibility conversion, MP3, Braille, etc.)
  5. Based on your output format, specify your options (ex., for an accessibility conversion, choose a tagged PDF or Windows text)
  6. Enter your email address and click “Submit.”
  7. The service will run the conversion and email you the desired output. The amount of time to get it returned will depend on the size of the file.

Conversion Results

The quality of the converted file depends on the quality of the original file. A well-formatted Word document will be properly rendered into the desired output. Conversely, a scanned document with folds, smudges, tears, underlined, or skewed text may not provide the desired results. If converting this type of document to a text file, it would be helpful to review the converted document to make any necessary adjustments. Further, while SensusAccess does a good job converting a variety of input and output types, it should not be used to convert files with tables or complex formulas.

Training

The SensusAccess e-learning course covers how SensusAccess can be used to improve the accessibility of documents and to make documents easier to work with.