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Converting documents

Student working on a laptop
Student working on a laptop
Image courtesy of UAL

Convert your files into alternative formats for better accessibility.

SensusAccess

Use the online tool SensusAccess to convert PDFs, web pages or other type of documents into alternative formats.

How to use SensusAccess

  1. Go to SensusAccess and upload your document.
  2. Select the format you prefer. Depending on your source format, you can convert to:
    • an audio file such as MP3
    • a Word document
    • e-book format such as EPUB
    • a Braille document.
  3. Enter your UAL email address.
  4. You'll receive the converted file by email.

Please ensure that SensusAccess is not used for the conversion of personal and sensitive data.

Blackboard Ally in Moodle

Blackboard Ally is an accessibility tool in Moodle. You can download many of the documents uploaded to Moodle in an alternative format. The formats available include:

  • Tagged PDFs
  • HTML
  • EPUB
  • MP3 audio format
  • BeeLine Reader (bionic reading).

For more information, go to the page Moodle just got more accessible with Blackboard Ally.

PDF Scanner apps for iOS or Android

Microsoft Lens

Use the Microsoft Lens app on your phone to take a picture of a whiteboard, book page or any other document and save it to Office 365.

The optical character recognition (OCD) feature makes text editable and searchable. Your OCD document will be accessible to use with Text-to-speech software or a screen reader.

Get the free Microsoft Lens app from your app store and then sign into Office 365 with your UAL credentials.

Adobe Scan

  • Get the free Adobe Scan app from your app store
  • Log in to Adobe with your UAL credentials
  • Use your phone to scan a document, book or whiteboard
  • Select Save PDF
  • Select Export PDF
  • Choose Convert to Word (or any other available format)