Accessible Course Materials

St. Louis Community College provides accessible course materials to help students access their textbooks and other class resources. If you receive an email with a link to your accessible textbook, follow the steps below to download and open the files on your computer.

How to Download Accessible Textbooks From OneDrive

Before you begin, find the email from Scott Armstead containing the link to your textbook in Microsoft OneDrive. The example screenshots below use the textbook Give Me Liberty. Your textbook name and some screen options may look different.

Step 1: Open Your Textbook Email

Open the email from Scott Armstead and select the link to the shared textbook folder or the Open button. This opens your textbook in Microsoft OneDrive.

Example email containing a shared OneDrive textbook folder and an Open button.

Step 2: Download Your Textbook Files

In OneDrive, open the folder for your textbook. Then select Download from the toolbar near the top of the page.

Example OneDrive folder containing files for the textbook Give Me Liberty.

OneDrive textbook folder with the Download command highlighted near the top of the screen.

Your textbook will download as a ZIP file, which is a compressed folder containing the files that make up your book.

Step 3: Save Your Downloaded File

If your computer asks where to save the ZIP file, choose a location you can easily find, such as a Textbooks folder on your desktop. You can also rename the file with your textbook's title so it is easier to recognize later. Then select Save.

Windows Save As window showing options to choose a folder and enter a file name.

Tip: If your browser downloads the file automatically, look in your Downloads folder.

Step 4: Extract the ZIP File

Find the ZIP file you downloaded. On Windows, open the ZIP file and select Extract all to unpack the textbook files.

Windows File Explorer displaying a downloaded textbook ZIP file and extraction options.

Choose where to save the extracted files. You can select Show extracted files when complete to open the folder automatically. Then select Extract.

Windows extraction window showing the destination folder, Show extracted files when complete checkbox and Extract button.

Step 5: Open Your Textbook Files

After extraction is complete, open the new folder containing your textbook files. You can now open the files using a compatible application or assistive technology.

Windows File Explorer displaying the textbook files after the ZIP folder has been extracted.

Need Help With Your Course Materials?

If you need help downloading your textbook, organizing files or using accessible course materials, contact Scott Armstead, the district-wide assistive technology coordinator, at sarmstead7@stlcc.edu.

Using ReadSpeaker TextAid With Course Materials

Some textbook files may not work with every reading tool. ReadSpeaker TextAid provides text-to-speech support that can help you listen to accessible text. File compatibility may vary depending on the format.

If you need help accessing ReadSpeaker TextAid or using it with your course materials, contact Scott Armstead.