For many textbooks that are used with the BC Curriculum, this has already been done by ARC-BC in rich text, kesi (Kurzweil-supported) or accessible pdf formats.
They have a searchable database and you can create an account. In order to download an item, you will need to specify for which designated student(s) the resource will be used. If the text is not available, you can send ARC-BC a hard copy of the book for them to create a digital copy. Please contact me if you need more support with this process.
The creators of the Google Read&Write for Chrome extension, Texthelp, also have solutions to make pdf files readable with texthelp pdf reader. Some PDF files do not require any conversion process. In Google Drive, right click on the pdf file and select open with "Google Read&Write for Chrome." This video clip explains how:
In some cases, when you attempt to open the document with "Google Read&Write for Chrome," it will state "We can't find any text in this document - it may not have been scanned using OCR"
Here are 2 options to solve this problem:
1. For smaller pdf files (<10 pages), I recommend using the PDF to Word conversion that Adobe provides. Scan the file through the printer with better resolution settings (600 dpi and grayscale). Click here for the step-wise explanation of this process.
2. For larger files, the conversion process can happen using Snapverter, a chrome app that provides up to 10 conversions for free and one free scan per week subsequently. Here's a short video to explain how Snapverter works:
Here's a chart summarizing the options that I've described: https://bcnewcurriculum.weebly.com/uploads/2/7/9/7/27977917/pdf_readability.pdf
Given that technology is progressing quickly, I am hopeful that there will soon be some better alternatives in the very near future. Let me know if you would like any support in making pdf documents accessible for your students.
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