Sensus Access

What is Sensus Access?

SensusAccess is a self-service solution for staff and students to convert files to format based on individual needs. SensusAccess allows the conversion of documents such as image PDFs, JPGs, text files and others to a range of alternative file formats such as: eBook, text file, audio (MP3, DAISY) or braille.

SensusAccess allows anyone with a email account to upload a document and convert it to a more accessible format. The service is fully automated. Documents you submit to the service are automatically deleted once they have been converted. SensusAccess does not store personal information.

The service is not just for staff and students with a specific learning difficulty, it’s helpful for anyone who would like a document converted into a different format, such as from PDF to an editable Word document or converting your revision notes into an audio file to listen to. Please refer to conditions of use for further information on what can be converted.

What formats can I choose?

Documents can be converted into EPUB, EPUB3, EPUB3 with media overlays and Mobi Pocket (Amazon Kindle) eBook formats. Furthermore, EPUB may be converted into Mobi Pocket and vice versa. To accommodate users with low vision, the base line of the body text in an eBook may be raised to allow for more appropriate text scaling in mainstream eBook readers.

Transcription of documents in contracted and uncontracted Braille in accordance with the Braille code for Unified English Braille (UEB) as well as the national systems for Bulgarian, Danish, British English, American English, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovenian and Spanish. The documents can furthermore be formatted, paginated, and delivered as ready-to-emboss files in a variety of digital Braille formats.

Conversion into plain MP3 files as well as DAISY Talking Books, including DAISY books with spoken math. The audio conversion features currently include high-quality voices for Arabic, Arabic/English bilingual, Bulgarian, British and American English, Danish, Dutch, German, Greenlandic, French, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovenian, and Castilian and Latin American Spanish.

Otherwise inaccessible documents such as image files in GIF, TIFF, JPG, BMP, PCX, DCX, J2K, JP2, JPX, DJV and image-only PDF, as well as all types of PDF files can be converted to more accessible formats including tagged PDF, DOC, DOCX, Word XML, XLS, XLSX, CVS, text, RTF and HTML. The service also supports conversion of Microsoft Office documents into tagged PDF files. Microsoft PowerPoint presentations can be converted into RTF files and web-projects.

Restrictions when using Sensus Access

Sensus Access can only be used for converting documents/resources that:

  • You own the copyright of, eg resources you have written/authored or;
  • You have permission to convert from the copyright holder or;
  • The copyright has expired or;
  • The document conversion is for someone with a print disability

Reminder disclaimer: You must not submit any personal, special category or sensitive data about yourself or others to be converted or any information that is commercially or confidential to the University or any student, employee or affiliate of the University

Conditions of Use

In using Sensus Access you are agreeing that:

  • the copy won't be shared with others
  • the copy is for non-commercial use
  • you will abide by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, Section 31A (Disabled persons: copies of works for personal use)
  • you will abide by the Data Protection Act 2018

Help and Guidance

The Sensus Access e-learning course is intended for students, staff, faculty and others who are converting material into alternate formats such as audio books, eBooks, digital large-print and Braille, either for themselves or on behalf of others. Additional resources including help guides and best practice advice can be found on the Sensus Access webpages.

There is also a video detailing how to use Sensus Access which is available in the Accessibility section of the Library's induction module on LEARN. 

For further advice on the use of SensusAccess, please email library@lboro.ac.uk