Alternative Format Plan
Purpose
Background
In compliance with laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), LESD ensures that students with disabilities can access school health information and communications in appropriate and accessible formats. These may include large print, audio, Braille, electronic files, and other alternatives. LESD remains committed to equity, accessibility, and creating an inclusive educational environment for all students.
To support compliance, the District has designated the following ADA Coordinator:
Accessibility to Alternative Formats
Examples of available alternative formats include:
- Large Print
- Audio Recordings
- Braille
- Electronic Formats (screen reader compatible)
- Captioning / Closed Captioning
- Text-to-Speech and Voice-to-Text Technologies
The appropriate format will depend on the individual's needs and the type of information being communicated.
Steps to Provide Alternative Formats:
- A request is submitted by a parent, teacher, or healthcare provider to the student’s health care team.
- The student is assessed to evaluate the need and benefit.
- The accommodation is documented in the student’s health care plan (IEP, IFSP, 504, or similar).
- If a physical item is required, it is authorized and ordered.
- If the service is external (e.g., ASL interpreter), LESD arranges it through contracted providers.
- Upon fulfillment, the service or item is delivered to the student, and training is provided as needed.
All services and accommodations are delivered in a timely manner and without discrimination.
Coordination with Medi-Cal
As a Medi-Cal service provider, LESD verifies whether students or families have existing alternative format requests on file with Medi-Cal. This is done via quarterly reports provided by the district’s Medi-Cal billing vendor.
The Medi-Cal billing coordinator shares this information with healthcare teams to ensure plans are updated accordingly. Any new requests are reported to Medi-Cal using the Alternative Format Request portal: https://afs.dhcs.ca.gov/
This coordinated effort ensures LESD remains compliant while supporting equitable access to health information for all students.