[Athen] AHEAD E-Text Site Update

[Ron Stewart]

I think the lesson for me at that point is if the various communities of
print disabled folks band together to work for a common solution to their
issues of access then a more wholistic solution would in all likeliness
result.  As long as it is solely the NFB and other blindness related
organizations that are pushing for change then the result will be laws that
benefit those groups to the detriment of the others.

Ron Stewart

-----Original Message-----
From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Marks, Jim
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 4:13 PM
To: Access Technologists in Higher Education Network
Subject: Re: [Athen] AHEAD E-Text Site Update

When the people who must have the access clamor for the access, the
access will eventually arrive.  It will not be neat, pretty, or kind,
but that is the nature of politics and advocacy.  The state laws may be
challenged, or, if history is to repeat itself, the abundance of state
laws will be so great that the opposition will have to join the effort.
It's like the cork is out of the bottle, and people have to cooperate to
find something that works for such diverse interests.  Can anyone really
imagine taking books away from people with print disabilities?  We've
reached a different level of understanding, and its unlikely any setback
will be permanent.  All this said, I really like the collaborative
approach that AHEAD is pursuing.  We are not going after state
legislation, and we are trying to find ways to work with publishers to
serve students well while balancing property rights.  It's right for us,
but it is not right for everyone.  I also like the NFB approach.  The
NFB has a clear sense of purpose and the machinery to affect change.
The practice of going after state laws to motivate a national solution
is one that works.  The NFB will collaborate when its suits the
organization's agenda, and it will go its own way when it must.  I can
even appreciate the views of publishers.  Publishers should never be
ripped off, and it's vital that we let individuals and corporations make
money from their products.  Thank goodness there are many voices
involved because it is the diversity that will help us reach a more just
world.





Jim Marks
Director of Disability Services
University of Montana
jim.marks at umontana.edu
http://www.umt.edu/dss/
 
-----Original Message-----
From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Ron Stewart
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 12:41 PM
To: 'Access Technologists in Higher Education Network'
Subject: Re: [Athen] AHEAD E-Text Site Update

I think the Texas bill is a good example of why we do not want state
based legislation to happen.  The NFB's lack of any national
corrdination are resulting in a direct negative impact on the
achievement of a national cooperative solution.  I think at you look at
the issue of state based etext laws you also need to look at the impact
of a court challenge on these laws, and I am of the opinion they will
then fall like a house of cards setting us all back in our work at least
a decade..  

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