[Athen] FW: Important notes from AHEAD regarding the Access Text Network

[Ron Stewart]

Some of you are not AHEAD members so I am forwarding this on.

 

Ron Stewart

 

From: AHEAD [mailto:ahead at ahead.org] 
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 11:32 AM
To: ron at altformatsolutions.com
Subject: Important notes from AHEAD regarding the Access Text Network

 




 
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March 29, 2010 


		



Dear AHEAD members,

Many of you are using, have heard about, or are aware of the Access Text
Network (ATN) and its work in providing publisher files for the purpose of
creating accessible texts.  It is a venture of the American Association of
Publishers (AAP) implemented through the Alternative Media Access Center at
the University of Georgia.  This past year has been the Beta period.

The preliminary Beta period and free membership with ATN ends this June.  As
such, institutions who seek to continue their participation in the ATN will
need to sign new user agreements with the ATN and pay a modest fee.  

During the past several months, AHEAD has worked with ATN regarding its
process and institutional needs/concerns, especially with regard to the User
Agreement requirements.  The ATN was receptive to AHEAD's comments and
feedback regarding the User Agreement, and made some adjustments that helped
clarify terms of use and process relative to institutions, and the need to
provide effective services to students.

As people assess the utility and potential use of the ATN and other
resources, AHEAD is compelled to note certain important points for our
members' consideration.

.         ATN may be a viable short-term solution for a number of members.
Publisher files provided will likely need to be converted as they are not
user-ready.

.         AHEAD as a member of the Reading Rights Coalition (RRC) in
combination with the American Association of Publishers (AAP) and the
Author's Guild is working toward options that create equal access for all at
the same time. (see
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103244330857&s=2338&e=001sZzQdYH3p8lykW-tZ4MD
eLoR3YBCiv6gpAPwpG1mJtA4fasj3hm5wzfrthxtCbBAgm9Urns6Y97tMW9DTzyfwkCNvgpDNnM9
xhUgDO-TIrIZGTz35rEk3g98KD5Af_OmMf09yilTd6Iwq5EMoNSiTw==>
http://www.readingrights.org/2009-advocacy-update)

.         AHEAD, as noted in its previous position statement (see:
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103244330857&s=2338&e=001sZzQdYH3p8mcSUVbufEY
By4Ml7fVrwZ2OnZz_PuYEFq3s82An7zwkxZbmwwJV5dkS4WbS3YeqlvGCRqf3XpIy1bKfUytjwuq
2cyxXXmHIPmqEptRYVgHn8SnSzeroNkGrFL0uBcpC2dnoD3D7RVEE2HbH1gPwEnW>
http://ahead.org/resources/e-text/position-statement), continues to
acknowledge the rights of institutions under the Chaffee Amendmentand the
fair use doctrine, to create and provide accessible formats of instructional
materials as an accommodation to students with disabilities.  Therefore,
AHEAD advises members to seek advice of their own university counsel
regarding any question as to whether your institution may be relinquishing
rights it wishes to retain by signing the ATN User Agreement.

.         The User Agreement allows ATN/Publishers to ask an institution to
"provide documentation evidencing its compliance."  The issues of what
documentation is expected or required, and who would have access to that
documentation remain unclear.  AHEAD asserts that appropriate
confidentiality and privacy of student records and/or documentation needs to
be maintained.

.         AHEAD will continue to focus on new ways to help institutions
provide direct, immediate access (as opposed to converting texts).

In summary, consistent with philosophy and practice, AHEAD's involvement in
the creation or improvement of any resource that may be beneficial in
providing equity of opportunity to students with disabilities in
postsecondary education does not constitute or imply any endorsement of that
resource.  That said, AHEAD feels strongly that its members and member
institutions should, in all instances,  enter into agreements that have been
reviewed and approved by institutional  legal counsel and signed by an
institutionally authorized signatory.

AHEAD looks forward to continuing to provide you with updated information
and resources as they become available.  If you have specific questions
about this particular issue, please contact me at:
<mailto:m.shuttic at okstate.edu> m.shuttic at okstate.edu

Sincerely,

Mike Shuttic, President
AHEAD 

 

  _____  

	
	
	

 


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