[Athen] Online eBook Accessibility

Sean Keegan skeegan at stanford.edu
Fri Mar 28 16:37:29 PDT 2014


I have been able to get a Kindle book that is not TTS enabled to read using NVDA in the Kindle for PC application as well as by using the copy/paste method into other applications. I also got it to work on a Kindle Fire HDX using the Accessibility option in Settings.

I am going to check into any specific settings to see if that may have been the difference. It may be a device-specific issue where the TTS support is either respected or ignored.

take care,
sean

On Mar 28, 2014, at 4:00 PM, "KRISTA L. GREEAR" <greeark at uw.edu> wrote:


> It is my understanding that yes, the book have to be TTS enabled by Amazon.

>

> Krista Greear

> Access Text & Technology Manager

> Disability Resources for Students

> (206) 543-8924

> disability.wa.edu

> From: athen-list [athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu] on behalf of Jeremy Zhe-Heimerman [Jeremy.Zhe-Heimerman at cortland.edu]

> Sent: Friday, March 28, 2014 12:22 PM

> To: Access Technology Higher Education Network

> Subject: Re: [Athen] Online eBook Accessibility

>

> I’m glad to hear that Natural Reader worked for you, as I have many students who prefer that, but I’ve never been able to get it to work with Kindle to PC, even with the Accessibility Plugin. Did the books have to be TTS enabled by Amazon?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Jeremy Zhe-Heimerman, MS, MAT

> Coordinator, Assistive Technology and Test Administration Services

> B-204, Memorial Library

> SUNY Cortland

> 81 Prospect Terrace - PO Box 2000

> Cortland, NY 13045

>

> Phone: (607) 753-2358

> Fax: (607) 753-5495

>

> From: KRISTA L. GREEAR [mailto:greeark at uw.edu]

> Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2014 3:31 PM

> To: Access Technology Higher Education Network

> Subject: Re: [Athen] Online eBook Accessibility

>

> I had a similar situation with a student this week. They wanted to be able to use TTS with the Kindle books they purchased. They have the Kindle to PC w/ Accessibility Plug in software on their Windows computer. I tested and was able to get Natural Reader, Balabolka and CAR (Central Access Reader) to read the Kindle book in the Kindle to PC software. The student doesn't want to have to learn how to use a screen reader (VoiceOver or NVDA) as they are sighted and find the additional navigation cues annoying. Thankfully, using Kindle books in this manner prevented the student from having to learn how to use another piece of software as the 3 TTS engines worked for me.

>

> Krista Greear

> Access Text & Technology Manager

> Disability Resources for Students

> (206) 543-8924

> disability.wa.edu

> From: athen-list [athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu] on behalf of Wink Harner [foreigntype at gmail.com]

> Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 12:27 PM

> To: Access Technology Higher Education Network

> Subject: [Athen] Online eBook Accessibility

>

> Hi out there in ATHEN-Land,

>

> Anyone have any first-hand experience with the use of screen readers or TTS readers with online textbook sources such as:

> - Chegg

> - CourseSmart

> - GooglePlay-

> - Kindle

> - Kno

> - Vital Source

>

> Publisher denied a PDF file and suggested the student purchase one of the electronic versions of the requested book from the sources (above). Student’s preference is PDF, but if he can get the file to read aloud, he may be OK. I have asked him for his preference.

>

> What experience do any of you have in the TTS capabilities on any of those e-book sources listed?

>

> Let me know!

>

> Thanks in advance for your collective knowledge.

>

> Wink Harner

> foreigntype at gmail.com

> 480-984-0034

>

>

> _______________________________________________

> athen-list mailing list

> athen-list at mailman13.u.washington.edu

> http://mailman13.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/athen-list


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