[Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial

[Joseph Polizzotto]

Hi Everyone:

There's a lot to say about this topic!

I agree with Susan that we need to make our voices heard. This is not an
either/ or scenario. If both a PDF and an EPUB exist, we should have the
ability to request the format that our students want. That should not be
the publishers' decision.

At the same time, I think we should continue to encourage publishers'
efforts to create accessible versions of their textbooks, whether in EPUB
or PDF since that is what will ultimately benefit all readers, our students
included.

It is really unfortunate that a positive step forward in accessible
publishing is coupled with a decision to restrict access to publishers'
PDFs. Why? Who has advocated for that?

Joseph


On Thu, Jan 31, 2019 at 1:24 PM Susan Kelmer <Susan.Kelmer at colorado.edu>
wrote:


> Russell, yes, you are correct.  They are getting messages from some that

> ePub is perfect, wonderful, the NEW WAY!  And those voices are loud.

> Publishers believe those voices.

>

>

>

> If they’d just asked, they would know that an ePub is a format they can

> use, sometimes, but that sometimes, they cannot.  Bottom line:  They need

> to respond to what our request is for, rather than to push us to a format

> we didn’t ask for.

>

>

>

> Also, my voice is loud.  We need more loud voices.

>

>

>

> *Susan Kelmer*

>

> *Alternate Format Production Program Manager*

>

> *Disability Services*

>

> *University of Colorado Boulder*

>

> *303-735-4836*

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> *On

> Behalf Of *Russell Solowoniuk

> *Sent:* Thursday, January 31, 2019 2:17 PM

> *To:* Access Technology Higher Education Network <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial

>

>

>

> Hi Susan,

>

>

>

> I agree totally with what you say. We’re in Canada so can’t get Pearson US

> titles through ATN. We still need to use the online form, which, by the

> way, now doesn’t accept Canadian postal codes in the form, so we must use

> 99999, not a big deal, just wonder why.

>

>

>

> We have been getting the “this title is available via Vital Source”

> message back occasionally, and each time we do, we write back with an

> explanation of why this won’t work for the majority of our students who use

> RWG. The end up sending us a PDF, but it adds days to the turnaround time.

>

>

>

> It seems that perhaps publishers are getting mixed messages from people

> who seem to think that ePub is the best format out there for everyone.

>

>

>

> Keep up the good fight!

>

>

>

> Russell

>

>

>

> Russell Solowoniuk

>

> AT Educational Assistant, Services to Students with Disabilities

>

> MacEwan University

>

> 7-198 D4, 10700-104 Ave.

>

> Edmonton, AB  T5J 4S2

>

> E: solowoniukr at macewan.ca

>

> T:  780-497-5826

>

> F:  780-497-4018

>

> macewan.ca

>

> [image: MacEwan Logo]

>

> This communication is intended for the use of the recipient to whom it is

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>

> *From:* athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> *On

> Behalf Of *Susan Kelmer

> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 29, 2019 3:40 PM

> *To:* Access Technology Higher Education Network <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial

>

>

>

> I have heard this same crap from Pearson through my contact (which is

> probably the same).  By now, they have heard the “whys” and yes, they are

> being literal roadblocks to providing what we ask for.

>

>

>

> When we request a PDF through ATN, we get it next-day (unless that title

> is on VitalSource, then we have to do the end run or workaround, which

> takes weeks, if they even respond at all).

>

>

>

> So no, they are not “committed” to getting us what we need.  If it isn’t

> in their tiny little definition of what they want to provide, we get the

> runaround, and the 20 questions, and really this just delays us getting

> what we need for our student.  That is what I wish they would understand.

> We aren’t asking for a PDF because we don’t know any better. We are asking

> for a PDF because that is what we need to do what we do for the student.

>

>

>

> If anyone wants the contact with Pearson directly, please email me

> off-list, I’m happy to share my contact’s information.

>

>

>

> *Susan Kelmer*

>

> *Alternate Format Production Program Manager*

>

> *Disability Services*

>

> *University of Colorado Boulder*

>

> *303-735-4836*

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> *On

> Behalf Of *George Kerscher

> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 29, 2019 3:29 PM

> *To:* 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial

>

>

>

> Hello,

>

>

>

> I reached out to folks at Pearson to get some clarification. Here is what

> I was told:

>

> Begin email from Pearson rep

>

> if a student needs a PDF for accessibility purposes we will provide it.

> We're not in the business of denying anyone access to what they need for

> learning. As you are aware we've partnered with Vitalsource to provide

> accessible ePubs to students and in most cases this does meet their needs.

> When it doesn't, we ask why - not to "get in the way" but to try to

> understand the needs of the student in question.

>

>

>

> While we do ask for "Proof of purchase" it isn't to identify the students

> - we are as concerned with privacy as anyone else. I'll look at the

> messaging we use to see if we can do a better job communicating.

>

>

>

> As to his two week wait. we have internal approval processes in place

> before we let PDF's out the door. Those processes are in place to help

> insure that we protect the IP rights of our authors. Sometimes this does

> slow things down but we are currently active in trying to improve those

> processes and reduce the time necessary to deliver the PDF's.

>

>

>

> I hope that helps, please feel free to reach out with any questions.

>

> End of email from Pearson rep.

>

>

>

> I was also told if anybody would like to communicate directly, send me (

> kerscher at montana.com) and I will forward the request to my contact.

>

>

>

> Best

>

> George

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> *On

> Behalf Of *Deborah Armstrong

> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 29, 2019 10:55 AM

> *To:* 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial

>

>

>

> Just to give you comfort, the same thing has happened to me six times so

> far. Three of those times, luckily the student fell in love with

> VitalSource. The other three times, I had to do the

> proof-of-purchase-big-argument-thing!

>

>

>

> For me, the bigger problem is when a student’s textbook is an ebook only,

> integrated with the LMS. Pearson’s beginning to do that a lot now, and so

> is Cengage. If a student has a book I can scan, then it’s much easier.

>

>

>

> --Debee

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> *On

> Behalf Of *Sorensen, Neal B

> *Sent:* Monday, January 28, 2019 1:55 PM

> *To:* athen-list at u.washington.edu

> *Subject:* [Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial

>

>

>

> Hi All,

>

>

>

> I’m writing to see if anyone else has encountered a problem like this with

> (our dear friend) Pearson. Here’s the story. I made a request on AccessText

> Network for Microeconomics by Pindyck and Rubinfeld, and the request was

> denied. I received a follow-up e-mail at the same time saying the title is

> available on VitalSource, and the student could sent a proof-of-purchase

> directly to Pearson to get a free access code for their book. Now, I have

> NEVER had to provide a proof-of-purchase to get any book on AccessText

> Network. Their follow-up also suggested contacting the Pearson disability

> support office if the student is “using an assistive technology other than

> a screen reader.” The request has been approved by their permissions and

> now I’m just waiting for the book.

>

>

>

> This is unacceptable of Pearson. Thankfully the student has tried to use

> textbooks only accessible online before, and knows the PDF is better for

> his needs. I’ve been waiting almost two weeks now for this book (I got a

> customer satisfaction survey before I got the book). What is mildly

> infuriating about all this is that I know they have the book in PDF… I

> mean, it’s on VitalSource so they have electronic versions! Why not just

> give me the PDF?

>

>

>

> Additionally, why would I give Pearson the identity of my student? We are

> bound to confidentiality, and asking the student to identify themselves to

> the publisher is not necessary. This just goes to show that the major

> publishers will always try new ideas that don’t make sense, and that it is

> important to push back against those ideas when we encounter them!

>

>

>

> Neal Sorensen

>

> Access Specialist

>

> Accessibility Resources

>

> Minnesota State University, Mankato

>

> 132 Memorial Library

>

> Mankato, MN 56001

>

>

>

> Phone: 507-389-5242

>

> FAX: 507-389-1199

>

> Email: *neal.sorensen at mnsu.edu <neal.sorensen at mnsu.edu>*

>

>

>

> [image: cid:image001.png at 01CF4281.A3698650]

>

>

>

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