[Athen] Texthelp no longer support Post secondary

[Heidi Scher]

Hello all!

I checked with our TextHelp rep regarding the concerns that people have
posted here and wanted to share the feedback I received. She assured me
that they are still very much supporting - and want to continue to support
- higher ed. They also still offer the complementary licenses for demo
purposes. While Read&Write isn't cheap, she stated that their pricing model
has not changed in the past few years. Our rep is passing the information
"upstream" so that others are aware of the concerns of postsecondary
servicer providers.

Best to all,

Heidi

+++++++++++++++
Heidi Scher, M.S., CRC
Associate Director - AT
*she, her, hers*
Center for Educational Access at the University of Arkansas
1 University of Arkansas, ARKU 209
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479.575.3104 phone
479.575.7445 fax
+++++++++++++++


On Fri, Mar 11, 2022 at 11:47 AM Liza Eldred <CherniwchanL at macewan.ca>
wrote:


> Hello,

>

>

>

> If they could look at how the collect and highlight tool works in Read &

> Write, and be able to incorporate that into the Thorium program, it would

> make the Thorium program more appealing for our students.

>

> The highlight and collect tool isn’t essential but it is something that

> we have not found with any other tool/program.

>

>

>

> “Normally, the Read Aloud function sends it to the TTS engine and

> highlights as it sends the text. It seems you want to have an additional

> function to say for example, hold down a key while the Read Aloud is going

> and that would select this text for the clipboard.”

>

> It would be wonderful if Thorium did the above.

>

>

>

> Thank-you.

>

> Liza

>

>

>

>

>

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

> Behalf Of *kerscher at montana.com

> *Sent:* Thursday, March 10, 2022 4:35 PM

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

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Texthelp no longer support Post secondary

>

>

>

> *EXTERNAL:*  Use caution.

> <https://myportal.macewan.ca/help.html#external-email>

>

>

>

> Hello All,

>

>

>

> I can pass on a request to the Thorium developer, and Thorium is free for

> Windows, Mac, and linux. It has TTS and highlighting as it reads. Also

> supports reading of Math, when it is MathML.

>

>

>

> Using a screen reader you can copy and paste right now, but I think you

> want something a non-screen reader person can use.

>

>

>

> If I understand you, you want to Highlight text and have the TTS read out

> what is being selected. Then you want to copy this to the clipboard and

> paste it into a Word document or any application that can accept text from

> the clipboard.

>

>

>

> Is this correct?

>

>

>

> Normally, the Read Aloud function sends it to the TTS engine and

> highlights as it sends the text. It seems you want to have an additional

> function to say for example, hold down a key while the Read Aloud is going

> and that would select this text for the clipboard.

>

>

>

> I am just trying to describe what is wanted to the Thorium developers. So

> other user interface designs are welcome.

>

>

>

>

>

> Best

>

> George

>

>

>

>

>

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

> Behalf Of *Liza Eldred

> *Sent:* Thursday, March 10, 2022 3:31 PM

> *To:* Access Technology Higher Education Network <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Texthelp no longer support Post secondary

>

>

>

> Hi,

>

> The one thing that students really like about Read & Write is the ability

> to highlight and extract.

>

> From my experience, I have not found a free or inexpensive tool that both

> has text-to-speech and the highlight and collect feature (for both Windows

> and Mac).

>

> Does anyone know of a program other than RW that can do this? If so,

> please let me know. It would be much appreciated!

>

> Thanks and stay well.

>

> Liza

>

>

>

> Liza Eldred

>

> Assistive Technologist II

>

> MacEwan University

>

> 780-497-5826

>

>

>

>

>

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

> behalf of Dan Comden <danc at uw.edu>

> *Date: *Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 2:42 PM

> *To: *Access Technology Higher Education Network <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject: *Re: [Athen] Texthelp no longer support Post secondary

>

> *EXTERNAL:*  Use caution.

> <https://myportal.macewan.ca/help.html#external-email>

>

>

>

> I agree with Michael on this. TextHelp makes some decent products but in

> my experience they repeatedly demonstrate either ignorance or apathy about

> the needs of higher education.

>

>

>

> This is demonstrated by their license plans for their products, in

> particular EquatIO which could be a powerful tool for alt text shops at

> many schools, but can't be utilized at many places due to the company's

> inflexible license options. It is less expensive to pay for hundreds of

> student worker hours to convert a couple of math courses every year than to

> purchase a license for EquatIO for even a moderately sized campus.

>

>

>

> We gave up on TextHelp R&W Gold years ago after experiencing excessive

> difficulty rolling out and maintaining that software in our labs. On top of

> that, the overwhelming majority of students in my experience want a simple

> TTS tool and ignore all the additional features wrapped into the reading

> product. So ... we stopped purchasing it. There was zero negative feedback

> from students.

>

>

>

> It shines in a supported environment like K-12. Not so much in higher ed.

>

>

>

> A student's need to read effectively doesn't change once they complete

> college. In my interactions with students over decades, they show no

> inclination to purchase expensive TTS tools on their own after they

> graduate. I think we serve students more effectively by showing them how to

> use free and inexpensive reading software that fit their needs both in

> school and after they complete their educational programs. Let TextHelp

> concentrate on K-12 and we can ignore their products until they come up

> with a better solution for higher education.

>

>

>

> -*- Dan

>

>

>

> On Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 9:26 AM Michael Canale <canale at umbc.edu> wrote:

>

> They recently decided without notification that they will only support

> K-12 educators with support and free demo licenses. I explained that I have

> used the software to demonstrate their product and encourage students and

> parents to consider using it. Now with this new policy, I am unable to demo

> their product without purchasing my own license. If I worked for a K-12

> they would continue to provide me a free account. Why would I purchase a

> license to generate business for them?

>

>

>

> In addition, they changed their minimum number of licenses that prohibit

> most small to medium size Universities to utilize all they pay for. Whereas

> K-12 has an entire district. It's all about money and has nothing to do

> with supporting students it's a real shame.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> On Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 12:01 PM Romack, Justin <

> justinr at disability.tamu.edu> wrote:

>

> Howdy!

>

>

>

> Glad to get your message and hear your perspective!

>

>

>

> Because I feel out of the loop… What Texthelp policy are you referring to

> and how do they demonstrate they don’t care about postsecondary

> institutions?

>

>

>

> We’re up for renewal and the quote has drastically increased in price. I

> have several options to explore in responding, but I wanted more context on

> how others have approached changes with Texthelp (and also clarifying if

> what you’re referring to is related to the concern I have).

>

>

>

> Hoping you’re well,

>

> J

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

>

>

>

> *Justin Romack*  | Assistive Technology Coordinator

>

> Disability Resources | Texas A&M University

>

> 1224 TAMU | College Station, TX 77843-1224

>

>

>

> ph: 979.845.1637 | justinr at disability.tamu.edu | disability.tamu.edu

>

> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

>

> *DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS *| One Division. One Mission.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

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

> Behalf Of *Michael Canale

> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 9, 2022 10:01 AM

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

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] athen-list Digest, Vol 194, Issue 7

>

>

>

> For at least 5 years I have had a free account with Read Write in order to

> show students and parents how to use AT for their studies.  Texthelp

> decided we in post-secondary are not important enough to support. I call

> all colleagues to call ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart

>

> This Message Is From an External Sender

>

> This message came from outside your organization.

>

> ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd

>

> For at least 5 years I have had a free account with Read Write in order to

> show students and parents how to use AT for their studies.

>

>

>

> Texthelp decided we in post-secondary are not important enough to support.

> I call all colleagues to call upon Texthelp of this change in policy is

> ridiculous. I decided to no longer support or endorse Texthelp products.

> Instead, I will endorse Natural Reader.

>

>

>

> I know many of you use them, however, we should not support a company that

> doesn't support us.

>

>

>

>

>

> [image: Image removed by sender.]

>

> Office of Student Disability Services

>

> University of Maryland, Baltimore County

>

> 225 Math/Psychology Building

>

>

>

> Desk: 410-455-6358

>

> Mobile: 410-688-5088 (Text, FaceTime)

>

> VP: 443-410-4773

>

> Email:  canale at umbc.edu

>

> Web: sds.umbc.edu

> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/sss.umbc.edu__;!!KwNVnqRv!RBamRIRg7x6RSJXPVzuMBERipygOMwlkwbpMC_MQu3T68ULBdl7hkyB-HRu6Ah4w2kNca7lN$>

>

>

>

> *Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if

> you look at it right.  - J. Garcia, R Hunter*

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> --

>

> Michael Canale

>

> Assistant Director, SDS

>

> Coordinator Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services,

>

> Sensory Impairment, and ASD

>

>

>

> [image: Image removed by sender.]

>

> Office of Student Disability Services

>

> University of Maryland, Baltimore County

>

> 225 Math/Psychology Building

>

>

>

> Desk: 410-455-6358

>

> Mobile: 410-688-5088 (Text, FaceTime)

>

> VP: 443-410-4773

>

> Email:  canale at umbc.edu

>

> Web: sds.umbc.edu <http://sss.umbc.edu>

>

>

> *Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if

> you look at it right.  - J. Garcia, R Hunter*

>

>

>

>

> _______________________________________________

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>

>

>

> --

>

> -*- Dan Comden                       danc at uw.edu <danc at washington.edu>

>

>     Access Technology Center   www.uw.edu/itconnect/accessibility/atl/

>

>     University of Washington      UW Information Technology

>

>

> _______________________________________________

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