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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=746541613-08042008><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>I totally agree. I dislike how Premier has
been pushed as the end all be all solution for post-secondary
accessibility. The aggressive marketing makes it's difficult to explain
the pros and cons of other products when the administrative powers that be are
looking for the cheapest way out. I think Premier is fine as solution for people
who may not have the means to purchase an expensive AT product.
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=746541613-08042008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>However, I don't think it's the greatest solution in terms of ease of
use, compatibility and support in a large enterprise environment. It's
always better to have a variety of tools in your AT toolbox and not just
one.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=746541613-08042008><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=746541613-08042008><!-- Converted from text/rtf format -->
<P><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>Christopher Kinney</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>Assistive Technology
Coordinator</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>Center
for Disability Services</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Georgia Perimeter College</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT
face=Arial size=2>555 N. Indian Creek Drive</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN
lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>Clarkston GA 30021</FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>TEL: 678-891-3385</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial size=2>FAX: 404-298-3830</FONT></SPAN>
</P></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> athen-bounces@athenpro.org
[mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>"Robert Beach"
<rbeach@kckcc.edu><BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, April 08, 2008 9:05
AM<BR><B>To:</B> "Access Technologists in Higher Education Network"
<athen@athenpro.org><BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Athen] Screen readers/other
software<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV><BR>I should also add that I do demonstrate some of the Premier
products for my students and let them try them. I even provide them the links to
the demos on the web site if they want to download the product at home. I also
give them some flyers I have but encourage them to double check the web site for
the most current information. <BR><BR>For home use for someone who is on a
budget, some of the tools may be very sufficient. <BR><BR><BR>Robert Lee Beach
<BR>Assistive Technology Specialist <BR>Kansas City Kansas Community College
<BR>7250 State Avenue <BR>Kansas City, KS 66112 <BR>Phone: (913) 288-7671
<BR>Fax: (913) 288-7678 <BR>E-mail: rbeach@kckcc.edu <BR><BR>>>>
"Robert Beach" < rbeach@kckcc.edu> 4/8/2008 7:57 AM >>> <BR>Amen!
I agree completely. Some of the Premier tools are fine, but many of them lack
what my students need. For example, Universal Reader is fine is somebody only
needs to read. However, most of my students need more than just a reading tool.
They like homophone checking, extra help with spell checking, etc. Therefore,
nearly all of my students choose Read&Write over Universal Reader because it
performs better. Yes, some of the tools they like are in the Talking Word
Processor. But again, my students like to use exactly what the rest of the class
is using when at all possible. On this camplus, that means MS Word, not a
special program. R&W is non-intrusive, provides the tools they need, and is
fairly easy to learn and use, and works with everything they use such as online
classes, internet search, web mail, etc. <BR><BR>I really like the Text-To-Audio
program for production purposes, but my students don't use it themselves. I like
the Ultimate Talking Dictionary and some of my students use it in the background
when using Word. However, if they're using R&W, they don't need it since all
the spelling tools are there. <BR><BR>Again, some good products, and some that I
personally don't think are too great, but that's just my opinion. However, don't
depend on their line of products to be your only solution. They just don't cut
it for a school invironment. <BR><BR><BR><BR>Robert Lee Beach <BR>Assistive
Technology Specialist <BR>Kansas City Kansas Community College <BR>7250 State
Avenue <BR>Kansas City, KS 66112 <BR>Phone: (913) 288-7671 <BR>Fax: (913)
288-7678 <BR>E-mail: rbeach@kckcc.edu <BR><BR>>>> "Marks, Jim" <
marks@mso.umt.edu> 4/7/2008 5:17 PM >>> <BR>Hi Carol, <BR><BR>Every
time I say this, it seems to cause troubles. But, here goes <BR>anyhow.
<BR><BR>Premier is fine, but it will not replace better assistive technology.
<BR>In my opinion, Premier should serve as a supplement, never the only
<BR>option a campus uses to comply with civil rights laws. Premier does <BR>some
things well, but it does less than what more expensive assistive
<BR>technologies can do. Function has to be a primary concern, and colleges
<BR>should find the money it takes to provide the best access. I think of
<BR>Premier as a low-cost alternative in which one gets what one pays for. <BR>I
also think the Premier grant thing is a marketing scheme, not really a
<BR>grant. <BR><BR>People with disabilities should have the tools it takes to
participate <BR>fully in higher education. It's wrong to barter away equal
access just <BR>to save a buck. On the other hand, if the less costly
alternative <BR>works, then go for it. Some make the argument that many don't
need all <BR>the bells and whistles, and there is merit to that argument.
Premier <BR>will not work as well as the more expensive options, though, and
making <BR>sure our post-secondary programs are accessible is sort of the whole
<BR>point. We need tools that work well. Reliance on Premier alone just
<BR>won't do the trick. <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Jim Marks <BR>Director of
Disability Services <BR>University of Montana <BR>jim.marks@umontana.edu <BR><A
href="http://www.umt.edu/dss/">http://www.umt.edu/dss/</A>
<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>________________________________ <BR><BR>From:
athen-bounces@athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] On <BR>Behalf Of
Carol Raymundo <BR>Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 12:54 PM <BR>To:
athen@athenpro.org <BR>Subject: [Athen] Screen readers/other software
<BR><BR><BR>I am wondering if anyone uses Premier Literacy software (formerly
<BR>Premier Assistive Technology). <BR><BR>Has anyone taken advantage of their
grant program? If so, what do you <BR>like and what don't you like about the
program? <BR><BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________
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href="http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org">http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org</A>
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