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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">One possible step in the right direction would be to point out to your publisher’s rep the portions of the book that were not accessible even in VitalSource. For example, figures without description or something
that cannot be zoomed up to the size a student needs. I try to write the publisher with specific page numbers or specific figures and details about what’s not accessible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">You can explain you need the PDF in order to mmake these things accessible. I think if we keep harping on publishers about how something they claim is accessible isn’t it will reduce our need for the PDF files.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">But, if the publishers want to take responsibility for making a book accessible, they have to be held to it, and if they don’t want to give us PDFS we have to give them a hard time.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">I can kind of understand where the publishers are coming from, though I don’t have to like it. They want more students to buy more books and if that involves making them more accessible it’s a win for both sides.
But it’s not a win when they claim accessibility and it’s untrue, then deny you the chance to fix the issue. So accessibility problems with a book need to be pointed out to them specifically.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Another thing Pearson is doing is supplying PDFS with all the images removed. I’ve gotten several like this; the caption is there but no image, and for a book with a lot of figures this is unacceptable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">One other thing Pearson reps are doing with I find quite disingenuous is talking to instructors about how their books are accessible and open textbooks are not. One of our counselors, who is also an instructor
chose a Pearson book over an open textbook for that very reason.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">For just one example of a Pearson book that illustrates all of these issues see “Fundamentals of Database Systems”, ISBN 9780133971224 which has a PDF on the ATN without images; is on Bookshare without images
and is on VitalSource with images that are not described. And the images are required to comprehend the book though most of them are text-based and could be represented via tables rather than pictures.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">--Debee<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> athen-list <athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Susan Kelmer<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 29, 2019 2:40 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list@u.washington.edu><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">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).
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">If anyone wants the contact with Pearson directly, please email me off-list, I’m happy to share my contact’s information.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:#1F497D">Susan Kelmer<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:#1F497D">Alternate Format Production Program Manager<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:#1F497D">Disability Services<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:#1F497D">University of Colorado Boulder<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:#1F497D">303-735-4836<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> athen-list <<a href="mailto:athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu">athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>George Kerscher<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 29, 2019 3:29 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' <<a href="mailto:athen-list@u.washington.edu">athen-list@u.washington.edu</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I reached out to folks at Pearson to get some clarification. Here is what I was told:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Begin email from Pearson rep<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I hope that helps, please feel free to reach out with any questions. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">End of email from Pearson rep.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was also told if anybody would like to communicate directly, send me (<a href="mailto:kerscher@montana.com">kerscher@montana.com</a>) and I will forward the request to my contact.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">George<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br clear="all">
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> athen-list <<a href="mailto:athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu">athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Deborah Armstrong<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 29, 2019 10:55 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' <<a href="mailto:athen-list@u.washington.edu">athen-list@u.washington.edu</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">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!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">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. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">--Debee<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> athen-list <<a href="mailto:athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu">athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Sorensen, Neal B<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, January 28, 2019 1:55 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:athen-list@u.washington.edu">athen-list@u.washington.edu</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hi All,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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!
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Neal Sorensen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Access Specialist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Accessibility Resources<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Minnesota State University, Mankato<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">132 Memorial Library<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Mankato, MN 56001<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Eras Medium ITC",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Eras Medium ITC",sans-serif">Phone: 507-389-5242<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Eras Medium ITC",sans-serif">FAX: 507-389-1199<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Eras Medium ITC",sans-serif">Email:
<u><span style="color:#0563C1"><a href="mailto:neal.sorensen@mnsu.edu">neal.sorensen@mnsu.edu</a></span></u><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Eras Medium ITC",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="217" height="47" style="width:2.2604in;height:.4895in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D4B87C.CC3F6830" alt="cid:image001.png@01CF4281.A3698650"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information.
Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please delete it from your system without copying it, and notify the sender by reply email so that our address record can be corrected.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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