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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">I agree that learning a new reader is a serious pain. Blind students who enjoy technology like me can do it and not really stress over it too much if it is accessible. My experience is that our low-vision students
struggle more, simply because they often have vision which keeps changing and they are expecting interface elements to appear in the same place on the screen. Plus in the community college, we see many who are slowly loosing their vision and transitioning
to a new way of living; asking them to learn multiple reading systems is so unfair!<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">Physically disabled folk also need consistency in interface elements, which is something that multiple readers don’t give you very often.<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">It’s even worse for someone with learning differences who has enough on their plate to just get a passing grade in class. Learning a new reader is not just a burden: it’s a barrier!<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">This may sound like preaching to the choir, but I submit all this to justify to professors why adopting the shiniest and most heavily marketed new platform may not be the best choice. If you can use some of
my reasoning when chatting with them, go for it!<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>George Kerscher<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 24, 2019 11:44 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' <athen-list@u.washington.edu><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Athen] New e-reader for Cengage Brain and Cengage Unlimited users<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello folks,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yes, Benetech and many others are testing EPUB readers and the results are at epubtest.org<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have just contacted Cengage about the possibility of testing their new reader.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also at Benetech, they are testing the content from publishers to make sure it conforms to the EPUB Accessibility standard, which is based on WCAG 2.0<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Macmillan is the first publisher to pass that rigorous set of tests and receive certification. To be clear the EPUB is opened in a reading App. And there are many available.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It will be interesting to see how Cengage compares on accessibility. They have agreed to be in my session accepted for AHG.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Personally, I find it hard to think that publishers will want their own reader. As a blind user, I want to learn a Reading App inside and out and become efficient. I would not like to learn a new reader for each book I purchase. I will
be advocating for publishers to distribute their born accessible content through multiple sources so I can choose where to buy the titles.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
Best<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">George<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>Wershing, Alice D.<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 24, 2019 11:10 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] New e-reader for Cengage Brain and Cengage Unlimited users<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Hello,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">I wonder what Benetech will say about the accessibility of a new internal reader. They have been working with all of the reading systems to determine their accessibility. The only publisher that I’m aware
of that has passed Benetech’s Accessibility program is Macmillan. <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">Alice D. Wershing, M.Ed., A.T.P., C.P.A.C.C.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Disability Services, Technology Specialist Pellissippi State Community College<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">865-694-6751<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">865-539-7699 (fax)<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"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.tnecampus.info_specialists&d=DwMFAg&c=WORo6LNFtQOb4SPVta8Jsg&r=K_2Yg4I05GGnHlSOevlp3QeE5-JEqtmoUnmP0YVj9ZM&m=PG4Ty_eeH3cG1FCkC_Os72hnaSHZAqzc5sSwRCh47mI&s=0axRy0dWIEg1TTjiZhijkMzNhefl17JVN4ghAkR6hgU&e=">East
TN Region Accessibility Specialist</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Tenessee Board of Regents-TN eCampus<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"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__blogs.pstcc.edu_access4all_&d=DwMFAg&c=WORo6LNFtQOb4SPVta8Jsg&r=K_2Yg4I05GGnHlSOevlp3QeE5-JEqtmoUnmP0YVj9ZM&m=PG4Ty_eeH3cG1FCkC_Os72hnaSHZAqzc5sSwRCh47mI&s=QONStXrZVEAA45C2cFzs5wsw08TgNKUUrCMJNRF-bEQ&e=">PSCC
Access for All Blog</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__m.facebook.com_psccdisabilityservices&d=DwMFAg&c=WORo6LNFtQOb4SPVta8Jsg&r=K_2Yg4I05GGnHlSOevlp3QeE5-JEqtmoUnmP0YVj9ZM&m=PG4Ty_eeH3cG1FCkC_Os72hnaSHZAqzc5sSwRCh47mI&s=deiBPtzhXB-KkyJ6xa7fgf9VDDOhkdVhfySPSKT-JkE&e=">PSCC
Accessible Format Facebook Page</a> (PSCC-Disability Services)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__twitter.com_Access4allPSCC&d=DwMFAg&c=WORo6LNFtQOb4SPVta8Jsg&r=K_2Yg4I05GGnHlSOevlp3QeE5-JEqtmoUnmP0YVj9ZM&m=PG4Ty_eeH3cG1FCkC_Os72hnaSHZAqzc5sSwRCh47mI&s=-1kT4TFdFoRHPUCSeuGrvd839hOY1EOADzpzlKduSVE&e=">PSCC
Access4All Twitter Feed</a> (@Access4allPSCC)<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>
<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>Susan Kelmer<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 24, 2019 11:26 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] New e-reader for Cengage Brain and Cengage Unlimited users<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">As usual, publishers are deciding how our students are to access their materials. This is not their job, nor their purview.<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">Publishers like to say they are listening to us.
<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">They are not. They never have. And this is unfortunate for our students.<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">On the plus side, none of us will be unemployed anytime soon, as there will still be a need for us to remediate materials to fit the student’s needs!<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>Deborah Armstrong<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 24, 2019 9:20 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> [Athen] New e-reader for Cengage Brain and Cengage Unlimited users<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__blog.vitalsource.com_update-2Dfor-2Dusers&d=DwMFAg&c=WORo6LNFtQOb4SPVta8Jsg&r=K_2Yg4I05GGnHlSOevlp3QeE5-JEqtmoUnmP0YVj9ZM&m=PG4Ty_eeH3cG1FCkC_Os72hnaSHZAqzc5sSwRCh47mI&s=QMM4kByaB_A9ZuJWOu0YZH6O1bAatSM-OD8jRrph-dI&e=">https://blog.vitalsource.com/update-for-users</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is from the VitalSource blog. Apparently Cengage is pulling many of their textbooks off VitalSource and their new home will be an internal e-reader.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My experience with students is even when an e-reader is fairly accessible, the students want to stick with a tool they know, whether it’s their Kindle, Balabolka, K3000 or Read and Write.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m guessing that Cengage, like Pearson is going to “certify” more and more of their content as accessible and encourage students to buy a textbook in the e-reader.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have some experience with Cengage Brain, and on the positive side, there seems to be a “read aloud” button on every page so you can use the voice built in to your OS to listen to that page, as long as your browser and OS supports that.
There also seems to be captioning on most of the videos for the two courses with which I have experience.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the negative side, a book that has charts, tables and similar visual content may or may not have descriptions, and even when descriptions exist, if the image is just a picture of text – such as a picture of a spreadsheet or computer
screen, the description won’t contain the actual text.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">--Debee<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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