<div dir="ltr">Hello,<div><br></div><div>Our university has already been on board the Kurzweil bus for a while, but one of our students has sent our office information on NaturalReader. First glance, it looks similar in capabilities to Kurzweil; the website says it's free to educational institutions. So I set up an account to see how it matches up. I haven't had much time to work with it because of short staffing and more of my time is spent taking on extra duties.</div><div><br></div><div>But it looks like it's free for the first year as indicated by a countdown. But site licensing looks like it's a per seat among other options. Here is the website to look it over:</div><div><a href="https://www.naturalreaders.com/edu.html">https://www.naturalreaders.com/edu.html</a><br></div><div><br></div><div>I hope this helps,</div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Feb 18, 2022 at 1:51 PM Susan Kelmer <<a href="mailto:Susan.Kelmer@colorado.edu" target="_blank">Susan.Kelmer@colorado.edu</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">Both Kurzweil and TextHelp are expensive, and you can no longer just buy a “handful” of licenses that you can install individually
on a few student machines. Kurzweil will sell you a big chunk of seat licenses; Texthelp insists that you purchase a seat for every person on your campus – aka the cost is based on the population of your campus. The more enrollment, the higher the cost.
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">Both of these entities continue to work (and thrive) on a model that works for K-12 (access for all), but does not work as well for
higher ed. Students who do not need TTS are not going to use a TTS tool. They just are not. There is not enough education/outreach that would make more students use it. I have 100 students getting alternate format, maybe 70 of them actually use the license.
Yet, I’m paying for 5000 seats for Kurzweil. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">As to which is better, this is definitely a YMMV situation. I like the tools in Texthelp and it does a good job with ePubs. It has
the math component (EquatIO) if you want to pay the extra for it. It’s overlay-type toolbar makes it more functional across software and platforms. I do like that.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">Kurzweil still has a long way to go to catch up with STEM reading, and it is still a “closed” environment and won’t read everything.
But in the end, the cost difference is huge – Kurzweil is 5 times cheaper than Texthelp. So we stick with Kurzweil.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Susan Kelmer
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Alternate Format Production Program Manager<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Disability Services<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Division of Student Affairs
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(207,184,124)">T</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"> </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">303
735 4836</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<b><u><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(207,184,124)"><a href="http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(207,184,124)">www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices</span></a>
<u></u><u></u></span></u></b></p>
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<b><u><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(207,184,124)"><u></u><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span><u></u></span></u></b></p>
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<b><u><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(207,184,124)"><u></u><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span><u></u></span></u></b></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:black"><img border="0" width="150" height="56" style="width:1.5625in;height:0.5833in" id="m_1754982766704145838gmail-m_-8856777806804213234Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:17f0f07d3684cff311" alt="cid:image001.png@01D598AC.79FC1C60"></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,112,192)"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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<i><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">Due to the nature of electronic communication, the security of this message cannot be guaranteed. If you’ve received this email in error please notify
the sender immediately and delete this message. </span></i><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:windowtext">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:windowtext"> athen-list <<a href="mailto:athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu" target="_blank">athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Normajean.Brand<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, February 18, 2022 9:59 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> ATHEN <<a href="mailto:athen-list@u.washington.edu" target="_blank">athen-list@u.washington.edu</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Athen] Kurzweil vs Texthelp? Or both?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana Pro"">Hello all, and Happy Friday!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana Pro"">I’m curious to find out how many of you offer both Kurzweil and TextHelp, or only one of the apps. We started out being a WYNN college but moved to Kurzweil 3000 when WYNN was no longer being updated.
I did a pilot of TextHelp a long time ago (2001?), and although I liked it, I couldn’t get any traction on it from students or anyone else, so we stayed with Kurzweil. However, with the many advancements that TextHelp especially reading Math, I’m leaning towards
TextHelp and we’re already looking at EquatIO. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana Pro"">Is there justification for both apps? We’ve never had more than 50 students using Kurzweil at any time, and usually it’s closer to maybe 7 actively using it during any semester, since we started offering
Kurzweil in 2005. I know there are probably many more that could benefit from using either app when looking at how many students are registered with our Disability Services.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana Pro"">Thoughts?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana Pro"">Thank you for your time,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana Pro"">NJ<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Verdana Pro""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Verdana Pro"">NJ Brand, </span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Verdana Pro"">BAAS-Psych,
</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Verdana Pro"">ATAC</span></b><span style="font-family:"Verdana Pro"">
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Verdana Pro"">(she/her/hers) </span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Verdana Pro";color:black"><---
<a href="https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/HRC_ACAF_Pronouns_101_(1).pdf?_ga=2.91660819.84602280.1571755713-1618351664.1571755713" title="https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/HRC_ACAF_Pronouns_101_(1).pdf?_ga=2.91660819.84602280.1571755713-1618351664.1571755713" target="_blank">
<span style="color:blue">What Is This</span></a></span><br>
<b><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Verdana Pro"">ADA Tech/Assistive Technology Technician</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Verdana Pro"">, Center for Learning Innovation<br>
● Spring Branch Campus ● Suite RC12/13 – Note: Working remotely, off-campus, due to COVID-19 until further notice<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Verdana Pro"">● T: 713.718.5604 ● F:713.718.5430 ●<a href="http://hccs.edu/" title="http://hccs.edu/" target="_blank"> HCCS</a><a href="http://hccs.edu/" target="_blank"> </a> ●
<a href="https://www.hccs.edu/support-services/counseling/" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Counseling & Ability Services</span></a>
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</blockquote></div><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font face="garamond, serif" size="4">Michael Nakai</font><div><font face="garamond, serif">Adaptive Technology</font></div><div><br></div><div><font face="garamond, serif" size="4"><b>Weber State University Disability Services</b></font></div><div><font face="garamond, serif">3885 West Campus Drive Dept 1129<br></font></div><div><font face="garamond, serif">Ogden, Utah 84408-1129</font></div><div><font face="garamond, serif">(801) 626-6413</font></div><div><font face="garamond, serif"><br></font></div><div><b style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:x-small"><span style="font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Disability Services is open and we are operating under WSU's COVID-19 protocols for as long as necessary and that we encourage virtual appointments whenever possible.</span></b><br></div><div><div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size="1" color="#000000"><b><span style="font-family:Arial;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Be aware that some calls coming from our office may appear as Private or No Caller ID. Also please review CDC Guidelines and stay home if you are not feeling well. Monitor your symptoms, you can change to a virtual appointment if needed. </span></b></font><b style="color:rgb(87,80,71)"><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent;color:rgb(34,34,34)">For inquiries about testing accommodation call <a href="tel:8016266896" target="_blank">801-626-6896</a> or email </span></b><b><a href="mailto:dsctesting@weber.edu" rel="noreferrer" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent" target="_blank">dsctesting@weber.edu</a><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"><font color="#222222">.
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