<div dir="ltr"><div>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. <br></div><div><br></div><div>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.<br></div><div><br></div><div>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.<br></div><div><br></div><div>It shines in a supported environment like K-12. Not so much in higher ed.</div><div><br></div><div>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.</div><div><br></div><div>-*- Dan<br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 9:26 AM Michael Canale <<a href="mailto:canale@umbc.edu">canale@umbc.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"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">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? </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">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. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"> </div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 12:01 PM Romack, Justin <<a href="mailto:justinr@disability.tamu.edu" target="_blank">justinr@disability.tamu.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">Howdy!<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Glad to get your message and hear your perspective!<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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?<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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).<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hoping you’re well,<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">Justin Romack</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black"> | Assistive Technology Coordinator<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">Disability Resources | Texas A&M University<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">1224 TAMU | College Station, TX 77843-1224<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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</span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black">| <a href="http://disability.tamu.edu" target="_blank">disability.tamu.edu</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:rgb(80,0,0)">DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> 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>Michael Canale<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 9, 2022 10:01 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:athen-list@u.washington.edu" target="_blank">athen-list@u.washington.edu</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Athen] athen-list Digest, Vol 194, Issue 7<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:1pt;color:white">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 </span></span><span style="font-size:1pt;color:white">ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart</span>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt">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. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt">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
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt">I know many of you use them, however, we should not support a company that doesn't support us. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<i><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-weight:normal">Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right. - J. Garcia, R Hunter</span></i><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-weight:normal"><u></u><u></u></span></h4>
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</blockquote></div><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font color="#666666">Michael Canale</font></div><div dir="ltr"><div><font color="#999999"><span style="font-size:12.8px;letter-spacing:0.2px">Assistant Directo</span><span style="font-size:12.8px;letter-spacing:0.2px">r, SDS </span></font></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px;letter-spacing:0.2px"><font color="#999999">Coordinator Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, </font></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px;letter-spacing:0.2px"><font color="#999999">Sensory Impairment, and ASD</font></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px;letter-spacing:0.2px"><font color="#999999"><br></font></span></div><div><img src="https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=11o9m2BMLp7AfTfXgiaWAVxdtMUz_EEES&revid=0Bw1zQ57rlXp1WXZoYjNZNkwxeFlRbHc2QkorU0J1eXdYa0RnPQ" width="96" height="22"></div><div><font color="#999999">Office of Student Disability Services </font></div><div><font color="#999999">University of Maryland, Baltimore County</font></div><div><font color="#999999">225 Math/Psychology Building </font></div><div><font color="#999999"><br></font></div><div><font color="#999999">Desk: 410-455-6358 </font></div><div><font color="#999999">Mobile: 410-688-5088 <span style="font-size:12.8px;letter-spacing:0.2px">(Text, FaceTime)</span></font></div><div><font color="#999999">VP: 443-410-4773</font></div><div><font color="#999999">Email: <a href="mailto:canale@umbc.edu" target="_blank">canale@umbc.edu</a></font></div><div><font color="#999999">Web: <a href="http://sss.umbc.edu" target="_blank">sds.umbc.edu</a> </font></div><div><br></div><div><h4 style="font-size:12.8px;font-family:Avenir-Medium,"Hevetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.2em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:1em;color:rgb(51,51,51);text-align:justify"><i>Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right. - J. Garcia, R Hunter</i></h4></div><div><h4 style="font-size:12.8px;font-family:Avenir-Medium,"Hevetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.2em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:1em;color:rgb(51,51,51);text-align:justify"><br></h4></div><div><i><br><br><br><br></i></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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</blockquote></div><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">-*- Dan Comden <a href="mailto:danc@washington.edu" target="_blank">danc@uw.edu</a></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> Access Technology Center <a href="http://www.uw.edu/itconnect/accessibility/atl/" target="_blank">www.uw.edu/itconnect/accessibility/atl/</a></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> University of Washington UW Information Technology</font></div><div><br></div></div>