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<td><img alt="like" src="https://outlook-1.cdn.office.net/assets/reaction/like.png" style="height:25px; width:25px">
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<td><span style="font-weight:bold; padding-left:3px">Jane Berk</span> <span>reacted to your message:</span>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" color="#000000" style="font-size:11pt"><b>From:</b> athen-list <athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu> on behalf of via athen-list <athen-list@u.washington.edu><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Sunday, April 7, 2024 2:07:29 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' <athen-list@u.washington.edu>; 'Ali Steenis' <ali.steenis@bellevuecollege.edu><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Athen] AccessText News</font>
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<span style="color:#d24518; font-weight:bold">EXTERNAL:</span>  <a href="https://myportal.macewan.ca/help.html#external-email">Use caution.</a></td>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Dear ATHENS folks,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">When the news broke about ATN shutting down, I reached out to my contacts at ATN, but nobody was available.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">I have heard that the AAP and publishers are searching for a way to reestablish the service. Here is what I have learned:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The AAP and Georgia Techs CIDI were negotiating the ATN contract. Without warning, Georgia Tech pulled out of negotiations and shut down the site. AAP has attempted to reopen negotiations and Georgia Tech refused. AAP, which has been financially
 supporting ATN and plans to continue at the request of its Publisher members who were also shocked at this turn of events, is now exploring other hosting options. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Publishers have been relying on ATN for years to help manage the volume of requests we receive for alternative text formats. No one wants to see this go. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">George thinks, Hopefully we will hear about developments <span class="GramE">
in the near future</span>. I know that the AAP has been supporting accessibility for their members.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Best</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">George</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><img width="188" height="215" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.png@01DA88C2.A2C28160" alt="Drawing of a guide dog in harness sitting looking up at a dangling rope in front of a mountain wall. Credits, Outdoor Life."></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">George Kerscher Ph.D.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">-In our Information Age, access to information is a fundamental human right.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Chief Innovations Officer, DAISY Consortium</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#0070C0"><a href="http://www.daisy.org/" originalsrc="http://www.daisy.org/" shash="asXmHy30ZITULrZX/Yo8GFukep1DC8bfwUc7ttB1CR5v8XcdcHFbozWI0793AzZm0Hqsc+XRGEY4bS/Pv1Yd0qRjm6ow7ceThc4OQF43htYE+WfK0ch/XxzSBOGIuuoPNzxn9lATGmgZZlZSTxeJ3wJNWE+I4g18Iv2We7ZuR7k="><span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.daisy.org</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Senior Advisor, Global Literacy, Benetech</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><a href="http://www.benetech.org/" originalsrc="http://www.benetech.org/" shash="Mv/Xed5lNy7vD3k9sgVK8yijG/fXKU+/8B3j3K97xRYm6rqe7SjVLo6bdi2BVksTo2kU74hgBcqe25KBqn+JHDzFkiOdcoG90uCCMqgmSV/Gxwh+G8ypJECGGIUIJSCsSrFCU6h88sgANdS+wrJ77j3YkaoGBxU+LdYg/A84BBg="><span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.benetech.org</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">President, International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF)
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><a href="http://www.idpf.org/" originalsrc="http://www.idpf.org/" shash="RdXD/HBCb4sTeQEBMn/rz/h1/K0mW60pMNk+4Df0rTZB8wsd8PqCt99K+Jw5OW7k6eZqLBzMVQ5RDJKxC3aP8vC90lBll0qH7HC3DPC5i5h4fpUw3CS+4BKUG0/W/aZtkMkXtFTfI7lGD2Pui7DcbpL9GDoXhBubuBwJBNXnVhw="><span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.idpf.org</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Chair Steering Council Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), at W3C</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><a href="http://www.w3.org/WAI" originalsrc="http://www.w3.org/WAI" shash="c/NLcJfANMkXN7hc8gM8sgHT8/c/nQQohHsgtTWKetYyk1tQ40X4BzWB45xPb93NPUd+dLRsOXIEyz9wP2OlQNL35r6MLxXTA/eWmJuGb3P4fU5uVXgJxUSZr+p4M3QB8H+/3zk3sW79/+Dw2PHIfQRrFdiSjiwJWnP4q1Uw2YQ="><span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.w3.org/WAI</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Cell:+1 406/544-2466 </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Email: <a href="mailto:kerscher@montana.com">
<span style="color:#0563C1">kerscher@montana.com</span></a></span></p>
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