[nabs-l] Ebook Accessibility/The Future of NLS And Bookshare

Wed May 25 21:15:36 UTC 2011

 hello while your philosophy is probably in the correct place, the reality is far from it. As Mr. Freeman has just dated there are some major hurdles as far as technical books, the other issue is how are you going to get a population that is largely unemployed to pay for items that they have not the money to do so with. Eliminating the national Library service and part of the reason for the books for the blind program in the beginning if I understand the history correctly, was to provide reading materials to those that simply did not have the means to obtain such. Look share book share for some technical books is still pretty much the only game in town, the O'Reilly series has been very beneficial to me personally because I can read books from that publishing house at least that I have no other accessible means of gaining access to it with. An essence as many others have said the status quo probably is going to still be around for a very long time. Until things change for the better hopefully at some point in the future. Thank you very much for reading this. Your friend Maurice, amateur callsign kd0iko.
On May 25, 2011, at 3:05 PM, Mike Freeman wrote:

> Kevin: How would such a law be implemented in the case of technical materials? Seems to me we have a way to go before imposing such strictures on DSS departments, much as these would be desirable in the abstract.
> 
> Mike Freeman
> sent from my iPhone
> 
> 
> On May 25, 2011, at 13:39, Kevin Fjelsted <kfjelsted at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Where we could exude some real leverage as an organization would be to work to have the U.S. department of Education require that any University or School that receives federal funding for any aspect of disability services upload a quality copy of any book that the institution's DS department creates to BookShare. 
>> Remember that initially BookShare was a sharing point where books would be scanned and uploaded by volunteers.
>> The infrastructure seems be well developed for central storage and cataloging of accessible books.
>> Since the U.S. Department Of Education is providing quite a bit of funding to BookShare and the federal government is providing huge funding to disability services this process if mandated by the federal government could take all the individual DS efforts across institutions and insure that there is a central catalog for books that have been converted as well as the actual book itself.
>> 
>> Furthermore if institutions were required to only adopt books that are available in accessible format or loose there federal disability funding then the publishers would be lining up to put there books on BookShare.
>> I would certainly rather have BookShare manage the content and provide a common format that we can use across the various devices and accessible software apps then have to hunt all over the internet for it and pray that I can find an accessible version.
>> 
>> We are a long way from accessible book readers chiefly because there is not enough teeth in the laws and regulations to force the momentum to create accessible material.
>> -Kevin
>> 
>> On May 25, 2011, at 3:23 PM, <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> Kirt,
>>> I think you miss the point. We still need an accessible library of books via NLS or  bookshare.
>>> Sighted people can borrow books at the library or buy them used or cheap online. Anyone else can buy a paperbook that is very cheap.  Yes novels are easily rendered accessible.  But I don't think many ebook readers are accessible.
>>> Have you forgotten the protest against Amozon kindle because they silenced speech?
>>> I heard that the Barnes & Nobel ebook reader is not accessible. And as a personal example, my library has ebooks too.
>>> But at Nova, Ashley can't use them because they're pdf files. Jaws was only reading the title, not the entire page!
>>> Now this is unequal access. I say keep NLS and Learning Ally. If ebook readers were actually accessible, then we can think about eliminating what you call preferential treatment.
>>> As it stands now, I got to pay, yes pay a reader, to read the ebooks and myriad of paper sources because those are not accessible to me.
>>> 
>>> Ashley
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message----- From: Kirt Manwaring
>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 3:24 PM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Ebook Accessibility/The Future of NLS And Bookshare
>>> 
>>> Steve,
>>> One other thing I didn't catch from your last email.  If access to
>>> novels from mainstream sources is pretty straightforward, why do we
>>> still insist on getting these novels from bookshare and learning ally
>>> for free?  I'd personally like it if NLS implimented some sort of
>>> delete timer in to their downloads like lots of other digital ebook
>>> lending libraries do.  (overdrive anyone?)  But if we can read our
>>> novels in braille through ibooks or blio, where we can buy them
>>> honestly, why do we still demand getting these novels from bookshare
>>> or learning ally for free?  Sounds like preferential treatment to me,
>>> at least with books that aren't textbooks.
>>> Warmly,
>>> Kirt
>>> 
>>> On 5/25/11, Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Steve,
>>>> Fair enough.  I was a bit too bold and am probably a bit too
>>>> optomistic-I'll defer to you on that front.  And scientific/math
>>>> notation has always been a problem with electronic braille, hasn't it?
>>>> I think that's one area where paper braille, for all its annoyances,
>>>> will probably always be superior, barring some crazy new inovation
>>>> making braille displays bigger and representing tactile graphics with
>>>> the braille pins or something.  It'll need to be that drastic, I
>>>> think, to make rendering of graphics in refreshable braille even
>>>> comparable to paper braille with embossers and so forth...so we'll
>>>> probably be grappling with that issue for a long time, regardless of
>>>> what happens to bookshare.  I certainly wouldn't trust a math or
>>>> science textbook from bookshare-they've had problems enough with
>>>> literary braille.
>>>> I see your point about brand names.  But when one of those brands is
>>>> owned and operated by the NFB, I feel a lot more comfortable about
>>>> that brand providing braille support.  It's not a guarantee of course
>>>> (I've honestly been a bit disappointed with the blio so far) but it
>>>> makes me feel pretty comfortable that blio will get better and braille
>>>> access will improve.  I hope the good people at KNFB don't
>>>> disappoint-the NFB's set a pretty good precedent for accessibility so
>>>> far and it'd be a shame if Blio doesn't hit the mark.
>>>> Warmly,
>>>> Kirt
>>>> 
>>>> On 5/25/11, Steve Jacobson <steve.jacobson at visi.com> wrote:
>>>>> Kirt,
>>>>> 
>>>>> As I see it, we need to get access to e-books, and there are some things
>>>>> happening that hold great promise.  I think that giving us access to a
>>>>> novel, for
>>>>> example, is probably pretty straight-forward in most cases.  We need
>>>>> access
>>>>> to E-texts to even have a chance at accessing more mainstream titles, so
>>>>> I
>>>>> am
>>>>> not suggesting that this isn't important.
>>>>> 
>>>>> There is a lot up in the air yet with respect to scientific and math
>>>>> notation and how information in drawings should be conveyed.  This may
>>>>> not
>>>>> be that
>>>>> important for leisure reading, but it is very important in textbooks.
>>>>> Perhaps it will evolve that organizations such as Learning Ally will
>>>>> concentrate on making
>>>>> the various drawings accessible.  They might then create a final product
>>>>> by
>>>>> merging their special representation of drawings with the text that is
>>>>> already
>>>>> available.  I think we may have a harder time forcing publishers to
>>>>> create
>>>>> accessible drawings because that goes a bit further than just taking the
>>>>> same text
>>>>> and making it available in another format.
>>>>> 
>>>>> My second reason for hanging back on this is that all of the tools you
>>>>> name
>>>>> are brand names, products of a specific company.  We don't know what sort
>>>>> of
>>>>> availability of accessible texts will be maintained over time.  The
>>>>> industry
>>>>> is new, and we don't know a lot yet about consistency.  What if some new
>>>>> way
>>>>> of
>>>>> displaying text catches on in five years and the approach used is hard to
>>>>> make accessible.  My point isn't that there isn't reason to have some
>>>>> hope,
>>>>> but
>>>>> rather that we need to base those services we decide we no longer need on
>>>>> what is there now and not on what we think will be the case eventually.
>>>>> In
>>>>> 1997 or so, Adobe made a committment, due in part to pressure, to make
>>>>> their
>>>>> Acrobat Reader accessible.  Even with their efforts, our governor
>>>>> yesterday
>>>>> released statements using PDF documents that were not accessible.  I
>>>>> would
>>>>> never have thought in 1997 that there would still be inaccessible PDF's
>>>>> in
>>>>> 2011.  We justneed to be cautious when predicting where technology goes.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Best regards,
>>>>> 
>>>>> Steve Jacobson
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Wed, 25 May 2011 11:42:15 -0600, Kirt Manwaring wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Steve and Mike,
>>>>>> You're the technology people here, so I won't argue this too hard.
>>>>>> But are my statements about braille access to textbooks premature?
>>>>>> Isn't that kind of a huge reason why we're making the Blio reader and
>>>>>> working with Amazon on their Kindel?  Are you saying that an ebook
>>>>>> reader, produced in part by the NFB, which is free, will not become
>>>>>> more accessible and will not support braille access?  That seems a bit
>>>>>> silly to me.  What about websites like coursesmart?  You guys know
>>>>>> more about this than I do but it seems to me that we're moving fast
>>>>>> towards access to mainstream books in braille.
>>>>>> Steve, I'd submit that we'd need the expensive technology to read
>>>>>> electronic braille, with or without bookshare.  If we want to read a
>>>>>> bookshare file in electronic braille, we need one of those expensive
>>>>>> braille displays or notetakers-we'd need the exact same technology
>>>>>> setup to read a mainstream braille book through Blio or coursesmart or
>>>>>> (I still think before too long) the Kindel.  We'd just have to pay the
>>>>>> same price for our books the sighted have to pay-if we don't have the
>>>>>> money, maybe that's an insentive to start working or, at the very
>>>>>> least, better manage our precious SSI.
>>>>>> Just my thoughts,
>>>>>> Kirt
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On 5/25/11, Liz Bottner <liziswhatis at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> TO my knowledge, book publishers are actually partnering with BookShare
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> make their books available and accessible. I do think that quality of
>>>>>>> BKS
>>>>>>> books has improved over the years.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Liz Bottner
>>>>>>> Guiding Eyes Graduate Council
>>>>>>> GEB Voicemail:  800-942-0149 Ext. 2531
>>>>>>> e-mail:
>>>>>>> liziswhatis at hotmail.com
>>>>>>> Visit my LiveJournal:
>>>>>>> http://unsilenceddream.livejournal.com
>>>>>>> Follow me on Twitter:
>>>>>>> http://twitter.com/lizbot
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>>>> Behalf
>>>>>>> Of Sally Thomas
>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 6:20 AM
>>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Ebook Accessibility/The Future of NLS And
>>>>>>> Bookshare
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> There really needs to be some entity that is REQUIRED to produce
>>>>>>> accessible
>>>>>>> textbooks.  That process is a bit different than the process need to
>>>>>>> translate novels into braille.  I think it's great that more and more
>>>>>>> books
>>>>>>> are easily accessible with the new technology available, but it would
>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>> foolish to assume that publishers are going to put accessibility first
>>>>>>> when
>>>>>>> designing electronic files.  The NIMAC is the repository of accessible
>>>>>>> textbook files.  Textbook companies are required to make K-12 textbooks
>>>>>>> accessible.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Perhaps there is a more streamlined way to get good braille in the
>>>>>>> hands
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>> blind students than using Bookshare but there needs to be a dedicated
>>>>>>> process for producing quality braille.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Sally Thomas
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>> From: "Kirt Manwaring" <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com>
>>>>>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 11:28 PM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Ebook Accessibility/The Future of NLS And
>>>>>>> Bookshare
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> One more thing (I hate double posting, but I sure do it a lot),
>>>>>>> Maybe I was being just a bit too bold-we're not quite to the point
>>>>>>> where mainstream ebooks are as accessible as bookshare files or RFB&D
>>>>>>> audiobooks...but we're moving there fast.  I don't think it'll be too
>>>>>>> long until you can read a Kindle book or a Blio book on your notetaker
>>>>>>> or smart phone with braille display.  The technology's out there, it
>>>>>>> just needs to be developed and put to use a little bit more-and that
>>>>>>> trend's already started with Apple and Blio.  But it won't be too long
>>>>>>> until reading a mainstream ebook in braille, on any platform we use to
>>>>>>> read electronic braille now, will be as saemless and practical as
>>>>>>> using bookshare.  When that happens (and it's certainly not far off),
>>>>>>> I suspect we'll have an interesting philosophical debate on our
>>>>>>> hands...and you all better know where I'll stand after my last few
>>>>>>> posts.  *grin*  And now, for me, I don't need bookshare anymore to get
>>>>>>> ebooks for free I should buy and I feel like Learning Ally books are
>>>>>>> probably the same because of Audible (although audible's library isn't
>>>>>>> as extensive for textbooks), and I feel a little guilty every time I
>>>>>>> download a learning ally book for free that I should buy, just like
>>>>>>> every sighted person out there has to buy audiobooks instead of
>>>>>>> getting them on a silver platter
>>>>>>> I'm done now,
>>>>>>> Kirt
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On 5/24/11, Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> Julie,
>>>>>>>> More and more sighted people are reading ebooks instead of going to
>>>>>>>> libraries or buying them hardcopy.  The ability to read mainstream
>>>>>>>> ebooks in braille, not just on apple devices but on computers and
>>>>>>>> probably notetakers before too long, is expanding at a tremendous
>>>>>>>> rate!  If we want to borrow a hardcopy book, we should use a library
>>>>>>>> like everyone else does.  If we want to buy a hard copy braille book
>>>>>>>> we should use a book store (ala NBP), just like sighted people have to
>>>>>>>> buy hardcopy books if they want to keep them.  Maybe it's a worthwhile
>>>>>>>> idea to see if government can subsidize NBP and similar bookstores so
>>>>>>>> we have to pay the same price as everyone else.  But if we want to get
>>>>>>>> an ebook to keep, we should have to buy it.  Just like everyone else.
>>>>>>>> And the technology to read ebooks in braille (not just on apple
>>>>>>>> devices, but with a braille display and a computer) is already here
>>>>>>>> and expanding fast!  Can somebody tell me why, if we want to be
>>>>>>>> treated equally, we're clinging to free ebooks when we have options
>>>>>>>> (again, not just apple!), to buy our ebooks just like everyone else
>>>>>>>> and read them with braille displays?  If that's not hippocricy, I
>>>>>>>> honestly don't know what is.
>>>>>>>> I don't mean to insult anyone, offend anyone, or hurt anyone's
>>>>>>>> feelings.  But I obviously feel pretty strongly about this-please
>>>>>>>> don't take my passion as a personal attack.
>>>>>>>> With respect,
>>>>>>>> Kirt
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On 5/24/11, Julie McGinnity <kaybaycar at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Well said.  I agree with those statements.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> I was thinking about it that way as well.  What do sighted people do
>>>>>>>>> when they want a new book?  They go to the public library, or they go
>>>>>>>>> to Borders or some other book store.  Sometimes they go on Amazon and
>>>>>>>>> order hard copy books.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> We, however, do not get hard copy braille books very easily.  No, not
>>>>>>>>> many books are "made" (I mean specifically made, not just embossed by
>>>>>>>>> the common people) for distribution.  But we need equal access to
>>>>>>>>> books, so we get all these different formats in which we can get
>>>>>>>>> them.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> I think he is confused about the term equal access.  It doesn't mean
>>>>>>>>> that *everyone* needs to buy an iPad or whatever and download books
>>>>>>>>> just like the sighted people do.  It means that we can have the same
>>>>>>>>> choices as the sighted people.  Equal access, equal choices.  If we
>>>>>>>>> don't want to read our books on an Apple device, we shouldn't be
>>>>>>>>> forced to, and if we want to read all our books on iPhones, then that
>>>>>>>>> is our choice as well, but we shouldn't have choices taken away from
>>>>>>>>> us in the guise of equal access.  Are all sighted people going to
>>>>>>>>> switch over to reading their books on their Apple divices?  No.  Just
>>>>>>>>> us.  That just doesn't seem right to me.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> I'm sure I'm completely crazy in saying all these random things, but
>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>> find this is my opinion.  Sorry for subjecting you to my rambles.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> On 5/24/11, Brice Smith <brice.smith319 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> Besides the undercurrent of Apple snobbery here ("It seems to me,
>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>> many others who have embraced the integrated access of Apple
>>>>>>>>>> products,
>>>>>>>>>> that some quarters of the visually impaired community desire equal
>>>>>>>>>> access without equal responsibility,) I have one MAJOR, fundamental
>>>>>>>>>> problem with this article:
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> ":
>>>>>>>>>> For those who may argue that, given the high percentage of visually
>>>>>>>>>> impaired individuals with low or limited incomes, they simply cannot
>>>>>>>>>> afford to purchase books, I have two questions. First, what of all
>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>> the sighted individuals who are in similar circumstances? The
>>>>>>>>>> unemployment rate continues at high levels, and I'm sure many of
>>>>>>>>>> those
>>>>>>>>>> who are currently facing hard times would love a treasure trove of
>>>>>>>>>> free books at their fingertips. Why don't we open BookShare.org or
>>>>>>>>>> NLS
>>>>>>>>>> up to these unfortunates?"
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Sighted individuals do have a treasure trove of free books at their
>>>>>>>>>> disposal. It's called the public library, Josh.
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Of course, I treat BookShare like a library, in that I immediately
>>>>>>>>>> delete what I download when I'm finished reading. I'm sure that many
>>>>>>>>>> users of BookShare  and NLS keep everything they download, and I
>>>>>>>>>> would
>>>>>>>>>> not mind at all if Bookshare or NLS encouraged and moved towards a
>>>>>>>>>> model of renting and borrowing as opposed to downloading and
>>>>>>>>>> keeping.
>>>>>>>>>> Still, BookShare is my treasure trove and rental service for books
>>>>>>>>>> as
>>>>>>>>>> the public library is the treasure trove and rental service for
>>>>>>>>>> sighted individuals.
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Brice
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> On 5/24/11, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> Hey Guys:
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> I came across an interesting editorial/article written by Josh
>>>>>>>>>>> DeLioncourt from lioncourt.com/the Maccessibility Network and I
>>>>>>>>>>> wanted
>>>>>>>>>>> to get your thoughts.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> The article discusses the future of NLS and Bookshare and the rise
>>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>>> ebooks. It suggests that as visually impaired/blind people we
>>>>>>>>>>> should
>>>>>>>>>>> try to move towards a future of reading/purchasing Ebooks from
>>>>>>>>>>> mainstream sources such as the Amazon Kindle, Audible.com, and
>>>>>>>>>>> Apple's
>>>>>>>>>>> Ibooks and that blindness-specific sources such as Bookshare.org
>>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>>> the NLS library service should go away.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Just for discussion sake what are your thoughts?
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Do you see NLS and Bookshare completely going away in the future?
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Just for what it's worth, here are my thoughts.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> While mainstream sources are great, what about braille and braille
>>>>>>>>>>> literacy? You can't use a braille display to read Kindle books.
>>>>>>>>>>> Audible books are audio so no braille there. As far as I know
>>>>>>>>>>> (someone
>>>>>>>>>>> correct me if I'm wrong) you can't read Ibooks with a braille
>>>>>>>>>>> display
>>>>>>>>>>> either. I for one love Bookshare because you can download the books
>>>>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>>>>> BRF files and read them in braille on either a braille display or a
>>>>>>>>>>> notetaker. You can also get hardcopy braille books from NLS.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> What about those who do not like the voice used by the Amazon
>>>>>>>>>>> Kindle
>>>>>>>>>>> and the Samantha voice on the Iphone? I for one hate those voices
>>>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>>>> reading book purposes...I've tried and just can't get into them for
>>>>>>>>>>> reading.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> What about seniors just losing their vision? Though I hope as many
>>>>>>>>>>> people get into technology as possible you have to be somewhat
>>>>>>>>>>> computer savvy to work the kindle PC software and the Ibooks app
>>>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>>>> the Iphone/Ipod touch/Ipad is all touchscreen.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Just my thoughts...I would be very very sad if NLS and Bookshare
>>>>>>>>>>> went
>>>>>>>>>>> away completely.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> hHere is the article...just thought I'd bring this up for
>>>>>>>>>>> discussion
>>>>>>>>>>> purposes.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Kerri
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Crossroads: Rekindling the Accessible Ebook Discussion
>>>>>>>>>>> by Josh de Lioncourt
>>>>>>>>>>> A few weeks ago, I read a question posed by someone on Twitter that
>>>>>>>>>>> rekindled a line of thought I have had on and off for a couple of
>>>>>>>>>>> years. In essence, the question was this: "We have BookShare.org,
>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>> National Library Service, and other similar resources. Why should
>>>>>>>>>>> we
>>>>>>>>>>> care about the accessibility of eBook platforms like iBooks,
>>>>>>>>>>> Kindle,
>>>>>>>>>>> Adobe Digital Editions, etc?"
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> On the surface, this question, which has been posed by several
>>>>>>>>>>> people
>>>>>>>>>>> with whom I've been acquainted, appears to be a pragmatic one. If
>>>>>>>>>>> one
>>>>>>>>>>> digs a little deeper, however, it becomes an illustration of an
>>>>>>>>>>> alarming attitude, often an unconscious one, throughout the
>>>>>>>>>>> visually
>>>>>>>>>>> impaired community.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Before exploring that aspect, though, let's take a quick look at
>>>>>>>>>>> just
>>>>>>>>>>> a few of the strictly practical answers that can be given to this
>>>>>>>>>>> question.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> .In general, books released in printed form are now simultaneously
>>>>>>>>>>> available in digital formats. This provides readers and students
>>>>>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>>>>>> access to material, be it for pleasure, education, or work, at the
>>>>>>>>>>> same time as their sighted counterparts. This is rarely the case
>>>>>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>>>>>> publications offered through many of the resources aimed at
>>>>>>>>>>> providing
>>>>>>>>>>> materials in accessible formats.
>>>>>>>>>>> .Many of the resources which provide accessible materials are
>>>>>>>>>>> understandably required to obtain medical proof of disability from
>>>>>>>>>>> their users before they are able to gain access to the content
>>>>>>>>>>> provided. Some users may be unwilling or unable to jump through
>>>>>>>>>>> these
>>>>>>>>>>> hoops, or find it a violation of privacy.
>>>>>>>>>>> .Some services require expensive, unwieldy, or otherwise
>>>>>>>>>>> undesirable
>>>>>>>>>>> or inefficient equipment to access their content. By contrast,
>>>>>>>>>>> commercial solutions like Apple's iBooks and Amazon's Kindle
>>>>>>>>>>> provide
>>>>>>>>>>> access to their content across a variety of mainstream devices,
>>>>>>>>>>> including mobile phones.
>>>>>>>>>>> .Some resources of accessible content, (i.e. BookShare.org), charge
>>>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>>>> recurring fee for the service. For avid readers who consume large
>>>>>>>>>>> number of books each year, this is undoubtedly a cost-efficient
>>>>>>>>>>> solution. For those who read only occasionally, however, it can
>>>>>>>>>>> prove
>>>>>>>>>>> far more costly than purchasing books from a digital retailer.
>>>>>>>>>>> .Many books are never made available in accessible formats through
>>>>>>>>>>> these
>>>>>>>>>>> bodies.
>>>>>>>>>>> This is by no means an exhaustive list of practical reasons why a
>>>>>>>>>>> visually impaired user may prefer access to a digital e-book
>>>>>>>>>>> platform,
>>>>>>>>>>> but it does provide a sample of the variety of such reasons. No one
>>>>>>>>>>> solution will ever work for all users, and that must be always kept
>>>>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>>>>> mind when topics such as this are discussed or debated.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> There is a far more important issue that this subject raises,
>>>>>>>>>>> however.
>>>>>>>>>>> It is best expressed in the form of a question: "As visually
>>>>>>>>>>> impaired
>>>>>>>>>>> people, what is it we desire most: equal access, or preferential
>>>>>>>>>>> treatment?"
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Several years ago, this was not nearly as legitimate of a question.
>>>>>>>>>>> Services like NLS and BookShare provided materials that were
>>>>>>>>>>> otherwise
>>>>>>>>>>> inaccessible to those with visual impairments or other disabilities
>>>>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>>>>> a manner that was equivalent to public libraries.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> With the ever increasing ubiquity of the Internet, the availability
>>>>>>>>>>> and usage of public libraries around the globe has fallen sharply.
>>>>>>>>>>> Research can be done far more efficiently online, where the wealth
>>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>>> information is virtually limitless and growing all the time. A
>>>>>>>>>>> WikiPedia article outlines the basic statistics of the decline of
>>>>>>>>>>> library use over the last twenty years. As far back as 2001, 93% of
>>>>>>>>>>> college students felt it made more sense to obtain the information
>>>>>>>>>>> they needed online than by visiting a physical library.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> The majority of information online is, of course, far more
>>>>>>>>>>> accessible
>>>>>>>>>>> than the visually impaired have ever had access to in the past. Few
>>>>>>>>>>> technological advances, if any, have had such a profound impact on
>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>> quality of life for visually impaired individuals, and you will
>>>>>>>>>>> find
>>>>>>>>>>> none who would argue that point.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> With the decline of libraries as a research tool has come the
>>>>>>>>>>> decline
>>>>>>>>>>> of their usage as a source of books consumed for pleasure as well.
>>>>>>>>>>> Ask
>>>>>>>>>>> yourself this: how many sighted readers do you know who regularly,
>>>>>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>>>>>> exclusively, obtain books for a local public library to read. The
>>>>>>>>>>> answer will be very few, if any. These days, most avid readers
>>>>>>>>>>> purchase books to read, just like any other form of entertainment
>>>>>>>>>>> media such as music or movies.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> While the usefulness of services like NLS or BookShare.org in years
>>>>>>>>>>> passed is undeniable, their necessity is waning in the wake of
>>>>>>>>>>> accessible mainstream sources of materials such as iBooks, Inkling,
>>>>>>>>>>> and Audible.com. Though services providing accessible content to
>>>>>>>>>>> those
>>>>>>>>>>> with disabilities may still be the best, or in some cases the only,
>>>>>>>>>>> solution for some users today, we should be actively moving toward
>>>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>>>> future of equal access with our sighted peers.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> It seems to me, and many others who have embraced the integrated
>>>>>>>>>>> access of Apple products, that some quarters of the visually
>>>>>>>>>>> impaired
>>>>>>>>>>> community desire equal access without equal responsibility,
>>>>>>>>>>> especially
>>>>>>>>>>> when regards written material. Do we, the visually impaired
>>>>>>>>>>> community,
>>>>>>>>>>> purchase music like everyone else? Do we buy DVD's like everyone
>>>>>>>>>>> else?
>>>>>>>>>>> Do we pay for Coca-Colas at the corner store or our lattes at
>>>>>>>>>>> StarBucks? Why not our books as well? Is the entertainment or
>>>>>>>>>>> educational value of a novel by Stephen King or a instructional
>>>>>>>>>>> text
>>>>>>>>>>> on programming C++so low that we feel it isn't worth as much as we
>>>>>>>>>>> pay
>>>>>>>>>>> for the latest album by Lady Gaga or a course at the local
>>>>>>>>>>> community
>>>>>>>>>>> college?
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> For those who may argue that, given the high percentage of visually
>>>>>>>>>>> impaired individuals with low or limited incomes, they simply
>>>>>>>>>>> cannot
>>>>>>>>>>> afford to purchase books, I have two questions.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> First, what of all of the sighted individuals who are in similar
>>>>>>>>>>> circumstances? The unemployment rate continues at high levels, and
>>>>>>>>>>> I'm
>>>>>>>>>>> sure many of those who are currently facing hard times would love a
>>>>>>>>>>> treasure trove of free books at their fingertips. Why don't we open
>>>>>>>>>>> BookShare.org or NLS up to these unfortunates?
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Second, what about all the funds wasted, be it by individuals or
>>>>>>>>>>> government agencies, on access technology which is less capable
>>>>>>>>>>> than
>>>>>>>>>>> mainstream solutions? For example, the GW Micro BookSense is
>>>>>>>>>>> available
>>>>>>>>>>> in $349 USD and $499 USD varieties. It allows visually impaired
>>>>>>>>>>> users
>>>>>>>>>>> to read books in electronic format and listen to audio books or
>>>>>>>>>>> music.
>>>>>>>>>>> How is this a better value than, for example, an iPod touch, which
>>>>>>>>>>> provides the same functionality, plus Internet access, email, and
>>>>>>>>>>> tens
>>>>>>>>>>> of thousands of applications to extend its capabilities starting at
>>>>>>>>>>> just $229 USD? This isn't even to mention the fact that the iPod
>>>>>>>>>>> touch
>>>>>>>>>>> can be connected to a Braille display, has significantly more
>>>>>>>>>>> storage,
>>>>>>>>>>> and a battery warranty that is twice the length of what users get
>>>>>>>>>>> from
>>>>>>>>>>> the BookSense. Wouldn't money saved by integrated solutions
>>>>>>>>>>> ultimately
>>>>>>>>>>> be better spent compensating the authors of useful or entertaining
>>>>>>>>>>> books for their hard work?
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Is it not the height of hypocrisy that the visually impaired
>>>>>>>>>>> community
>>>>>>>>>>> wastes not a moment in lambasting, (even suing), companies like
>>>>>>>>>>> Amazon
>>>>>>>>>>> for a lack of accessibility in its Kindle products, and yet balks
>>>>>>>>>>> at
>>>>>>>>>>> the notion that we begin moving away from having the majority of
>>>>>>>>>>> our
>>>>>>>>>>> printed materials handed over for free?
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> We, the visually impaired community, are rapidly approaching a
>>>>>>>>>>> crossroads. It is time to prove that we have the courage of our
>>>>>>>>>>> convictions. Will we be worthy of equal access, and by extension
>>>>>>>>>>> equal
>>>>>>>>>>> opportunities? Or will we squander the chance to put ourselves on
>>>>>>>>>>> equal footing with the sighted world by an unwillingness to move
>>>>>>>>>>> forward with society, and a misplaced sense of entitlement?
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> I know which outcome I'm hoping for.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/brice.smith319%40gma
>>>>>>> il.com
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>> Brice Smith
>>>>>>>>>> North Carolina State University, Communication - Public Relations
>>>>>>>>>> Brice.Smith319 at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kaybaycar%40gmail.co
>>>>>>> m
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>> Julie McG
>>>>>>>>> Lindbergh High School class of 2009, participating member in Opera
>>>>>>>>> Theater's Artist in Training Program, and proud graduate of Guiding
>>>>>>>>> Eyes for the Blind
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
>>>>>>>>> everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
>>>>>>>>> life."
>>>>>>>>> John 3:16
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kirt.crazydude%40gma
>>>>>>> il.com
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
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>>>>>>> nabs-l:
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>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
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>>>>>>> l.com
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
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>>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
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>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
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>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
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>> 
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> 
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