[NABS-L] Trouble obtaining accessible textbooks.

[Justin Ekis]

Hi Karl, 

I agree in principle. Ideally, that policy would represent the perfect picture of equality. In actuality,  it directly leads to an unequal situation where students who depend on financial aid are placed at high risk of falling behind before the class really begins, at no fault of their own and with no recourse to avoid the damage. Laws should account for the complexities that exist when those policies interact with other conditions that may be in place. 

One of the two laws must change to create actual equality. I agree that it is only right that we pay like everyone else. That's obvious. So the best approach would be that the federal student aid laws require institutions disperse a portion of the grant funds at least 30 days prior to the start of the term. Alternately, this law about accessibility should be amended to insure that the books are received on time. Either an option to have a portion of the grant automatically remitted directly to the publishers, the chance to sign a legally binding contract to purchase the books, or a mandate for a 3 day turnaround time. Otherwise, the current situation is paper equality only. 

Best, 

Justin 
 

> On Jul 22, 2020, at 7:03 PM, Karl Martin Adam via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Justin, the policy you mention is federal law.  The law allows you to get a digital copy of your books from the publisher, but it requires you to pay for them like everyone else.  That's equality not discrimination (the financial aid policies, on the other hand, are awful, and I'm sorry you have to deal with that).  You might, however, be able to work with your disabled student services and arrange for them to order your books now but not give you the files until you show them a receipt.  In my experience two weeks is pushing it for turnaround.  The person at your disabled student services who actually orders the books will probably have the best assessment of the turnaround time for those specific publishers.  Also, FYI Bookshare's speed for ordering and preparing books is usually 2-4 months, though they've slowed down significantly with the pandemic.
> 
> HTH,
> Karl
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Justin Ekis via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Wed, 22 Jul 2020 17:31:01 -0500
> Subject: [NABS-L] Trouble obtaining accessible textbooks.
> 
> Hey there Nabsters,
> 
> This fall, I will be heading back to community college for my second attempt at an associate’s degree in Computer Information Technology. My duel majors are concentrations in Cyber defence and networking.
> 
> I am having a great deal of trouble obtaining accessible textbooks. Neither Bookshare or learning ally have the correct editions of the required material. For one title, no edition is available from these services. I requested them to be added in may, but they have not yet come through.
> 
> When I contacted the Center for access at my college, the coordinator for disability services informed me that they could request accessible versions directly from the publishers. However, I would have to provide receipts showing that I had purchased the books first. On my SSDI, there’s no way I can afford those books until I get my Financial aid funds. According to the financial aid office, they won’t distribute the bookstore voucher until 2 weeks before classes start, and the rest of the money after the  first 2 weeks of class.
> 
> If I can’t request the books until 2 weeks before class, what are the odds that I will receive all 4 of them before the first day? two of my books are published by Pearson Education, i can’t tell whether another one  is from  Pearson IT Certification or Cisco press, and the last one is from cengage learning. Does anyone know whether this rule comes from the publishers, or might it be simply the policy of our center for access?
> 
> Is there anything I can do to get my materials more quickly? This policy seems to discriminate against low income disabled students. Now that NFB is working more closely with Pearson, might they be able to get involved somehow?
> 
> Thanks in advance for any help.
> 
> 
> 
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