[NFBOK-Talk] FW: [Nfbnet-members-list] FW: National Federation of the Blind and Scribd Agree to Collaborate to Make Reading Subscription Service Accessible to the Blind

[Jeannie Massay]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:


John G. Paré Jr.

Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy 

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2218

(410) 917-1965 (Cell)

jpare at nfb.org <mailto:jpare at nfb.org> 

 

National Federation of the Blind and Scribd Agree to Collaborate to Make
Reading Subscription Service Accessible to the Blind

 

Baltimore, Maryland (November 19, 2015): The National Federation of the
Blind and Scribd, Inc. have agreed to work together to provide access and
make content available in Scribd’s subscription reading service and website
accessible to the blind by the end of 2017. Available on desktop and mobile
devices, Scribd’s service provides users access to ebooks, audiobooks and
other published content for a flat monthly fee. As part of an agreement
between the two organizations, Scribd will rearchitect its website to make
most subscription content compatible with screen access software for the
blind. Screen access software converts text-based content into Braille or
spoken words. Scribd will also facilitate access to other types of documents
in its collection when requested by blind users.

 

Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
“Lack of access to the printed word has traditionally been one of the most
significant barriers faced by the blind, but electronic books and documents,
when they are designed to be accessible to us, can provide access to more
information than we have ever had in all of human history, leading to better
education and employment outcomes, and helping us to live the lives we want.
We are thrilled that blind readers will soon have access to Scribd’s vast
digital library, and we commend Scribd for agreeing to work with us to make
this happen. My wife Melissa, my daughters Oriana and Elizabeth, and I are
blind, and we, along with my son Austin, eagerly look forward to delving
into this new treasure trove of literature and information as a family.”

 

Trip Adler, CEO of Scribd said: “We are committed to building the library of
the future and making it accessible to all. Our collaboration with the
National Federation of the Blind is an important step in making this a
reality, and we look forward to ensuring our technology is usable for the
blind community.”

 

The agreement resolves litigation filed last year by the National Federation
of the Blind and Heidi Viens, a blind mother from Colchester, Vermont. There
is no admission of liability or wrongdoing by any party to the agreement.
The plaintiffs were represented by Laurence Paradis, Haben Girma, and
Rebecca Rodgers of the firm Disability Rights Advocates; Daniel F. Goldstein
and Gregory P. Care of the Baltimore firm Brown, Goldstein and Levy, LLP;
and Emily J. Joselson and Michele B. Patton of the Middlebury, Vermont firm
Langrock, Sperry & Wool, LLP.

 

###

 

About the National Federation of the Blind 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

 

 

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