[Ohio-talk] Fw: College Textbook Affordability Acts

Thu Feb 19 16:51:40 UTC 2009

Hi All,
This is not aimed at you, Robby.
I was just wondering if High School and College Students are experiencing the opportunity to work with a reader. It takes some skill to work with a reader. You have to know what you need read, how to get the most of the reader's time and how to get the reader to do the things you need when reading. For example, you need to get the Reader to read things to you without Editing unless you specifically tell the person to oit certain things. You also need to get them to describe graphs and read Figures in a text.
There are times when a Reader is the only option. For example, you might be working somewhere and need quick info to handle whatever you are doing. You also might have things handed to you which are handwritten and need to be read.
I just hope that with the Accessible textbooks etc. we are still training blind people in the use of readers.
Some mail comes in fonts that are not user-friendly for Adaptive Equipment. Some people just do not have that equipment.
Let's have as much accessibility as possible and still encourage good use of readers when required.
Colleen Roth

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFB OF Ohio Announcement and Discussion List" <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Date: 2009/02/19 05:25:47
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] Fw: College Textbook Affordability Acts

>
>
> How about using a -- gasp -- reader?
> 
> Mike
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Robert Spangler" <spangler.robert at gmail.com>
> To: "NFB OF Ohio Announcement and Discussion List" 
> <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 9:05 PM
> Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] Fw: College Textbook Affordability Acts
> 
> 
> Thanks.  Just thought I would let you know that I am struggling with
> something very peculiar and I really want something done about this
> either now or at least when I graduate to benefit those who take my
> place.  I am currently in a Spanish class where I do not have the
> textbook.  The publisher claims that they can only send it in Course
> Smart format and we all know the problem with that!  They were able to
> send the Spanish workbook to me in PDF FORMAT BUT NOT THE TEXTBOOK.  I
> am hearing that they may be able to have it to me in two weeks?  I'm
> hearing two things, my office of accessibility and I have been calling
> these people over and over, I don't know who is wrong, who is and isn't
> doing their work on the issue, etc.  All I know is I'm getting very
> PO'ed because I could potentially score low in the class due to the lack
> of a textbook.  This cannot be legal.  I have found no one to give me
> helpful advice.  All that everyone has told me thus far is that any
> legal action I take would be too steep of a clime and pretty much I get
> the "just deal with it" tone.  OK, SO SHOULD I just sit back, guess all
> the answers on the test and fail?  I don't think so.  I'm thinking more
> on the lines of just sueing them.  This may be hard and costly but what
> is my life without an education?  It's nothing.  I can get nowhere
> without an education.  So if I have to fight for that right I don't feel
> that I stand to lose anything.  Sorry if I'm ranting but this is just
> getting ridiculous.
> 
> Robby
> 
> Dr. Smith wrote:
> > Check it out.
> >
> > JW
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: Wilson, Joanne
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 8:19 AM
> > Subject: FW: College Textbook Affordability Acts
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Dear State Presidents:
> >
> > Currently, there is a push within the higher education community to 
> > lessen the cost of textbooks by making these publications available to 
> > students electronically. Affordable textbooks would be great for 
> > everyone, but we want to make sure that the blind are not forgotten in 
> > this endeavor, and that the electronic versions of these texts are 
> > accessible. We are working on gathering information about this 
> > initiative, and we need your help with the following:
> >
> >
> >
> > 1. Please find out if any affordable textbook legislation is pending 
> > in your state. The name of the bills will vary-Maryland's is called 
> > the College Textbook Competition and Affordability Act of 2009. 
> > Minnesota's bill is named the College Textbook Affordability Act.
> >
> >
> >
> > 2. Email Mehgan Sidhu from Brown, Goldstein & Levy at ms at browngold.com 
> > to let her know what you find out. Please also copy me on the message. 
> > My email is jwilson at nfb.org.
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks for your help with this very important project!
> >
> >
> >
> > Joanne
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > From: Wilson, Joanne
> > Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 1:12 PM
> > To: Carranza, Rosy
> > Subject: FW: College Textbook Affordability Acts
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > From: Mehgan Sidhu [mailto:ms at browngold.com]
> > Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 12:18 PM
> > To: Wilson, Joanne
> > Subject: College Textbook Affordability Acts
> >
> >
> >
> > Joanne,
> >
> > Below are the titles of the Maryland and Minnesota Acts, and link to 
> > the Maryland bill. Please let me know if you need more information. 
> > Thanks!  Mehgan
> >
> >
> >
> > Maryland: College Textbook Competition and Affordability Act of 2009
> >
> > Minnesota: College Textbook Affordability Act
> >
> >
> >
> > Link to Maryland Bill:
> >
> > http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/hb/hb0085f.pdf
> >
> >
> >
> > Mehgan Sidhu
> >
> > Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP
> >
> > 120 East Baltimore Street, Suite 1700
> >
> > Baltimore, Maryland 21202
> >
> > 410-962-1030 x1324
> >
> > 410-385-0869 (fax)
> >
> > ms at browngold.com
> >
> > www.browngold.com
> >
> >
> >
> > Confidentiality Notice
> >
> >
> >
> > This e-mail may contain confidential information that may also be 
> > legally privileged and that is intended only for the use of the 
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> > authorized agent of the recipient, please be advised that any 
> > dissemination or copying of this e-mail, or taking of any action in 
> > reliance on the information contained herein, is strictly prohibited. 
> > If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify me 
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> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> 
> -- 
> Robert Spangler
> The University of Toledo
> Student Senate - Recording Secretary
> 
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