[blindlaw] west academic now using "vital source" to distribute accessible books--is this platform accessible?

[Tim Elder]

Laura,

Please let me know if you find an answer to this question.  Using DRM
features to inhibit accessibility for print disabled students is something
we should all be concerned about.  Yet one more reason for the TEACH Act to
pass.  I hope all are supporting this legislation through NFB's Washington
Seminar efforts.



Regards,


-----Original Message-----
From: Laura Wolk [mailto:laura.wolk at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2015 1:47 PM
To: Blind Law Mailing List
Subject: [blindlaw] west academic now using "vital source" to distribute
accessible books--is this platform accessible?

Hello all,

Ironically, given the recent discussion about the ease of using
publisher-distributed textbooks, I've just received an email from West
Academic stating that they no longer send PDF files directly to students.
They instead use a platform called Vital Source. Students are given a
redemption code, told to "click on the cover of the book"
and can view the book from within the website. The instructions I received
also made it seem like you could download an application to view the book
offline, but the wording leads me to believe that again, this won't give you
access to a stand-alone file that can, say, be parsed out in Kurzweil.
Rather, it seems like it just gives you access ot the same proprietary file.

I cannot test this hypothesis though, because I can't seem to figure out how
to 'redeem" my digital books to see if they're accessible. I keep clicking
on the link but nothing happens. I readily admit I am not the most computer
savvy person in the world, but I am not  a novice Jaws user either.

Has anyone used Vital Source before? Is it accessible? Does it allow
off-line access to books?

If it does not allow offline access in a way which allows me to alter the
file to suit my own needs, I would also appreciate any information about
options moving forward. i heavily rely on being able to run things through
Kurzweil and to multi-task by keeping books on multiple computers and my
iPhone. I also foresee this will add extra time constraints to open book
exams, etc. If the file is technically "accessible" but not readily usable,
do I have any leg to stand on regarding insisting that the publisher send me
a stand-alone PDF file?

Thank you for any help or information.

Laura

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Laura