[Mabs] AHEAD's E-Text Solutions Group Perspective on the Issues of Textbook Access

[Joe Orozco]

    The NFB of Texas will soon be moving to push a bill to facilitate access 
to textbooks for post-secondary students.  It is my personal hope that other 
states can pass similar legislation to bring us one step forward to 
rendering an equal playing field for all blind students.  Below is a brief 
article and a link to a report which might assist you should you decide to 
take on the endeavor in your area.  If so, please keep in touch with the 
Texas affiliate so that we might launch a united front on our legislatures.

          Joe Orozco, Legislative Chair
           National Federation of the Blind of Texas

Esight Community News, USA
Friday, December 22, 2006
AHEAD's E-Text Solutions Group Perspective on the Issues of Textbook Access
The Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD) has been working 
strategically with the publishing industry and other stakeholder groups over
the last several years to promote ready, usable access to text materials for 
students with print-related disabilities. AHEAD's E-Text Solutions Group has
focused on policies, procedures, best practices, and training in the area of 
digital text access to standard print materials and is focused on 
identifying
a coordinated national accessible materials solutions framework. As part of 
this effort AHEAD has adopted a Position Statement crafted by it's E-Text 
Solutions
group.
The comprehensive paper provides an interpretation of relevant U.S. laws and 
an analysis of current issues related to the conversion of printed materials
for individuals with disabilities that impact there ability to use 
traditionally printed materials. While acknowledging the publishing 
community's concerns
and rights, AHEAD takes the position that reproduction of course texts into 
digital formats is a fair use of copyrighted materials in this context. To
read this paper in its entirety visit
http://www.ahead.org/etext/etext_positionstatement.htm
The Webpage contains a downloadable Microsoft Word copy of the paper; AHEAD 
invites you to forward this information to others who may have interest in 
this
important work.
Posted by Nancy at 12:22 PM
http://www.tabinc.org/blog/archives/2006/12/aheads_etext_so.html