Network Collaborators

The AccessText Network establishes meaningful relationships with leading groups servicing students with print-related disabilities to improve college textbook accessibility.

The AccessText Network is a venture founded and supported by the Association of American Publishers and Higher Education textbook publishers. In December of 2008, the AAP announced its agreement with the Alternative Media Access Center to develop and launch the AccessText Network, a comprehensive, national online system that will make it easier and quicker for students with print-related disabilities to obtain textbooks in alternative formats.

The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) joins the AccessText Network on a journey of improving college textbook accessibility. The focus of the collaboration stems from linking the APH Louis database, which contains 200,000 titles in accessible formats for k-12 students as well as titles on the postsecondary level, with the AccessText Network, which offers colleges direct access to leading publishers. The expectation of the joint project is to support students with disabilities transitioning into postsecondary environments.

The Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC), an initiative of the University System of Georgia, is committed to removing barriers and providing access to knowledge for individuals with physical, sensory, and learning print-related disabilities. AMAC is charged with making AccessText the national nucleus of postsecondary distribution of approved alternative textbook file exchanges, training, and technical support.

The Alternate Text Production Center (ATPC) is a California Community College Chancellor's Office Program. The Center's mission is to produce electronic text (e-text) and braille learning materials for students with print disabilities. The skilled staff uses advanced computer networks, electronic document management, and state-of-the-art technologies to create high quality alternate media products. The ATPC specializes in postsecondary products to include formatted e-text files, complex Braille transcription, Braille embossing, and tactile graphics. The Center also maintains an active file catalog at www.atpc.net.

CourseSmart is a venture supported by the leading publishers in North American higher education. Founded in 2007, CourseSmart provides eTextbooks and digital learning tools to millions of student and faculty users.

Our members asked and we listened! In order to support the textbook conversion needs of our members, AccessText has partnered with Dolphin. A UK-based company, Dolphin has expanded its services to the United States. The partnership will strengthen and expand much-needed services in the areas of:

Disability Service Provider Alternative Media Training. Webinars are open to all members.
DAISY Textbook Service. Using donated software AccessText will produce accessible textbooks in DAISY format. These DAISY textbooks will be available for download through the Exchange Library Service.
DAISY Talking Books Service. Dolphin has donated their unlimited EasyReader Express license. EasyReader Express is an innovative web-based subscription service that enables experienced DAISY talking book providers to add an Express version of EasyReader to DAISY talking book content. With EasyReader Express added, readers can instantly open a DAISY talking book in a fully accessible reader.

"It is our vision is to deliver independence to people with vision and print impairments all over the World. With over 160 million visually impaired people and 600 million dyslexic or learning disabled people, that's no small challenge. But we're determined to make a difference and have been working hard on that goal since Dolphin started in 1986." Noel Duffy, Dolphin Computer Access

Intuit, Inc. is a leading provider of business and financial management solutions for small and mid-sized business. Its flagship products and services include QuickBooks, Quicken, and TurboTax software. The AccessText Network is leveraging Intuit's online database QuickBase to enable publishers and colleges to effectively combine and share their resources and expertise to meet students' needs.

Learning Ally and the AccessText Network are working toward collaboration to address issues facing postsecondary students with print-related disabilities. Learning Ally and AccessText will focus on improving the process by which Disability Service Providers at colleges and universities locate and acquire alternate format materials appropriate to the needs of their students.