Reading eBooks and Accessible Textbooks with NEW Read:OutLoud University Edition eBook Reader

Introduction

Main Item

Enables college students and veterans with disabilities to read eBooks and accessible materials with quality text-to-speech, access the Internet in an accessible web browser and use helpful study tools in school and at work

Don Johnston just announced its new Read:OutLoud University Edition eBook Reader at the AHEAD Conference in Denver, Colorado. (Association on Higher Education and Disability)

The Read:OutLoud University Edition eBook reader is accessible reading software to help individuals and postsecondary students with disabilities navigate the latest eBooks and textbooks and hear text read aloud. Thousands of college students, transitioning high school seniors and veterans (wounded warriors) have reading and physical disabilities that make it difficult to read standard print. These individuals will find Read:OutLoud to be a versatile reading tool that includes an accessible web browser and helpful study tools to perform research online and prepare for exams.

"Digital text is giving students with disabilities more opportunities to learn and excel in K-12 and postsecondary education," said Ben Johnston, Director of Marketing for Don Johnston. "As more publishers create digital textbooks and college professors assign online content, students with disabilities can use Read:OutLoud to keep pace with class projects and show their true potential at school and at work."

The Read:OutLoud University Edition eBook reader comes at a time when government and disability advocates are urging equitable and timely access to curriculum for students with disabilities. This technology will read the widest range of eBook formats, including RTF, TXT, XML and HTML files, open-source content and Bookshare files. The software will open DAISY 3.0 and PDF files without conversion. Students will enjoy the quality text-to-speech and study tools, such as highlighters, smart bookmarks, direct links to Google's online dictionary and a bibliographer to cite sources in both APA and MLA styles. Members of Bookshare will have one-click access to 72,000 accessible books, journals and periodicals.

According to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report, students with disabilities represent 11 percent of all postsecondary students and the population is growing. Every K-12 school district and nearly every post-secondary institution in the U.S. is subject to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act which prohibits discrimination on the basis of a disability. The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) enforces this legislation. In a joint letter written to college and university presidents dated June 29, 2010, the Departments of Justice and Education address this concern to provide accessible electronic book readers for postsecondary students with disabilities. The seven paragraph letter, published on the U.S. Ed.gov website, Office for Civil Rights, states that...'ensuring equal access to emerging technology in university and college classrooms is a means to the goal of full integration and equal educational opportunity for students with disabilities. With technological advances, procuring electronic book readers that are accessible should be neither costly nor difficult.'

University and college Disability Student Service (DSS) offices can fulfill this obligation, save time, money and paperwork through a Read:OutLoud University Edition Campus-Wide License. This license allows for installation on every campus computer and individual student laptops. The software runs on Mac OS 10.4+, Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. Campus licenses start at $2,999 for total school enrollment under 10,000 or $4,999 for enrollment over 10,000. Single licenses cost $319. An online demo and 'Train in 30' tutorial get students and staff using the eBook reader fast. Visit www.donjohnston.com/quote or call 1-800-999-4660 to request a quote.

Learn more about the Read:OutLoud University Edition accessible eBook reader (www.donjohnston.com/products/readoutlouduniversity/index.html )

Read Ed.gov, Office of Civil Rights Letter to Colleagues... to Presidents of Colleges and Universities: (www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html )

Watch a 5 minute demo - Learn More about the Read:OutLoud University Edition (www.donjohnston.com/media/flash/product_demo/readoutloud6ue/index.html )

Download the Train-in-30 Tutorial (PDF) (www.donjohnston.com/pdf/solo6/ReadOutLoud_6_Train-in-30.pdf )

Read research and Case Studies about the benefits of accessible text readers: (www.donjohnston.com/products/read_outloud/research.html )

Don Johnston develops accessible reading and writing technologies to support K-12 and postsecondary students with cognitive, physical, and learning disabilities. Since 1980, the company has partnered with literacy experts, AT specialists, SLPs, OTs, special education teachers, university researchers and DSS coordinators to improve access to learning and to increase writing independence. Students and individuals with dyslexia, autism, dysgraphia, down-syndrome and diverse learning challenges will benefit from software and hardware devices to accommodate them in education and workforce programs.