Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

We've worked with O'Reilly Media for a long time. They were the first publisher to sign on to deliver their books electronically to Bookshare back in 2003, and gave us permission to provide their books outside the U.S. We take their files and convert them to the DAISY format which is a digital format designed specifically to create accessible materials for people with print disabilities.

Accessibility 133

Accessibility Marketing eBook Files 133

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

When Bookshare was first created, we conceived of the concept of a digital library built by the people who use the library, instead of solely by librarians deciding what people with print disabilities should read. Using a provision of U.S. copyright law, our volunteers scanned the books they wanted to read and then were able to upload them to Bookshare so that others could enjoy these books as well.

Volunteer 113

Volunteer Library Teen Law 113

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

I recently was sworn in by Undersecretary of Education Martha Kanter as one of nineteen people serving on the Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities. The Commission has one year to do research, hold public hearings and make recommendations to Congress on what should be done to make higher education materials more accessible to students with disabilities.

Instruction 100

Instruction Instructional Student Law 100