Legislation would offer format standards for blind students
Book publishers like some new legisation in Congress aimed at creating format standards for material used by blind students. See details via eBookAd, picking up a press release from the Association of American Publishers. Oh, to have some kind of standardization for the rest of us, not just the blind. Please note that we have not seen the proposed legislation–and may have further comments. From the AAP release:
Among its key provisions, the legislation would (1) require all states to use the same standardized national electronic file format for the conversion of textbooks and other core instructional materials into accessible formats; (2) mandate that publishers provide such print instructional materials in the form of a properly-formatted electronic file to a central repository for their timely and convenient distribution to authorized entities for conversion into accessible formats; and (3) establish and authorize funding for a National Instructional Materials Access Center which would be responsible for cataloging, storing and distributing the electronic files provided by publishers.
Perhaps there are some loopholes, but this idea sounds as if it might be good for the public and industry alike. We already know how an important AAP official feels about the need for standards for the whole e-book industry. Of course if the book industry gets them without federal intervention, then so much the better.
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