>
> For Immediate Release
>
> Contact:
> J. Bruce Hildebrand (202) 220-4542
> Stacy Scarazzo (202) 220-4556
>
> Publishers Launch Alternative Formats Solutions Initiative (AFSI)
>
> National Effort to Provide Accessible Course Materials for Print-Disabled
> Postsecondary Students
>
> Washington, D.C. (March 22, 2006) -- Higher education publisher members of
> the Association of American Publishers (AAP) today announced the launch of
> their Alternative Formats Solutions Initiative (AFSI), a national effort
> to identify ways to provide print-disabled postsecondary students with
> specially-formatted course materials on a timely basis.
>
> The Initiative will involve colleges and universities, students, disabled
> students support services professionals, national and state disability
> advocacy groups, and technology providers in an effort to create a
> national framework of specific, practical solutions. The AAP-led program
> will assess problems faced by print-disabled students, including lengthy
> delays in getting their materials or the inability to receive the proper
> materials at all. In light of the urgent need to address these problems,
> AAP will focus initial efforts on finding short-term solutions that can be
> implemented quickly, in addition to developing longer-term and
> comprehensive solutions that will deployed as soon as practicable.
>
> The work of the AFSI will be carried out in three stages:
>
> (1) Researching problems with current systems to aid in developing
> practical, collaborative solutions;
>
> (2) Identifying individual solutions that, together, will form a
> coordinated national accessible materials solutions framework; and
>
> (3) Assuring that solutions continue to evolve by embracing new
> technologies and aligning with the needs of the rapidly changing
> post-secondary environment.
>
> Commenting on the decision to undertake the AFSI, Bruce Hildebrand, AAP's
> executive director for higher education, said, 'This is a complex
> challenge that will require that all of the diverse interests with a stake
> in seeing the problem solved work together. Publishers have committed the
> funding and secured expert project leadership to move the process
> forward.'
>
> To spearhead AFSI, AAP has retained Frederick 'Rick' Bowes, III, president
> of Digital Versions, LLC, a consultancy focused on electronic publishing
> issues. Bowes is recognized and respected by publishers, disability groups
> and those serving students with disabilities for his expertise in the
> technology, operational, marketplace, copyright and policy issues, each of
> which must be adequately addressed to insure the success of any set of
> solutions.
>
> 'The AAP and all parties with a stake in developing workable solutions are
> eager to see the situation improved as soon as possible,' said Bowes. 'My
> brief is to do this work quickly yet to be sure that each recommendation
> is built on well-researched facts and takes into account all relevant
> perspectives. To accomplish this, AFSI will invite collaboration all along
> the way.'
>
> 'There are numerous issues to be addressed,' said Ed McCoyd, AAP's
> director of digital policy. "They include technology, logistics, costs,
> content security, copyright, who is entitled to accommodations, previously
> produced legacy content, typographically complex material such as math and
> science textbooks, and other issues. The devil will be in the details, but
> it's exciting to think about all the students who'll be helped if we can
> do this.'
>
> AAP members were active participants in the American Foundation for the
> Blind's Solutions Forum that successfully worked with disability groups to
> create a federal solution for students in grades K-12, supporting the
> development and passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
> Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004.
>
> Building on AAP's work in the K-12 area, the Association and its higher
> education publishers initiated their postsecondary efforts in April 2005
> at a meeting of stakeholders in Washington, D.C. In December 2005, AAP
> hosted a meeting for the Association on Higher Education And Disability
> (AHEAD) with publishers, college and university personnel and other
> advocacy groups to gather input on how to move the process forward.
>
> 'While no decision has been made on what approach will best address the
> needs in the postsecondary sector, such as a voluntary system or some form
> of legislation, publishers are committed to once again working with the
> full community of concerned parties in an effort to find the best
> solutions,' Hildebrand said.
>
> About the Association of American Publishers
>
> The Association of American Publishers is the national trade association
> of the U.S. book publishing industry. AAP's more than 300 members include
> most of the major commercial book publishers in the United States, as well
> as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly
> societies. AAP members publish hardcover and paperback books in every
> field, educational materials for the elementary, secondary, postsecondary,
> and professional markets, scholarly journals, computer software, and
> electronic products and services.
>
>
>
>
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