Many states have enacted laws with specific requirements that publishers of textbooks supply those books to the state in electronic file formats so that they can be reproduced in braille or other accessible media. The following chart identifies the states with such legislation, the statute number or reference, the types of textbooks or other instructional materials that are specified in the law, and the electronic file format required.
Source: Association of American Publishers—Revised 9/1/2005
|
STATE/CONTACT |
LAW/RULE |
REQUIRED MATERIALS |
FORMAT/SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS, INCLUDING SECTION 508/DAISY DTBook |
SUBMISSON DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ALABAMA |
Admin. Rules Sec 290-080-090-.13(25) |
All adopted textbooks and supplementary materials, literary and nonliterary. |
ASCII or other electronic format compatible with Braille conversion |
Not specified |
|
ARKANSAS Sue McKenzie |
Statute Sec. 6-41-405/Contract |
Literary subjects in all adopted texts; nontextual portions of textbooks when technology is available. |
Per state contract, ASCII, ICADD-22, SGML, or improved |
Per contract, 90 days after request. |
|
ARIZONA |
Statute Sec. 15-214 Rules in progress that would incorporate NIMAS |
Literary subjects; nonliterary when technology is available. |
Standard format approved by Dept of Ed compatible with Braille conversion |
Not specified |
|
CALIFORNIA |
Education Code 60061 |
All print material offered to any other state. Recommended subjects: Eng/Lang Arts, Visual/Perf Arts, Hist, Soc Sci, For Lang, Math, Sci, Health. |
Not specified in Code. Recommended: Braille compatible format, such as ICADD or SGML |
Within one month of adoption |
|
CONNECTICUT |
Statute Sec 10-295 |
Establishes fund to provide specialized instructional materials, including Braille and large print |
||
|
DELAWARE |
Statute Sec 206-14 |
Print copy of all materials; electronic file on request |
ASCII |
Upon request |
|
FLORIDA |
Statute Sec 233.0561(5) |
Adopted student textbooks for literary subjects; nonliterary when technology is available. Include corrections/changes; if this cannot be accomplished, provide marked tear sheets |
Per instructions: ICADD 22 or SGML for DOS; 3.5" double-sided/high density diskette; Labeling: Seq #, ISBN, bk title, file name, pub, typstng co/contract, format option/version, copyright date; Contents: Title page, consultants/reviewers, table of contents, all chptrs, all appndcs, all glossaries, indices. Include special items w/in text file. |
Upon request |
|
GEORGIA Kim Hartsell |
House Bill 228 Signed by Governor - Act 321 Textbook Adoption agreement |
All recommended textbooks must be provided in electronic format. |
||
|
HAWAII - |
Statute Sec 302A-442.5 |
All literary textbooks or other instructional materials sold to the state or any local education agency. Non literary when software is available. |
ASCII for literary and for nonliterary (natural sciences, computer science, math, and music) when software is available. Does not apply to materials written in the Hawaiian language. |
Not specified |
|
IDAHO |
Statute Sec 33-118 |
All approved materials for literary subjects; nonliterary when technology is available. (However contract will continue to specify nonliterary.) |
Per contract, Word or ASCII |
Upon request |
|
ILLINOIS Charles Hayes |
Act 87-1071 Sec 28-21 |
Literary subjects; nonliterary when technology is available. |
ASCII file and print copy of textbook |
Within 15 days of request for print copy; 90 days for e-file |
|
INDIANA Linda Dierstein |
Statute Sec 20-10.1-0-15 |
Literary subjects; nonliterary when technology is available. |
ASCII or other format determined by board. |
Within 60 days of request |
|
IOWA |
Statute Sec 301.10 |
All textbooks requested by department |
Best format for electronic Braille translation. |
Not specified |
|
KENTUCKY |
Statute Sec 156.476 SB 243 enacted 4/9/02 |
All adopted textbooks. Beginning with 2004 adoption, a preference given to publishers who provide materials in alternative formats |
If publisher submits electronic file in another state that is of a higher level of accessibility than basic ASCII, KY wants equal access to that same file version if that same material is sold in KY. ASCII or any format readily translated into Braille. Provide files to American Printing House for the Blind. Beginning with 2004 adoption: formats comparable to the printed version that are compatible with commonly used Braille translation and speech synthesis software and include corrections and revisions as may be necessary to assure clarity in presentation and use. Navigation within and between files should be reasonably efficient so that the disabled learner is able to fully utilize the material in a manner that yields the same result as the print version affords a nondisabled learner. File format shall be limited to those formats that allow for a comparable version that is readable with text and screen readers such as HTML, XML, or other formats that meet the criteria. For extreme cases where ALT tags are not feasible, a tag may read, This item is too complicated to render with current technology. Legacy materials shall be exempt from the criteria for this preference. ("legacy" means images and graphics requiring release and permission from another source other than the publisher.) |
Beginning 2004, files to be provided at the same time as the print book. |
|
LOUISIANA |
Revised Statutes 17:1985 |
Literary subjects; nonliterary subjects when technology is available |
Standard format approved by Board of Ed from which Braille versions can be produced. Per contract, provide files to American Printing House for the Blind |
Within 90 days of adoption |
|
MARYLAND Robb Farrell |
Statute Sec 8-408(d) COMAR 13A.05.02.13H |
Pupil edition textbooks for literary subjects; nonliterary when technology is available. |
A format suitable for conversion into Braille or synthesized speech. "Technology-based" instructional products should be 508 compliant unless doing so would (a) fundamentally alter the nature of the instructional activity; (b) result in undue finan. and admin. burdens on the agency or (c) not meet all other specs. |
Upon request |
|
MICHIGAN |
MCL 380.1704 |
Literary subjects, nonliterary if the technology is available to convert directly to a Braille compatible format. |
A publisher shall not charge a price for the electronic version that exceeds the price it charges for the print or electronic media version |
Upon request |
|
MISSISSIPI |
Statute Sec 37-23-199 |
Literary subjects; nonliterary subjects when technology is available. |
ASCII Accessibility |
Within 10 working days of request |
|
MISSOURI Rosalee Backer |
Statute Sec 170.132 |
All public elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools shall preferentially procure IM from vendors who provide electronic files |
ASCII: para. Notations, full text, include. All text-related graphics, glossaries, indices and front matter, well organized, logically dev. files, accurately labeled disks to id the title and chap. Or other grouping structures, sequentially numbered disks, if applicable. ICADD 22 including: full text, all text-related graphics, glossaries, indices and front matter, each chapter, if applicable, formatted as a separate file, accurately labeled disks to id the title and chapters or other grouping structures of SGML: full text, inc. all text related graphics, glossaries, indices and front matter, each chap., if applicable, formatted as separate file, accurately labeled disks to id title and chapters or other grouping structures, sequentially numbered disks, if applicable. All electronic materials must be offered in the most recent version of Microsoft Windows. 3.5 diskette, ddhd or 5.25 syquest cartridge with 44, 88 or 200 megabyte capacity. Disk/cartridge labeling shall include seq. #, book title, file name, pub. Name and name of typesetting companies Regs. specifies TE's not required as regs focus on pupils. |
Not specified |
|
MONTANA (NEW 2005) |
HB 438 Chapter 490 |
"In selecting textbooks, the district shall ensure that the materials are made available to each blind and visually impaired child in a timely manner in accordance with the requirements of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 1400, et seq." |
||
|
NEW MEXICO David Bowman |
SB 301 |
New law adds workbooks, teacher manuals or editions, blackline masters, transparencies, test packets, software, CD-ROMs, videotapes and cassette tapes. Defines textbook to include a system of instructional materials or a combination of a book and supplementary instructional materials that conveys information to the student or otherwise contribute in addition to textbooks including electronic textbooks. |
Mutually agreed-upon electronic format (such as Word, ASCII or LaTex) Includes private right of action language Adds publishers to groups the department should consult with before adopting guidelines for implementation and administration of new Braille Access Act. If adopted, a national file format such as DAISY/NISO XML |
Upon request. |
|
NEW YORK Laurie Munro |
All IM. A preference will be given to vendors who agree to provide materials in alternate formats, except where the IM needed for a course cannot be obtained from any vendor in all alternative formats. |
"Alternative format" defined as "any medium or format for the presentation of IM. . . .Including Braille, large print, open and closed captioned, audio, or an electronic file in an approved format as defined in the regulations of the commissioner. |
Not specified. |
|
|
NORTH CAROLINA |
Statute Sec 115C-90 |
No requirements for publishers. |
Contracts allow State Board of Ed to produce Braille, large print, and audio cassette copies for use in state public schools |
|
|
OHIO Paul Mauro |
Statute Sec 3329.01 Rules 3301-51-21 |
Newly adopted materials for which technology exists for translation into Braille |
Per Instructions: Windows or MS-DOS; 3.5" ddhd diskette. ASCII, WP or Word; Labeling: Seq #, bk title, file name, pub, typstng co; Contents: Title page, consultants/reviewers, table of contents, chptrs (in indiv. File), appndcs, glossaries, indices; Include special items w/in text file. Include file with description of all codes. |
Within 60 days written notice. |
|
OKLAHOMA Mary Boren |
Statute Sec 70-16-106-D |
Literary materials; nonliterary when translation software is available. |
ASCII |
|
|
OREGON Rex Crouse |
Statute Sec 343.595 |
Literary subjects; nonliterary when translation software is available. |
Format from which Braille version can be produced. |
Upon request from district |
|
SOUTH CAROLINA Jim White |
Contract |
Newly submitted literary programs; non-literary when technology available. |
Electronic formats suitable for transcription into Braille. |
Upon written request |
|
SOUTH DAKOTA NEW (2004) |
14-1-66 |
Literary or nonliterary, such as natural sciences, computer science, mathematics, or music, an electronic version shall be furnished if the technology is available to convert the textbook directly to a format compatible with Braille translation software. |
The publisher shall provide the electronic file to the requesting agency within sixty days of receiving written notice that the file is needed. The cost of the electronic publisher's file may not exceed the cost of a print copy of the same title. Legacy materials are exempt from the requirements of this section. Legacy materials are exempt from the requirements of this section. Legacy means images and graphics requiring release and permission from another source other than the publisher. |
Upon written request |
|
TENNESSEE |
Rule 0520-1-2.15 |
All adopted materials |
Electronic files that can be translated to Braille. Provide files to state DE, APH or a national repository. |
60 days from request |
|
TEXAS Chuck Mayo |
Statute Sec 31.028 |
Literary materials in English and Spanish language versions requested by State Board of Ed; nonliterary when technology is available. Not ancillary or supplementary. |
Per instructions: ASCII, ICADD 22 or SGML for Windows or DOS, or agreed format. 3.5" DDHD diskette, 5.25" Syquest, or other agreed on media. Labeling: Seq #, bk title, file name, pub, typstng co; Contents: Title page, consultants/reviewers, table of contents, chptrs, appndcs, glossaries, indices. Include special items w/in text files |
|
|
UTAH Shelley Kelson |
Statute Sec 53A-26-111 |
Literary materials; nonliterary when technology is available. |
ASCII |
On request |
|
VIRGINIA Beverly Thurston |
Code Sec. 22.1-241 |
State reviewed and contracted basal pupil edition textbooks for literary subjects. |
ASCII or other mutually agreed subject. |
90 days from written request |
|
WEST VIRGINIA |
Statute Sec 8-10J-5 |
Literary materials; nonliterary when technology is available. |
ASCII |
Not specified |