DISABILITY

REQUEST

American higher education institutions are legally required to ensure that their students with disabilities have equal and effective access to instructional materials. Certain state laws require that publishers fulfill requests for electronic versions of their textbooks (“e -text”).

Who may make the request

Disability e-text requests should be made by either (1) the coordinator of services for students, or (2) the school official responsible for monitoring compliance with the ADA where the disabled student is enrolled. This does not mean teachers, department heads, college bookstore employees, or the student, unless that individual is also the coordinator or compliance officer of the school’s Disabilities Student Services (DSS) office. All requests should be signed by the educational institution’s DSS coordinator or ADA compliance official.

Legal responsibility for compliance

Please note, the educational institution, and not the publisher, is the party legally responsible for compliance with the law. The federal Rehabilitation Act and Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as certain individual state laws, require colleges and universities to make accommodations for college students with disabilities. While many publishers, such as Amber Book Company, voluntarily work with schools to assist them in meeting their legal requirement and helping disabled students, the only legal requirement for publishers is to supply e-text to the school’s DSS office in those states that have e-text statutes in effect.

Copyright liability

Neither the disabled student or the educational institution is exempted from compliance with federal copyright law, which prohibits and punishes copyright infringement. By receiving the e-text material, both the student and the institution agree not to copy, distribute, or share it. Many educational institutions mistakenly believe they may reproduce copyrighted works for distribution to their students under the Chafee Amendment to the federal copyright act. However, only a nonprofit entity whose primary purpose is to provide specialized services for blind or other disabled persons as specifically described in the statute (such as American Printing House for the Blind) is exempted from the copyright law. Also, the phrase “disability” is more restrictive under the Chafee Amendment then under the ADA.

Electronic version of textbooks

Amber Book Company, in an effort to meet the needs of disabled students who have difficulty using the print version of a textbook, has entered into a contractual relationship with VitalSource, the world’s largest distributor of electronic textbooks and a subsidiary of Ingram, the world’s largest wholesale distributor of books. This has enabled us to offer an e-text that is suitable for students with disabilities and includes resizable text and also reads text to the student. The VitalSource digital download editions are cross-platform, meaning they work across multiple browsers, operating systems, and electronic reading devices, including but not limited to computers, laptops, iPads, Kindle, android devices, and other readers. VitalSource’s proprietary software is available free of charge and students may access the e- text without delay.

Please note that Amber Book Company has made a commercially available electronic version of its textbooks available for purchase through VitalSource. Disabled students should purchase their textbook copy directly from VitalSource rather than purchasing a print copy that they will not be able to use due to their disability. If the student has already purchased a print copy, we suggest they return it for a refund and instead purchase the digital copy from VitalSource. If the student is unable to obtain a refund, then the DSS coordinator should include the receipt with the request for the e-text.

Request an e- text

If you are a student with a verified disability that prevents you from using the print version of the textbook who has not yet purchased the textbook, please follow this link to the VitalSource website where you may purchase a digital download of the textbook.

If you are a student with a verified disability that prevents you from using the print version of the textbook who has already purchased the textbook, please contact your school’s DSS office who may request these materials on your behalf. Please be aware that your DDS coordinator may require documentation of your disability, your enrollment in the course, and proof of purchase of the textbook.

If you are an educational institution Disabilities Student Services coordinator please email us the required information listed below. Please note we will verify the employment of each individual submitting these requests. Prior to making your request, please verify that (1) The student has a documented disability; (2) The student is currently enrolled in the course for which the textbook is required; (3) the requested textbook has been adopted as a required text by the course instructor; and (4) if the student has already purchased a print edition of the textbook, please include a copy of the purchase receipt. The receipt should include the date of the textbook purchase (mm/dd/yy), the purchase location, and the purchase price paid.

Next, list the title, ISBN, and edition of the textbook. Include the DSS coordinator’s full name, title, phone number, and email contact information. Also include the instructor’s name; course title and number; course start and end dates (mm/dd/yy); and projected enrollment. Please provide full name of the school and campus and the school address. All request must include the Verification Agreement below (cut and paste into your email and check the box). ANY REQUEST LACKING ANY OF THIS INFORMATION WILL NOT BE PROCESSED.

Verification and Agreement

I verify and agree that:

(Name of school) or the disabled student has purchased the above-referenced textbook and a copy of the receipt is attached.

The student is registered or enrolled in the above-referenced course requiring the use of the textbook.

The student has a disability that prevents him or her from using the textbook and the textbook has been determined to be essential to the student's successful completion of the course.

This request is made by the Disabilities Student Services coordinator or other appropriate school official.

The student and school will not use or further copy, distribute, or make available or accessible the electronic files for the textbook for any other purpose.

In using the electronic files provided by the Publisher, the disabled student, the school's Disabled Student Services Office, or other student official, will abide by U.S. Copyright Law, as amended (17 U.S.C. Sec 101 et seq.), the terms of this agreement, and the applicable code of conduct and policy of the requestor’s school.

Amber Book Company LLC owns all rights, including copyright, to the textbook and the electronic files for the textbook. The student and the school have only the right to use the electronic files for the express and limited purposes set forth in this request.

This file is being provided for use by one student with a disability at your institution who is the specific subject of this request. You agree not to otherwise reproduce, use, sell, transmit, publish, broadcast, scan, or otherwise disseminate or distribute the electronic file or its contents (or any version modified for accessibility purposes) to anyone, including but not limited to other students with a disability at your or any other institution, others in the same company, school, college, or other organization, whether or not for a charge or other consideration, including but not limited to use in connection with the sale, retransmission, distribution, publication, broadcasting, circulation or other dissemination, for any purpose, whether commercial or otherwise, without the express prior written permission of Amber Book Company LLC .

EXCHANGE OF THIS OR ANY OTHER FILE, IN A MODIFIED FORMAT OR COPY THEREOF, IS A VIOLATION OF THE U.S. COPYRIGHT ACT. SEPARATE AUTHORIZATION MUST BE OBTAINED FOR EVERY USER OF THIS FILE, ITS MODIFIED FORMAT OR COPY THEREOF, AND SEPARATE PROOF OF PURCHASE OF THE TEXT MUST BE PROVIDED.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION REGARDING ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH THIS REQUEST.

Please read the following statement. By checking the box, you have made the following legally binding agreement:

[ ] I verify that the above answers and verifications are complete, true and correct, and that by submitting this request and receiving the requested electronic file, I am agreeing to abide by these terms.