1. Selecting the right reading apps for student success
November 14, 2018

2. Summary
An app or browser extension is needed to read EPUB titles, but they vary a lot in their functionality. When it comes to learners with disabilities, which apps will enable them to excel at their studies? This session presents an initiative that aims to answer that question.

3. Introducing your panel of speakers
George Kerscher
Amy Salmon
Erin Kirchner-Lucas
Richard Orme

4. Overview Introduction to reading apps Evaluation methodology
A crowd of testers
Developer’s perspectives
How are the results useful to you?

5. Introduction to reading apps
you need an app to read EPUBs
lots of choice (except when there isn’t)
vendor, generic and specialist apps
native and web based apps
study aids
sideloading publications
accessible app + accessible content + AT

6. Evaluation methodology
tests developed by and with people with reading disabilities
consideration of various aspects that are important to different people
tests are publicly available
conducted with reference titles
detailed results are published online

7. Parts of the evaluation
Basic functionality
Non visual reading
Visual adjustments
Read aloud
Optional advanced tests

8. A crowd of testers Launched in early 2018 60+ testers around the world
Supported with getting started
Evaluation guides
Evaluation review
We’d love you and/or your students to join!

9. The results online the summary table and detailed results

10. Developer’s perspectives
Comments from Dolphin, Redshelf and Vitalsource

11. Results for you strengths and weaknesses of different apps
comments provide useful information
regularly updated round up of latest results
Don’t be driven by the final score, look at the most important areas for your students
Consider using the reading apps round up as a starting point

12. Practical applications
Advising an individual student
A university choosing a platform provider

13. Take aways Apps have different levels of accessibility provisions
A test framework exists and has been extensively used by a large team of crowd source volunteers
The results can help you and your learners choose, and the app developers are improving continuously

14. Thanks for your attention
Questions and discussion