Improving Accessible Formats through Statewide Purchasing Contracts

1. Updates on Statewide Purchasing Contracts Improving access to braille, tactile graphics, captioning, transcription, through state contracts and cooperative purchasing agreements Christina Wulf, James Madison University Korey Singleton, George Mason University 2019 AHEAD-in-VA Spring Conference

2. VENDORS FOR BRAILLE, TACTILE GRAPHICS, AND OTHER ACCESSIBLE FORMATS:James Madison University Contracts

3. SeeWriteHearwww.seewritehear.com • Braille • Literary (EBAE and UEB) • Nemeth, Chemistry, Spatial Mathematics • Tactile Graphics • Large print • Video captioning, transcribing, and describing • High volume document conversion • Website accessibility review and remediation • Electronic media conversion/remediation • PDF, ePub, HTML, XML, Word, and InDesign • Accessible Form Management • Image description, alt-text, and audio transcription • MathML and other STEM materials

4. Braille Jymicowww.braillejymico.com • Braille • Literary • Music • Phonetics • Science (math, chemistry, physics, computer codes) • Foreign Language • Tactile Graphics • Large Print instructional materials • Accessible documents (PDF, Word, etc.) • Audio recording of documents and eText

5. Braille Pluswww.brailleplus.net • Braille • Literary (EBAE or UEB) • Nemeth • Chemistry • Phonetics • Spanish • Tactile graphics • Large print • Audio books • Electronic formats

6. Allied Instructional Serviceswww.alliedinstructional.com • Braille • Literary (EBAE and UEB) • Foreign Language • Technical (Math, Science, IPA) • Tactile graphics • Remediating PDFs • eText/Accessible Word docs

7. T-Base Communicationswww.tbase.com • Braille • Literary (EBAE and UEB) • Nemeth • Technical • Foreign Language • Tactile Graphics • Web Accessibility Audit • Document remediation (PDF) • Trainings on Accessibility Awareness, Web Accessibility, Accessible PDFs & Office, Documents

8. USING the JMU contracts

9. About the Contracts • Contracts are open to “any public body, (to include government/state agencies, political subdivisions, etc.), cooperative purchasing organizations, public or private health or educational institutions or any University related foundation and affiliated corporations may access any resulting contract if authorized by the Contractor.” • Available to private colleges and universities. • It is up to the institution to contact the vendor & request. • Reference the JMU contract. • Contract number and vendor contact name are available in the VASCUPP record.

10. View the Contracts • VASCUPP records include the contract and price list for services (1st page). • NOTE: The price pages may not include prices for non-braille services. • JMU’s RFP was for braille production, so the price list reflects that. Estimated pricing for other services can be found later in the contracts. • Use the VASCUPP database – www.vascupp.org/contracts • Click “Display All” • Search (Ctrl+F) for “Braille” • Contracts are listed as “Braille Transcription Services” • *OR* • Follow the links on the next slide.

11. Links to VASCUPP records • Braille Jymico • Allied Instructional Services • T-Base Communications USA • SeeWriteHear • Braille Plus, Inc.

12. Questions about the Contracts • JMU’s Procurement point person has volunteered to answer questions from you or your procurement office: • Doug Chester, VCO • Senior Buyer, James Madison University • 540.568.4272 • chestefd@jmu.edu

13. Cooperative Purchasing COntracts for CAPTIONING & transcription

14. Captioning Models across the state:Distributed (UVA) vs. Centralized (GMU) Captioning Vendor ATI has an account. ATI collects content from Mason offices, pushes content to vendor’s server, and pays costs. Each UVA unit has a separate account. Each unit pushes content to vendor’s server and pays own costs.

15. Pros & Cons: Cooperative purchasing For Captioning & Transcription • PROs • Collective negotiation • Cheaper rates • Quality services/Additional services • Build a “captioning” community of practice • Awareness, technical assistance, etc. • Services grow with you • 1-yr. renewable • CONs • Can be a lengthy process • A lot of “cooks in the kitchen”

16. POST-PRODUCTIONCAPTIONING & TRANSCRIPTION CONTRACTS in Virginia:Contract Highlights

17. State Post-Production Captioning & Transcription Contracts • 3Play Media, Cielo24, and Verbit • Contract Highlights: • Captions and Transcripts, minimum 99% accuracy • Audio Description (3Play Media only) • Human Transcription/Quality Check • Language translation • Tiered pricing structure • Ability to integrate with existing LMS/CMS (APIs) • Online portal • Distributed account management • Contracts available to all higher education institutions, K-12 districts, and all agencies under the Executive Office of the Governor

18. Tiered Pricing Structures Explained (e.g., Verbit.ai) Contract started at $1.25/minute! New users enter at current tier. Usage reviewed quarterly….

19. Getting started… • Visit http://ati.gmu.edu/mason-captions

20. Questions

21. Contacting Us • Christina Wulf • Accessible Media and Technology Specialist • Address: • Student Success Center • MSC 1009 • 738 S. Mason St. • Room 1202 • Harrisonburg, VA 22807 Contact Info: Phone: 540-568-6705 E-mail: wulfcx@jmu.edu Web: https://www.jmu.edu/successcenter/ • Korey Singleton • Assistive Technology Initiative (ATI) • Address: • 4400 University Drive, MSN 6A11 Aquia Building, Rm. 238 Fairfax, VA 22030 Contact Info: Phone: 703-993-4329 Fax: 703-993-4743 E-mail: ati@gmu.edu Web: http://ati.gmu.edu Twitter: @AccessibleMason