eReader Policy
The College will not require, recommend, or promote use of any dedicated electronic book reader by its students or other individuals in its classes, curricula, or other programs unless or until such device is fully accessible to individuals with visual impairments or Reed provides reasonable accommodation for students or other individuals with visual impairments.
Reed College may engage in pilot programs or product testing designed to evaluate the features, including accessibility features, of new technologies so long as reasonable accommodation or modification is provided.
The phrase "dedicated electronic book reader" means any wireless, hand-held device whose primary purpose is for reading textual materials such as books, magazines, newspapers, etc. A dedicated electronic book reader is distinguished from "general purpose computing devices" such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, and desktop computers which may, among other things, be used to read text.
A dedicated electronic book reader will be considered fully accessible to individuals with visual impairments if all uses of the device that are available to individuals without disabilities are available to individuals with visual impairments in a manner which ensures that its use in the college setting is equally as effective for individuals with visual impairments as it is for others.
Reasonable accommodation or modification shall be determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the needs of the student with a visual impairment. Reed will be informed by the following factors in determining the accommodation or modification:
A. Students with visual impairments should be able to access and acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as sighted students.
B. Students with visual impairments should enjoy ease of use that is substantially equivalent to that provided to sighted students.