I would like to add that the Intel Reader supports the following file formats: DAISY 2.02, ANSI/NISO Z39.86-2002 (DAISY 3), NIMAS 1.0/1.1, MP3, WAV and ASCII text.

Accessible DAISY technology allows readers to go to specific chapters or pages, place bookmarks, and even use an index. This navigation is not available with books on tape or commercial CDs.

By synchronizing audio, text, and soon, video, DAISY multimedia can address the needs of each type of learner. DAISY hardware players, much like CD players or MP3 players, can be of great assistance to print-disabled people and to auditory learners who benefit from audio playback, whether presented through a text-to-speech feature or through human narration.

Students who cannot access standard printed learning materials are disadvantaged in comparison to their sighted peers with regard to accessing the curriculum. The situation is currently improving, but many curriculum materials are still only available in regular print. Textbooks in traditional accessible formats have disadvantages, as they can be bulky and difficult to navigate. Production can be both costly and time-consuming, and the result is not always customized for individual needs. Students’ expectations are also changing, they increasingly expect content to be available on-demand, everywhere, immediately. There are significant efficiencies in producing curriculum materials in multiple formats from a single source file.

The Kindle DX sounds like a good fit for college students, but it is currently not accessible to persons who are blind. The menus and controls do not have an audio output that would allow a person with a disability to use the device.

Several fully accessible portable devices are currently available for people who cannot read regular print or hold the book.

More information is available on the DAISY Consortium website.