AccessText Network
AccessText Network is a nonprofit portal founded in 2009 that connects disability services offices at US and Canadian post-secondary institutions with member publishers to request accessible electronic textbook files for students with print-related disabilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AccessText Network does
AccessText Network is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 2009 and administered by the Association of American Publishers (AAP), with operational support from the Center for Inclusive Design & Innovation (CIDI). It operates a web-based portal that allows disability services offices at post-secondary institutions in the United States, its territories, and Canada to request accessible electronic textbook files from member publishers on behalf of students with verified print-related disabilities. The platform's core products are the AccessText Application (a 24/7 online portal for submitting, tracking, and exporting file requests) and the Textbook Finder (a search tool, powered by WorldCat/OCLC, that locates titles by ISBN or title and links members into the request workflow). Publishers can store files on the AccessText server to avoid repetitive uploading, and members receive notifications when files are ready for download.
The business model is a free, two-sided membership model: post-secondary institutions and publishers both join at no cost, with no disclosed fees or premium tiers. The organization is founded and supported by AAP and its member publishers, implying operational funding flows through the parent trade association rather than direct commercial revenue. Go-to-market is community-led and channel-partner driven: AAP facilitates publisher introductions, while institutions self-onboard through the website and are supported by phone and email. Since 2020, publishers have processed over 65,000 requests through the platform, with 90% of fulfilled requests delivered in three days or less. The current homepage messaging indicates AccessText is resuming operations following a service pause, with AAP and member publishers reaffirming commitment to the platform's mission.
AccessText Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AccessText Network
- Legal name
- AccessText Network
- Website
- https://accesstext.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- AccessText Network is a nonprofit portal founded in 2009 that connects disability services offices at US and Canadian post-secondary institutions with member publishers to request accessible electronic textbook files for students with print-related disabilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AccessText Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Accessible Educational Content Services
- NAICS
- Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Assistive Technology (AT) & Accessible Learning Tools (EDALAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Accessible & Alternative Format Materials (Braille, Large Print, Audio, Tactile Graphics) (EDAGAMAD), Assistive Reading & Writing Tools (Text-to-Speech, Speech-to-Text, OCR, Dyslexia Support) (EDAFAKAA)
Keywords
Where AccessText Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atlanta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
AccessText Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Services: AccessText Network provides free membership to post-secondary institutions and publishers. The organization is founded and supported by the Association of American Publishers and its member publishers. Specific funding mechanism not publicly disclosed.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free membership for all eligible members |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
AccessText Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AccessText Network operates a centralized web-based portal that enables disability services offices at post-secondary institutions to request accessible electronic textbook files (commonly unlocked PDFs) from member publishers on behalf of students with print-related disabilities. Founded in 2009 by the Association of American Publishers, member publishers, and the Center for Inclusive Design & Innovation, the platform provides 24/7 online request submission, tracking, history export, and file storage capabilities, with publishers fulfilling 90% of requests within three days.
Product overview
AccessText Network operates as a single unified platform that connects post-secondary educational institutions with publishers to fulfill accessible textbook requests for students with print-related disabilities. The core offering consists of the AccessText Application (the online request management portal) and the Textbook Finder (search tool). Institutions use a single form to request files from publishers; publishers store files on the AccessText server for efficient fulfillment. The network has processed over 65,000 requests since 2020, with 90% of fulfilled requests delivered in three days or less.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AccessText Application An online, accessible web portal available 24/7 for post-secondary institution disability services offices to submit and track file requests from member publishers. The application tracks all request activity and allows export of request history to spreadsheet format. The process of making a file request takes only a few clicks and minimal data entry, with publishers delivering files in three days or less in 90% of fulfilled requests.
- Textbook Finder A search tool allowing AccessText members to locate textbooks by ISBN (10 or 13 digit) or title. Search results display publisher information and direct users to the AccessText portal for file requests. Title searches return up to ten matches per source, powered by WorldCat/OCLC integration.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% of fulfilled requests delivered within 3 days
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use AccessText Network
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
AccessText Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
AccessText Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Association of American Publishers (AAP)coreAAP is the trade association for U.S. book publishers. AAP, eight member publishers, and the Center for Inclusive Design & Innovation founded the AccessText Network in 2009. AAP continues to administer and support AccessText as its parent organization.
- Center for Inclusive Design & Innovation (CIDI)coreCIDI co-founded AccessText Network in 2009 alongside AAP and eight member publishers. CIDI provides customer support and training services for the platform, with staff including AT Support Supervisor Norford Fahie.
- Eight Member PublisherscoreEight founding publisher members co-established AccessText Network with AAP and CIDI in 2009. These publishers participate by storing and delivering accessible content files through the platform.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
AccessText Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- ReadSpeaker: ReadSpeaker provides text-to-speech and audio content solutions used by publishers and institutions for accessibility. It intersects with ATN's accessible-content delivery focus through publisher-facing and institution-facing accessibility tooling.
- Texthelp: Texthelp makes literacy and accessibility tools (Read&Write, EquatIO) widely used in education to support students with reading and writing difficulties. It addresses the same student accessibility needs as ATN via end-user software rather than publisher-request routing.
Direct peers
- Allyant: Allyant (formerly AEDIN/Don Johnston) provides accessible-format document conversion and remediation tools used by disability services offices. It overlaps with ATN in the alt-format workflow for post-secondary institutions and serves as an alternative or complement to ATN's request-based model.
- Learning Ally: Learning Ally provides human-narrated audio textbooks and other accessible formats to students with disabilities, including through K-12 and higher education institutions. It competes in the same accessible textbook delivery space as ATN, particularly for students with print-related disabilities.
- Bookshare (by Benetech): Bookshare is the most directly comparable service: a large library of accessible e-books serving students with print disabilities through institutional and individual memberships. It overlaps with ATN's mission of providing accessible textbooks to post-secondary students, though Bookshare focuses on direct content licensing rather than publisher-request routing.
Others
- Center for Inclusive Design & Innovation (CIDI): CIDI is a co-founder of ATN and provides its customer support and training, but it is also a direct alt-format production provider for accessible materials. It is closely intertwined with ATN operationally and serves the same disability-services ecosystem in higher education.
- Benetech: Benetech is the parent nonprofit of Bookshare and a broader social-impact technology organization focused on disability inclusion, including accessible publishing. As the steward of ATN's closest direct peer, it represents an adjacent ecosystem player with overlapping mission and publisher relationships.
- Association of American Publishers (AAP): AAP is ATN's parent organization and the US trade association for book publishers. While not a direct product competitor, AAP's role in administering ATN and convening its founding publishers makes it the most strategically entangled peer in the accessible-publishing value chain.
Broad incumbents
- RedShelf: RedShelf is a digital textbook and course materials platform serving publishers and institutions. It addresses adjacent accessibility needs as part of a broader content distribution business and competes for the same institutional relationships ATN's publishers serve.
- VitalSource (Ingram): VitalSource is a major digital textbook delivery platform used widely across higher education. While primarily a commercial content delivery system, its accessibility features and institutional contracts put it in overlap with ATN's accessible delivery mission at a broader scale.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AccessText Network social profiles
Digital presenceAccessText Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AccessText Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
AccessText Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AccessText Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AccessText Network
What does AccessText Network do?
AccessText Network operates a centralized web-based portal that enables disability services offices at post-secondary institutions to request accessible electronic textbook files (commonly unlocked PDFs) from member publishers on behalf of students with print-related disabilities. Founded in 2009 by the Association of American Publishers, member publishers, and the Center for Inclusive Design & Innovation, the platform provides 24/7 online request submission, tracking, history export, and file storage capabilities, with publishers fulfilling 90% of requests within three days.
Is AccessText Network a public or private company?
AccessText Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was AccessText Network founded?
AccessText Network was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is AccessText Network based?
AccessText Network is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does AccessText Network make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Services.
Who are AccessText Network's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are ReadSpeaker and Texthelp. Direct peers are Allyant, Learning Ally and Bookshare (by Benetech). Others are Center for Inclusive Design & Innovation (CIDI), Benetech and Association of American Publishers (AAP). Broad incumbents are RedShelf and VitalSource (Ingram).
Does AccessText Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for AccessText Network.
What industry is AccessText Network in?
AccessText Network's product category is Accessible Educational Content Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALAGAB, Assistive Technology (AT) & Accessible Learning Tools, with a secondary code of EDAGAMAD, Accessible & Alternative Format Materials (Braille, Large Print, Audio, Tactile Graphics). Its NAICS code is 5192 and its SIC code is 8200.