NYC schools put $30m deal with Amazon on hold
The New York City Department of Education has delayed a deal with Amazon to build an online marketplace for classroom-aligned e-books and content. The city planned to pay the company $30m over the next three years to build the “Amazon Storefront.” The deal looked poised to go through last month, but concerns arose regarding access for blind students and teachers.
ALMOST THERE: Amazon’s efforts to create an e-book marketplace for New York City’s Department of Education has been put on hold, after concerns that readers with visual impairments will not be able to access the tool. In a letter sent to department chancellor Carmen Fariña, the National Federation of the Blind noted that:

Amazon’s lack of regard for accessibility when creating Kindle e-book content would leave blind students and teachers far behind their sighted peers if NYC DOE chooses to proceed with the proposed contract with Amazon.

An Aug. 26 meeting to approve the deal, which could be worth $30 million over three years, has been postponed. A NYC DOE spokeswoman told NY Daily News that the department will create a new plan for e-books this fall. She added: “We are working closely with Amazon and community partners to ensure that all school communities—including those serving visually impaired students—will be able to take part.”