Report of the Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities
Author: Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities (ED)
Date: 2011-12-06
Type: Reports - Research
Subjects: Instructional Materials,Postsecondary Education,Disabilities,Academic Accommodations (Disabilities),Barriers,Accessibility (for Disabled),Textbooks,Legal Responsibility,Technology Uses in Education,Disability Discrimination,Capacity Building,Demonstration Programs,STEM Education,Educational Policy,Copyrights,Information Storage,Databases,Metadata,Federal Legislation,Civil Rights,Educational Legislation,Printed Materials,Electronic Publishing

This report from the Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities provides Congress with vital recommendations for improving the ability of postsecondary students with disabilities to obtain accessible instructional materials in a timely and cost-effective manner. Over the course of 14 months, commission members studied the current state of accessible materials for students with disabilities in postsecondary education. Comprised of various stakeholders, including students with disabilities, members of the publishing community, higher education personnel, and content experts in the fields of disability and technology, the commission offered diverse perspectives on the state of accessible instructional materials across postsecondary campuses nationwide. The commission's study found that: (1) Students with disabilities, and most notably students with print disabilities, often experience a variety of challenges that result from inaccessible learning materials and/or their delivery systems; (2) Disability resource service providers and other university personnel often must engage in labor-intensive practices to provide accessible instructional materials to students with disabilities; (3) Textbook publishers and a number of electronic text vendors are moving to incorporate accessibility into their products, but many products are still inaccessible to students with disabilities who have difficulties accessing printed text; and (4) Opportunities for capacity building within postsecondary educational institutions are essential for improving the ability of these institutions to provide accessible instructional materials to students with disabilities. The commission members reached consensus on 18 recommendations to address the findings of its study. Each of the recommendations is detailed in the report. The following are appended: (1) Resignation Letter--Maria Pallante; (2) Member Biographies; (3) The Higher Education Act as Amended (SEC. 772--Establishment of Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities); (4) Legal Background--Copyright; (5) AIM Barriers; (6) Joint &quot;Dear Colleague&quot; Letter (letter from the U.S. Department of Justice, dated June 29, 2010); (7) Joint &quot;Dear Colleague&quot; Letter Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (FAQ document regarding the June 2010 joint &quot;dear colleague&quot; letter, dated May 26, 2011); (8) The Commission's Process; and (9) Glossary.