Gaeir Dietrich * Director High Tech Center Training Unit Commission Chair

AIM Commission Established by the reauthorized Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) Section member commission First meeting September 27, 2010

Representatives Department of Education AHEAD Association of American Publishers Association of American University Presses National Council on Disability RFB&D and Bookshare Organizations representing & individuals with visual impairments Organizations representing & individuals with learning disabilities 2-year and 4-year colleges

Basic Goal Identify ways to improve the opportunities for postsecondary students with print disabilities to access instructional materials in a comparable timeframe as the instructional materials for nondisabled students

Comprehensive Study Must conduct a study and report to legislature within one year Look at issues of providing accessible instructional materials for postsecondary students with print disabilities

Assessment Assess the barriers and systemic issues Consider technical issues and solutions Develop strategies to improve Timely delivery Quality Effective use

Make Recommendations Look for workable solutions Develop a comprehensive approach for students with print disabilities to Access instructional materials Receive alternate formats Obtain materials in a comparable timeframe to nondisabled peers

Six Considerations In developing recommendations, the Commission is charged with keeping in mind six considerations

Consideration #1 How students with print disabilities may obtain instructional materials in accessible formats within a comparable timeframe and at costs comparable to the costs of such materials for nondisabled students

Consideration #2 The feasibility and technical parameters of establishing standardized electronic file formats to be provided by publishers of instructional materials to producers of materials in accessible formats, institutions of higher education, and eligible students

Consideration #3 The feasibility of establishing a national clearinghouse, repository, or file-sharing network for electronic files used in producing instructional materials in accessible formats, and a list of possible entities qualified to administer such clearinghouse, repository, or network

Consideration #4 The feasibility of establishing market-based solutions involving collaborations among publishers of instructional materials, producers of materials in accessible formats, and institutions of higher education

Consideration #5 Solutions utilizing universal design

Consideration #6 Solutions for low-incidence, high-cost requests for instructional materials in accessible formats

Strategy Create four task forces to look at these issues Every task force has a lead person to organize the task force and keep it on track Commission members volunteer to be on at least one task force A number of commission members are on multiple task forces Task forces report back to the full commission for discussion

Caveat We are still early in the process! Nothing has been decided with certainty at this point. This presentation is a snapshot of current considerations. Part of the reason for this presentation is to encourage feedback from you!

Task Force 1 High-cost, low-incidence materials Best practices Definition of print disability Definition of instructional materials Lead by Tuck Tinsley of American Printing House for the Blind (APH)

TF 1 Considerations High-cost, low-incidence alternate formats Braille, tactile graphics High-cost, low-incidence instructional materials STEM Science, technology, engineering, mathematics Foreign language Graduate studies

TF 1 continued Print disability Incorporating revised language from ADA and Section 504 Focusing on functional limitations, not “name” of disability Include current data that show that approximately 1% of all students have some type of print disability.

Task Force 2 Technology issues File repository Standardized format Federated search Lead by Jim Fruchterman of Bookshare and Benetech

TF 2 Considerations Kudos to this task force for their work! Do not recommend a single standardized file format. Do not recommend a single repository of files. Do recommend a federated search to consolidate data. Do recommend adding “metadata” fields pertaining to accessibility.

Task Force 3 Market model solutions E-pub and DAISY Web solutions Open Educational Resources (OER) Digital Rights Management (DRM) UDL Lead by George Kerscher of the DAISY Consortium and RFB&D

TF 3 Considerations Just getting started now The DAISY standard will be included in the e- Pub standard. Based on the number of individuals with print disabilities, the market is small, so must look at where the mainstream market and special needs overlap.

Task Force 4 Legal framework Copyright Chafee ADA and Section 504 of Rehab Act State Higher Ed E-text laws Lead by Maria Pallante of the Copyright Office

TF 4 Considerations Concerns that any reworking of copyright will not pass the legislature. Looking for ways to balance copyright law and civil rights law. Considering language that will give guidance on the organic basis of learning disabilities. i.e., referencing current brain research

Long Way to Go Goal is to have a first draft of the report in July Still collecting data Task forces still working on their areas Most difficult areas of contention are just beginning to emerge

Join the Process Official Ed.gov web site: index.html Join the discussion: Join the Commission listserv by sending an to the address noted with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.

Please Attend May 3-4 Multiple Perspectives Conference The Ohio State University campus Columbus, OH July AHEAD Conference Association on Higher Education And Disability The Washington Convention Center Seattle, WA

Call In All meetings will have a call in number Next phone meeting is April 1, 2011 Sign up for the listserv to stay informed on meeting dates Join the listserv by sending to with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.

Input Desired Please share your experiences and concerns. Please encourage your students to share their stories. Stories can be written narrative, videos, even songs! See CAST.org aim.cast.org > collaborate > p-s_commission

Thank You! Gaeir Dietrich