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<p class=PressReleases><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Hi all!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=PressReleases><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Please forgive cross-posts/reposts. Attached
is the final report of the AIM Commission. Negotiating the writing of this
report was an intense, at times overwhelming, effort. The commission achieved
consensus on the report, with every member signing off on it. What this means
is that everyone compromised so that all voices were included. Many advocates
would have liked stronger language; many in industry leaders would have liked
less forceful language. We tried to find a middle road that all could agree to.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=PressReleases><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>In the final analysis of expert testimony and public comment, what
stands out clearly is that accessibility cannot be accomplished by one
individual, one institution, or even one industry. Full inclusion for every
American will come only when we as a society make accessibility a consideration
at every step of the process: from including accessibility as part of the curriculum
when educating the next generation of engineers, computer scientists, and Web
designers; to designing accessibility into hardware; to developing production
software that prompts for accessibility; to creating software that operates
with assistive technology; to providing mechanisms for capturing data about
accessibility; to ensuring that accessible media can be easily searched for and
found. We need every link in the chain to be strong in order to forge
opportunity for success.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=PressReleases><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=PressReleases><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>What can you do? Now that the report has
been released, you can contact your U.S. senator and U.S. representatives and
let them know your views. This document is a starting point; what is done with
this document will depend on the democratic process. So if you wish to, let
your voice be heard and become part of that process.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=PressReleases><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=PressReleases><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Gaeir Dietrich<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=PressReleases><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>AIM Commission Chair<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=PressReleases><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=PressReleases><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>###<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=PressReleases align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;
font-weight:bold'>AIM COMMISSION RELEASES REPORT ON DISPARITIES IN
POSTSECONDARY LEARNING MATERIAL FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=PressReleases align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>The Advisory Commission on Accessible
Instructional Materials (AIM) in Postsecondary Education for Students with
Disabilities released today a </span></font><a
href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/aim/publications.html">report</a><font
color=black><span style='color:black'> providing 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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><font size=3 color=black
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>"</span></font>The
AIM Commission's report sheds light on the hurdles students with disabilities
too often face in accessing and completing higher education
courses," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne
Duncan. "Their recommendations will help our colleges and
universities offer more effective resources that meet the needs of all students
and provide students with disabilities the 21st century learning tools they
need to be successful." </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'> </span></font></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=pressreleases0 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Established by the Higher
Education Opportunity Act of 2008, the commission brought together government
leaders, representatives from the publishing industry, individuals with print
disabilities, representatives from two- and four-year institutions of higher
education, leaders in accessible technology, and other
stakeholders. <b><span style='font-weight:bold'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=pressreleases0 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=pressreleases0 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=pressreleases0 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=pressreleases0 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The commission’s
study found that:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=pressreleases0 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=ListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><span class=apple-style-span><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>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. </span></font></span><font
size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=ListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><span class=apple-style-span><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Disability
resource service providers and other university personnel often must engage in
labor-intensive practices to provide accessible instructional materials to
students with disabilities.</span></font></span><font size=3><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=ListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><span class=apple-style-span><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>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.</span></font></span><font
size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=ListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><span class=apple-style-span><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>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.</span></font></span><font
size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The commission members reached consensus on 18 recommendations to
address the findings of its study. Recommendations include:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=ListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><strong><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:normal'>Congress
should authorize the United States Access Board to establish guidelines for
accessible instructional materials that will be used by government, in the
private sector, and in postsecondary academic settings.</span></font></b></strong><font
size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=ListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span
class=apple-style-span><font size=3 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font></span><![endif]><span
class=apple-style-span><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Congress should consider incentives to accelerate
innovation in accessibility by publishers and producers of course materials,
hardware, and software by offering support and inducements for the production,
sale, and consumption of accessible instructional materials and delivery
systems.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=ListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span
class=apple-style-span><font size=3 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font></span><![endif]><span
class=apple-style-span><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The commission recommends that federally
sponsored projects and programs encourage and support systematic faculty
and staff professional development with respect to selection, production, and
delivery of high-quality accessible instruction materials to meet the needs of
students with disabilities in postsecondary settings.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dr. Alexa Posny,
assistant secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services notes, “Given the growing population of students with disabilities
pursuing higher education, this report will be a valuable resource in improving
our ability to better serve students with disabilities while also helping more
students' complete postsecondary programs.”</span></font></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>A complete list of the commission’s<font color=black><span
style='color:black'> recommend<span class=apple-style-span><font
face="Times New Roman">ations is available at </font></span></span></font><a
href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/aim/publications.html"><span
class=apple-style-span><font face="Times New Roman">http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/aim/publications.html</font></span></a><span
class=apple-style-span><font color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='color:black'>. </span></font></span><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>For more on<font color="#1f497d"><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>the <span class=apple-style-span><font
face="Times New Roman">Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional
Materials (AIM) in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities,
visit </font></span></span></font><a
href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/aim/index.html">http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/aim/index.html</a><span
class=apple-style-span><font color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='color:black'>. </span></font></span><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>###<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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