gaeir dietrich * director high tech center training unit commission chair
TRANSCRIPT
Gaeir Dietrich * Director High Tech Center Training Unit
Commission Chair
AIM CommissionEstablished by the reauthorized Higher
Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)Section 772
19-member commission First meeting September 27, 2010
Representatives Department of EducationAHEAD Association of American PublishersAssociation of American University PressesNational Council on DisabilityRFB&D and BookshareOrganizations representing & individuals with
visual impairments Organizations representing & individuals with
learning disabilities2-year and 4-year colleges
Basic GoalIdentify 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 StudyMust conduct a study and report to legislature
within one year
Look at issues of providing accessible instructional materials for postsecondary students with print disabilities
AssessmentAssess the barriers and systemic issuesConsider technical issues and solutionsDevelop strategies to improve
Timely delivery QualityEffective use
Make RecommendationsLook for workable solutionsDevelop a comprehensive approach for
students with print disabilities toAccess instructional materialsReceive alternate formatsObtain materials in a comparable timeframe to
nondisabled peers
Six ConsiderationsIn developing recommendations, the
Commission is charged with keeping in mind six considerations
Consideration #1How 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 #2The 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 #3The 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 #4The 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 #5Solutions utilizing universal design
Consideration #6Solutions for low-incidence, high-cost requests
for instructional materials in accessible formats
StrategyCreate four task forces to look at these issuesEvery task force has a lead person to organize
the task force and keep it on trackCommission members volunteer to be on at
least one task forceA number of commission members are on
multiple task forcesTask forces report back to the full commission
for discussion
CaveatWe 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 1High-cost, low-incidence materialsBest practicesDefinition of print disabilityDefinition of instructional materials
Lead by Tuck Tinsley of American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
TF 1 ConsiderationsHigh-cost, low-incidence alternate formats
Braille, tactile graphicsHigh-cost, low-incidence instructional
materialsSTEM
Science, technology, engineering, mathematicsForeign languageGraduate studies
TF 1 continuedPrint 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 2Technology issuesFile repositoryStandardized formatFederated search
Lead by Jim Fruchterman of Bookshare and Benetech
TF 2 ConsiderationsKudos 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 3Market model solutionsE-pub and DAISYWeb solutionsOpen Educational Resources (OER)Digital Rights Management (DRM)UDL
Lead by George Kerscher of the DAISY Consortium and RFB&D
TF 3 ConsiderationsJust getting started nowThe 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 4Legal frameworkCopyrightChafeeADA and Section 504 of Rehab ActState Higher Ed E-text laws
Lead by Maria Pallante of the Copyright Office
TF 4 ConsiderationsConcerns 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 GoGoal 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 ProcessOfficial Ed.gov web site:
http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/aim/index.html
Join the discussion: [email protected]
Join the Commission listserv by sending an email to the address noted with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.
Please AttendMay 3-4
Multiple Perspectives ConferenceThe Ohio State University campusColumbus, OH
July 11-12AHEAD Conference
Association on Higher Education And DisabilityThe Washington Convention CenterSeattle, WA
Call InAll 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 email to [email protected] with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.
Input DesiredPlease share your experiences and concerns.Please encourage your students to share their
stories.Stories can be written narrative, videos, even
songs!
See CAST.orgaim.cast.org > collaborate > p-s_commission
Thank You!Gaeir [email protected]