ACE sent a letter
(268 KB PDF) today to Reps. Phil Roe (R-TN) and Joe Courtney (D-CT) in support of
their bill to establish an independent commission to develop voluntary
accessibility guidelines for postsecondary electronic instructional
materials.
The congressmen introduced the measure—known as the Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education (AIM-HIGH) Act—in the House this afternoon.
“Inclusion is a core value of higher education, and this legislation
provides a path forward to help colleges and universities increase
accessibility and equal opportunities to learn,” ACE wrote in the
letter. “We look forward to the endeavors of the commission that is
created by this legislation, and are eager to work with Congress and our
member institutions to ensure that this important bill is passed.”
The commission will be comprised of representatives of persons with
disabilities, institutions of higher education, developers and
manufacturers of instructional materials, and non-profit organizations
that provide accessible electronic materials.
ACE is working to pass this bill in collaboration with the National
Federation of the Blind, the Association of American Publishers and the
Software and Information Industry Association.
The measure also is backed by a wide array of higher education
associations, including EDUCAUSE; the Association of Research Libraries;
the Association of American Universities; the American Association of
Community Colleges, the Association of Public and Land-grant
Universities; the American Association of State Colleges and
Universities; and the National Association of Independent Colleges and
Universities.