[Nfbnet-members-list] Senators Warren and Hatch Introduce New Higher Education Legislation

Sat Nov 18 01:14:29 UTC 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Senators Warren and Hatch Introduce New Higher Education Legislation

AIM HIGH Act Promotes Equal Access for the Blind and other Students 
with Disabilities

Washington, DC (November 17, 2017): Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) 
and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) have introduced the Accessible 
Instructional Materials in Higher Education (AIM HIGH) Act, S. 2138.

The legislation will authorize the creation of voluntary guidelines 
to help colleges and universities meet the needs of blind students 
and students with other disabilities that make it difficult or 
impossible to read print. The National Federation of the Blind and 
other advocates support the bill.

The guidelines will be created by a commission made up of people with 
disabilities, developers, manufacturers, and representatives from 
colleges and universities. The commission will also develop a list of 
national and international information technology standards as an 
added resource for these institutions and the companies that serve 
the higher education market.

Approved Quotes for This Release

"This legislation is critically important to blind Americans and to 
me personally, as the father of three children, two of whom are 
blind," said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of 
the Blind. "We applaud Senators Hatch and Warren for taking this step 
to give colleges and universities the information they need to 
provide the equal education to which the blind and other students 
with disabilities are entitled."

"As new technologies enter university classrooms across the country, 
it's essential that students with disabilities are able to take 
advantage of these innovations and fully participate in the college 
experience with their peers," Senator Warren said. "I'm glad to join 
Senator Hatch to introduce this bipartisan legislation, which will 
help colleges select accessible materials that allow all students to succeed."

"Since I took office, I have championed an even playing field in 
education for students with disabilities," Hatch said. "As technology 
has evolved, so has the need for students with disabilities to gain 
access to innovative learning materials. This bill establishes an 
independent commission that will create high-quality accessibility 
guidelines to benefit both students with disabilities and 
institutions of higher education. As a primary author of the 
Americans with Disabilities Act, I'm happy to work with Senator 
Warren in moving this bill through the legislative process to remove 
barriers in the classroom for students with disabilities."

###

About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in 
Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind 
Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, 
and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. 
The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides 
information and support to families with blind children, older 
Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes 
and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into 
reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at 
<https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9733&qid=2005426>www.nfb.org.

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org

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