§ 1140l. Establishment of Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities
(a)
Establishment
(1)
In general
The Secretary shall establish a commission to be known as the Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities (in this section referred to as the “Commission”).
(2)
Membership
(A)
Total number of members
The Commission shall include not more than 19 members, who shall be appointed by the Secretary in accordance with subparagraphs (B) and (C).
(B)
Members of the Commission
The Commission members shall include one representative from each of the following categories:
(C)
Additional members of the Commission
The Commission members shall include two representatives from each of the following categories:
(i)
Staff from institutions of higher education with demonstrated experience teaching or supporting students with print disabilities, including representatives from both two-year and four-year institutions of higher education of different sizes.
(ii)
Producers of accessible materials, publishing software, and supporting technologies in specialized formats, such as Braille, audio or synthesized speech, and digital media.
(3)
Chairperson and vice chairperson
The Commission shall select a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members of the Commission.
(b)
Duties of the Commission
(1)
Study
(A)
In general
The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive study to—
(i)
assess the barriers and systemic issues that may affect, and technical solutions available that may improve, the timely delivery and quality of accessible instructional materials for postsecondary students with print disabilities, as well as the effective use of such materials by faculty and staff; and
(ii)
make recommendations related to the development of a comprehensive approach to improve the opportunities for postsecondary students with print disabilities to access instructional materials in specialized formats in a timeframe comparable to the availability of instructional materials for postsecondary nondisabled students.
(B)
Existing information
To the extent practicable, in carrying out the study under this paragraph, the Commission shall identify and use existing research, recommendations, and information.
(C)
Recommendations
(i)
In general
The Commission shall develop recommendations—
(III)
to identify best practices in systems for collecting, maintaining, processing, and disseminating materials in specialized formats to students with print disabilities at costs comparable to instructional materials for postsecondary nondisabled students;
(ii)
Considerations
In developing the recommendations under clause (i), the Commission shall consider—
(I)
how students with print disabilities may obtain instructional materials in accessible formats—
(II)
the feasibility and technical parameters of establishing standardized electronic file formats, such as the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard as defined in section
1474
(e)(3) of this title, to be provided by publishers of instructional materials to producers of materials in specialized formats, institutions of higher education, and eligible students;
(III)
the feasibility of establishing a national clearinghouse, repository, or file-sharing network for electronic files in specialized formats and files used in producing instructional materials in specialized formats, and a list of possible entities qualified to administer such clearinghouse, repository, or network;
(2)
Report
Not later than one year after the Commission’s first meeting, the Commission shall submit a report to the Secretary and the authorizing committees detailing the findings and recommendations of the study conducted under paragraph (1).
(c)
Termination of the Commission
The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits the report under subsection (b)(2) to the Secretary and the authorizing committees.