Public Policy: Recognition and Public Policy: About CAST: CAST

CAST's efforts to raise awareness of the benefits of Universal Design for Learning and the need for accessible curricular materials are having an impact on Capitol Hill. On May 13, 2004, the U.S. Senate bill reauthorizing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) called for the establishment of "a Commission to study, evaluate, and make appropriate recommendations to Congress and the Secretary on universal design and accessibility of curriculum and instructional materials for use by all children, with particular focus on children with disabilities, in elementary and secondary schools." The bill included several references to Universal Design.

CAST supported and contributed to language in the bill supporting the implementation of a National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) and a National Instructional Materials Access Center to coordinate the preparation and distribution of accessible textbooks while protecting educational publisher intellectual property rights.

In 2003, Chuck Hitchcock and Grace Meo of CAST had met with representatives of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to present CAST's views and a list of recommendations. Prior to that, David Rose and Chuck Hitchcock met with the President's Disability Advisor and with selected members of Congress.

CAST Helping States Plan and Develop Accessible Materials (March 2004)

From coast to coast, the work of CAST's National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum (NCAC) identify existing barriers in curricular materials, classroom expectations, and teaching techniques at the K-12 and postsecondary level is bearing fruit. Several states, including New Mexico, Kentucky, New York, and Arizona, have passed accessible textbook legislation, often referencing the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) written by NCAC's National File Format Initiative.

For example, Chuck Hitchcock, Chief Education Technology Officer and NCAC Director, recently took part in meetings hosted by the New York State Department of Higher Education to discuss the implementation of an amended Chapter 219, New York's new accessible textbook, software, and media law for higher education, which goes into effect in September 2004. The NIMAS recommendations are being considered as a source file format for New York.

Another example is the work of Skip Stahl, director of CAST's Universal Learning Center, and the CAST research team to support Kentucky's implementation of its statewide UDL Initiative to provide universally designed instructional materials to students in efficient ways.

Final NFF Report Submitted to the Department of Education (October 2003)

The National File Format Technical Panel submitted its final report to the Office of Special Educations Programs, United States Department of Education (DOE). The report details a set of technical specifications, the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS), designed to facilitate the efficient delivery of accessible instructional materials, a timeline for the implementation of the proposed standard, and a process for assessing the success of implementation. The report is presently undergoing a final review by the USDOE. The 40-member Panel includes experts in technology, publishing, education, consumer issues, and public policy. A proposal will be submitted proposal will be submitted requesting funding for phase 2 of this work which will include extending recommendations to better serve additional populations while refining and maintaining the technical specifications.

NCAC and Berkman Center at Harvard Law School Host Second Conference

The National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum (NCAC) at CAST recently hosted a second conference at Harvard Law School pertaining to Accessible Textbooks, Intellectual Property Rights, and the preparation and distribution of ccessible textbooks to learners with print disabilities. The meeting was coordinated by Martha Minow and Erica Perl of the Law School and planned with Chuck Hitchcock, Skip Stahl and David Rose of CAST. The all day session was attended by representatives of educational publishers, the American Association of Publishers (AAP), Berkman Center staff, and other invited participants. The focus of the meeting was to discuss business models for the efficient and cost effective delivery of accessible digital materials to qualified students with disabilities. A summary report will be posted to the NCAC Web site.

Recent NCAC Publications Focus on National Policy Issues

The following papers were recently commissioned by NCAC and posted to its Web site:

NCAC Policy Group White Paper for Policy, Property & Permissions: A Discussion of Accessible Curriculum Materials on Ordering, Producing, and Obtaining Accessible Versions of Curriculum Materials for K-12 Students with Print Disabilities
By Erica S. Perl, Esq.
Available at: http://www.cast.org/ncac/index.cfm?i=4674

Access to the General Curriculum for Students with Disabilities: A Brief for Parents and Teachers
By Joanne Karger and Charles Hitchcock
Available at: http://www.cast.org/ncac/index.cfm?i=4673

Access to the General Curriculum for Students with Disabilities: A Brief Legal Interpretation
By Joanne Karger and Charles Hitchcock
Available at: http://www.cast.org/ncac/index.cfm?i=4672

Another paper by Joanne Karger dealing with the relationship between the Individuals with Disabilities Act and No Child Left Behind is near completions.

Testimony: Hearing on Education Technology

Testimony given by Dr. David Rose on Wednesday, July 25, 2001 at a Hearing on Education Technology held by the Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

White Paper for Office of Educational Technology

Drs. David Rose and Anne Meyer, co-executive directors of CAST, authored a white paper, The Future is in the Margins: The Role of Technology and Disability in Educational Reform for the U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology (OET). Commissioned by the OET in late 1999 as part of a year-long review and revision of the national educational technology plan, the white paper focuses on the potential impact of Universal Design for Learning on current reform efforts.