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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica" size=4><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><b>CONTACT:<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">Chris Danielsen<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">Director of Public Relations<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">National Federation of the Blind<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">
cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br>
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<div align="center"><h1><b>National Federation of the Blind Urges Swift
Action <br>
on Recommendations for Accessible Higher Education
Materials</b></h1><br><br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><b>Baltimore, Maryland (December 13,
2011):</b> The <a href="http://www.nfb.org/">National Federation of the
Blind</a> (NFB) commented today on the recently released final
<a href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/aim/publications.html">
report</a> of the Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional
Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with
Disabilities. The commission was created by Congress following
extensive advocacy by the NFB as part of the Higher Education Opportunity
Act of 2008. The report sets forth specific recommendations to
facilitate the production and distribution of accessible instructional
materialsincluding printed and digital books, journals, course packs,
articles, tests, videos, instructor-created materials, and Web pages, as
well as any hardware, firmware, software, or other means of accessing
such materialsto students who are blind or have other
disabilities. The report focuses on making mainstream educational
products accessible to the maximum extent possible, allowing students
with and without disabilities to access the same materials at the same
time and at the same price.<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the
National Federation of the Blind, said: “The blind and other students
with disabilities have an equal right to participate in higher education.
Access to textbooks and other instructional materials has historically
presented the greatest barrier to a truly equal education for blind
students. The transition from print to digital materials presents
great challenges; but, if managed properly, it will mean that blind
students and other students with disabilities will, for the first time,
have equal access to educational content on the same terms as their
non-disabled peers. This report presents recommendations that, if
properly implemented, will help to ensure that this potential is
realized.”<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Mark
Riccobono, executive director of the National Federation of the Blind
Jernigan Institute and a member of the commission, said: “Ultimately the
success of this report will depend on whether Congress acts to implement
its recommendations, but the recommendations themselves are strong and
will make a real difference to postsecondary students with disabilities
if implemented. As the report notes, while there is some activity
in the mainstream market to include accessibility in electronic textbooks
and other products, it will take a combination of market incentives and
government regulations in order to ensure that the blind and other
students with disabilities are placed on equal footing with their
peers. If the report’s recommendations are not acted upon, however,
students with disabilities will be put at a greater disadvantage than
ever before in terms of access to educational materials. We
therefore urge Congress to act swiftly on the commission’s
recommendations.”<br>
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<b>About the National Federation of the Blind<br>
</b><br>
With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is
the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people
in the United States. The NFB improves blind people’s lives through
advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging
independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the
blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January
2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan
Institute, the first research and training center in the United States
for the blind led by the blind. <br><br>
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