SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS WITH LD

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* ACTION ALERT*

SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS WITH LD

ACTION NEEDED

By April 1st, please take the following actions to get these exciting new

programs going:

.. Call your member of the House of Representatives and urge them to support

funding for all of the new provisions in the HEOA designed to improve

postsecondary education for students with disabilities.

To find the contact information for your member of the House of

Representatives, go to

http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml

.. Ask your House member to express support by signing on to a " Dear

Colleague "

letter of support, initiated by Representative Yarmuth (D - KY 3rd

District phone: 202-225-5401)

.. DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1ST

BACKGROUND

The recently passed Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) includes a

number of

exciting new provisions aimed at improving both access to and success in

postsecondary

education for students with disabilities. The House of Representatives is

currently working

on the federal budget for FY 2010, which begins in just a few short months.

These new

provisions will not be implemented without specific budget allocations!

Among these new

provisions are the:

.. National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary

Students with Disabilities This new center will assist current and

prospective

students with disabilities, assist faculty, staff, and administration of

institutions of

higher education to improve services, accommodations, retention rates, and

completion rates of students with disabilities, and evaluate, improve, and

disseminate information related to the delivery of high quality disability

support

services at institutions of higher education and report recommendations.

.. Model Demonstration Programs to Support Improved Access to Postsecondary

Instructional Materials for Students with Print Disabilities These new

programs will

promote the development of systems to improve the quality and timely

delivery of

course materials in specialized formats for students with print

disabilities.

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.. National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary

Students with Disabilities This new center will assist current and

prospective

students with disabilities, assist faculty, staff, and administration of

institutions of

higher education to improve services, accommodations, retention rates, and

completion rates of students with disabilities, and evaluate, improve, and

disseminate information related to the delivery of high quality disability

support

services at institutions of higher education and report recommendations.

.. Model Demonstration Programs to Support Improved Access to Postsecondary

Instructional Materials for Students with Print Disabilities These new

programs will

promote the development of systems to improve the quality and timely

delivery of

course materials in specialized formats for students with print

disabilities.

.. Teach to Reach New grants to help prepare general education teachers to be

better prepared to instruct students with disabilities.

In addition, we are asking Congress for continued funding of a grant program

first

authorized in 1998:

.. Demonstration Projects to Support Postsecondary Faculty, Staff, and

Administrators in Educating Students with Disabilities Grants made to

institutions

of higher education for development of model practices for faculty so that

they are

skilled in instructing students with disabilities. Activities for these

grants were

expanded in the new law and now include the development of: teaching methods

and strategies; effective transition practices; distance learning; and

disability

career pathways.

Thank you.

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