---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 1140l"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "1140l"
heading: "Establishment of Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/1140l"
units:
  - "Chapter 28 — Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance"
  - "Subchapter VII — Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs"
  - "Part D — Programs To Provide Students With Disabilities With a Quality Higher Education"
  - "Subpart 3 — commission on accessible materials; programs to support improved access to materials"
---

# §1140l. Establishment of Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities

- (a) **Establishment—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) shall establish a commission to be known as the Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with [Disabilities](/usc/20/1003.md?p=6) (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](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) in accordance with subparagraphs [(B)](#a-2-B) and [(C)](#a-2-C).
    - (B) **Members of the Commission—** The Commission members shall include one representative from each of the following categories:
      - (i) The Office of Postsecondary Education of the [Department](/usc/20/1003.md?p=4).
      - (ii) The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services of the [Department](/usc/20/1003.md?p=4).
      - (iii) The Office for Civil Rights of the [Department](/usc/20/1003.md?p=4).
      - (iv) The Library of Congress National Digital Information and Infrastructure Preservation Program Copyright Working Group.
      - (v) The Association on Higher Education and [Disability](/usc/20/1003.md?p=6).
      - (vi) The Association of American Publishers.
      - (vii) The Association of American University Presses.
      - (viii) The National Council on [Disability](/usc/20/1003.md?p=6).
      - (ix) Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic.
      - (x) National organizations representing individuals with visual impairments.
      - (xi) National organizations representing individuals with learning [disabilities](/usc/20/1003.md?p=6).
    - (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](/usc/20/1003.md?p=6), 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.
      - (iii) Individuals with visual impairments, including not less than one currently enrolled postsecondary student.
      - (iv) Individuals with dyslexia or other learning [disabilities](/usc/20/1003.md?p=6) related to reading, including not less than one currently enrolled postsecondary student.
    - (D) **Timing—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) shall appoint the members of the Commission not later than 60 days after the Commission is established under [paragraph (1)](#a-1).
  - (3) **Chairperson and vice chairperson—** The Commission shall select a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members of the Commission.
  - (4) **Meetings—**
    - (A) **In general—** The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.
    - (B) **First meeting—** Not later than 60 days after the appointment of the members of the Commission under [paragraph (2)(D)](#a-2-D), the Commission shall hold the Commission’s first meeting.
  - (5) **Quorum—** A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
- (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](/usc/20/1003.md?p=6), 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](/usc/20/1003.md?p=6) 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—
        - (I) to inform Federal regulations and legislation;
        - (II) to support the model demonstration programs authorized under [section 1140m of this title](/usc/20/1140m.md);
        - (III) to identify best practices in systems for collecting, maintaining, processing, and disseminating materials in specialized formats to students with print [disabilities](/usc/20/1003.md?p=6) at costs comparable to instructional materials for postsecondary nondisabled students;
        - (IV) to improve the effective use of such materials by faculty and staff, while complying with applicable copyright law; and
        - (V) to modify the definitions of instructional materials, authorized entities, and eligible students, as such terms are used in applicable Federal law, for the purpose of improving services to students with [disabilities](/usc/20/1003.md?p=6).
      - (ii) **Considerations—** In developing the recommendations under [clause (i)](#b-1-C-i), the Commission shall consider—
        - (I) how students with print [disabilities](/usc/20/1003.md?p=6) may obtain instructional materials in accessible formats—
          - (aa) within a timeframe comparable to the availability of instructional materials for nondisabled students; and
          - (bb) to the maximum extent practicable, at costs comparable to the costs of such materials for nondisabled students;
        - (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](/usc/20/1474.md?p=e-3), 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;
        - (IV) the feasibility of establishing market-based solutions involving collaborations among publishers of instructional materials, producers of materials in specialized formats, and institutions of higher education;
        - (V) solutions utilizing [universal design](/usc/20/1003.md?p=23); and
        - (VI) solutions for low-incidence, high-cost requests for instructional materials in specialized formats.
  - (2) **Report—** Not later than one year after the Commission’s first meeting, the Commission shall submit a report to the [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) and the [authorizing committees](/usc/20/1003.md?p=1) detailing the findings and recommendations of the study conducted under [paragraph (1)](#b-1).
  - (3) **Dissemination of information—** In carrying out the study under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the Commission shall disseminate information concerning the issues that are the subject of the study through—
    - (A) the National Technical Assistance Center established under subpart 4; and
    - (B) other means, as determined by the Commission.
- (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)](#b-2) to the [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) and the [authorizing committees](/usc/20/1003.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–329, title VII, § 772, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title VII, § 709(2), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3368; amended Pub. L. 111–39, title VII, § 701(5), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1955.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 772 of Pub. L. 89–329 was classified to section 1132h–1 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–325.

### Amendments

2009—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 111–39, § 701(5)(A), substituted “with” for “with in”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 111–39, § 701(5)(B), substituted “clause (i)” for “subparagraph (C)” in introductory provisions.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–39 effective as if enacted on the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–315 (Aug. 14, 2008), see section 3 of Pub. L. 111–39, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.