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Steering Committee Established to Implement Recommendations From Forum on Accessible Tertiary Materials

Background

On May 29, 2002, the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission convened a national forum to address the issues surrounding the provision of curricular material in accessible formats (audio, braille, e-text and large print) for university students who have a print disability. Approximately 90 people participated in the forum, representing 35 of Australia's 39 universities, university librarians, government departments, publishers, and students. Prior to the forum, on May 28, a session was held to clarify and discuss copyright legislation and regimes as they impact on students with a print disability. Most participants in the forum also attended this session on copyright.

The forum divided into 5 discussion groups, each group dealing with a specific topic area:
1. Approaches to Production;
2. Copyright and Publishing;
3. Digital Libraries and the Sharing of Information in Accessible Formats;
4. Sector and Cross-sector Standards and Guidelines
5. University Policies, Practices and Procedures.

Each group was asked to develop recommendations aimed at improving access to curricular materials by students with a print disability. The resulting recommendations are included as Appendix 1. [not attached]

This Steering Committee is established jointly by HREOC and the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (AVCC), to develop strategies for implementing these recommendations.

Membership

The core members of the Steering Committee are:

Invitations may also be extending to organisations or individuals, who may bring a particular knowledge or perspective, to be members of any Working Group established to address specific recommendations.

The Steering Committee will be chaired by a nominee of the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee. It is proposed that the AVCC and HREOC will jointly provide the secretariat support for the Steering Committee.

Reporting

Members are responsible for reporting back to their constituencies on developments and discussions in the Steering Committee, and for obtaining organisational support, where appropriate, for any initiatives proposed by the Steering Committee. Members are responsible for providing information and briefings to the Steering Committee on initiatives taking place in their particular sector or organisation that are relevant to the Committee's work.

Status

The members of the Steering Committee will seek to achieve consensus in decision-making processes. The Steering Committee does not have the authority to commit members to particular actions.

Terms of Reference

This Steering Committee shall have the following Terms of Reference:

1) To review the proceedings of, and recommendations arising from, the National Forum on Accessible Tertiary Materials that was convened by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) on May 29, 2002, as well as the recommendations arising from the pre-Forum session on copyright that was held on May 28;

2) To determine, for each recommendation, the benefits and feasibility of implementation, having regard to the priorities of stakeholders, available resources, and levels of expertise;

3) To formulate a strategy for implementing those recommendations that, in the opinion of the Steering Committee, can reasonably be implemented;

4) To establish, task, and oversee the activities of Working Groups to facilitate progress on implementing the recommendations that are the subject of the strategy referred to above;

5) To initiate, investigate or promote such other measures as the Steering Committee may determine as being likely to improve the access to curricular materials for university students with a print disability.