WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Jim Banks (R-IN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Todd Young (R-IN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act. This legislation amends the Higher Education Act (HEA), eliminating the requirement for students with disabilities to go through burdensome diagnostic testing if their disability is already documented.
“No student should have to jump through extra hoops or incur extra costs to prove their disability,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This commonsense legislation removes unnecessary barriers for students with disabilities and gives them the resources they need to succeed in college."
“This bill cuts unnecessary red tape and uses common sense to make sure students aren’t forced to jump through the same hoops twice. It lets them focus on learning instead of paperwork,” said Senator Banks.
“Heading off to college is an exciting time, but for students with disabilities, it can also mean navigating barriers, unnecessary paperwork, and expensive tests to reestablish a documented disability,” said Senator Hassan. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill will help ease the transition from high school to college for students with disabilities, clarifying that colleges should accept the proof that students used in high school to establish disabilities, saving both students and universities time and money.”
“All Hoosiers deserve a fair shot at success. This legislation takes an important step to set clear, consistent standards for people with disabilities in the college enrollment process, increasing transparency for students and families,” said Senator Young.
The RISE Act is endorsed by the National Center for Learning Disabilities, American Council on Education, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), The Center of Higher Education Policy and Practice (CHEPP) at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), AHEAD - Association on Higher Education And Disability, All4Ed, American Psychological Association, Autism Society of America, Council for Learning Disabilities, EdTrust, Learning Disabilities Association of America, National Association of School Psychologists, National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), National Down Syndrome Society, SchoolHouse Connection, Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, and The Advocacy Institute.
“The American Council on Education is happy to endorse the RISE Act. This bill will support students with disabilities as they pursue a postsecondary education and would ease their transition to college. Institutions of higher education strive to provide the necessary services to meet the needs of all students on their campuses, and this bill, if enacted, will provide greater clarity and resources for students with disabilities and their families. We urge Congress to pass this bill and support students with disabilities.”
“We thank Chairman Cassidy for his collaborative approach to advancing legislation that bolsters support for students with disabilities and enhances educational outcomes data,” said Waded Cruzado, President, APLU. “Public and land-grant universities are deeply committed to serving students with disabilities and helping them build skills that position them to thrive in the workforce and society at large.”
“Students with disabilities have long-faced barriers to enter and succeed in higher education. The RISE Act would be a critical step forward to making higher education more accessible to learners with disabilities by streamlining the process to access critical accommodations to help them reach their educational goals,” said Lisa Marsh Ryerson, President, SNHU.
Read the full bill text here.
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