# The RISE Act of 2021: Making College More Accessible for Students with Disabilities

This bill makes it easier for students with disabilities to get the support they need when they go to college. Right now, many students with disabilities struggle because colleges have different rules about what paperwork they'll accept to prove someone has a disability, and students often don't know what to expect or how to navigate the system. The RISE Act standardizes this process so that students can use documentation they already have—like an IEP (Individualized Education Program) from high school, a 504 plan, or an evaluation from a doctor—to establish their disability status at college without having to jump through extra hoops.

The bill requires colleges to be clear and transparent about how they determine whether students qualify for accommodations. Colleges must explain their process in plain language and share this information with students, parents, and teachers through orientation sessions and their websites in formats that are accessible to people with disabilities. This means families can understand what to expect before their student even arrives on campus, and students won't be left guessing about whether they'll get the help they need. The bill also makes sure colleges can't reject legitimate documentation just because it's from a previous school or from a few years ago.

Additionally, the bill requires colleges to collect and report data about students with disabilities—how many are enrolled, how many are getting accommodations, and how many are graduating. This information will be made public so families can compare colleges and see which schools are actually supporting students with disabilities effectively. The bill also provides $10 million in funding for a national center that will help colleges and students navigate disability services and accommodations. Overall, this makes the college experience more predictable and fair for students with disabilities and their families.

RISE Act of 2021

Bonamici, Suzanne

Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act of 2021 or the RISE Act of 2021 This bill establishes&nbsp;requirements for institutions of higher education (IHEs) concerning students with disabilities. Specifically, the bill requires IHEs to allow students to use certain documents, such as individualized education programs, to&nbsp;establish their disabilities. In addition, IHEs must make the process for determining the eligibility for accommodations transparent. Finally,&nbsp;IHEs must submit key data related to their undergraduate students with disabilities for inclusion in federal postsecondary institution data collection efforts.