The Higher Education Opportunity Act of
2008 (Public Law 110-315) (HEOA) was
passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into
law in August 2008. Five years overdue and
several years in the making, the newly reau-
thorized Act will now direct the advance-
ment of postsecondary education for at
least the next five years.
The Act authorizes a number of new
grant programs, imposes a number of new
reporting requirements on institutions,
attempts to increase the integrity of student
loan programs, simplifies the federal stu-
dent aid application process, and adds pro-
visions meant to control textbook costs,
among just a few of its provisions. The Act
also has a number of important provisions
intended to improve both access and suc-
cess for students with disabilities in postsec-
ondary education. This article provides an
overview of several new provisions specific
to students with disabilities.
National Center for
Information and Technical Support
for Postsecondary Students
with Disabilities
This new National Center will provide tech-
nical assistance and information on best
and promising practices to students with
disabilities, the families of students with dis-
abilities, as well as entities awarded grants,
contracts, or cooperative agreements to
improve the postsecondary recruitment,
transition, retention, and completion rates
of students with disabilities. Student and
family assistance will include information
for prospective postsecondary students to
use in transition planning while in second-
ary school; information and technical assis-
tance provided to individualized education
program (IEP) teams; research-based sup-
ports, services, and accommodations,
which are available in postsecondary set-
tings; information on student mentoring
and networking opportunities for students
with disabilities; and effective recruitment
and transition programs at postsecondary
educational institutions.
The Center will also maintain a national
Web-based database of disability support
services information with respect to instit