New York
State Education Agency Information
New York State Education Department
Albany, New York 12234
State NIMAS/NIMAC Coordinator
Sophie McDermott, Assistant
89 Washington Avenue, Room 309 EB
Albany, New York 12234
AIM and NIMAS Web Site Resources at State Education Agency
The New York State Education Department, P12: Office of Special Education has created a web site intended to provide information for families, school district staff, and other interested parties (
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/aim/). The web site is meant to contain information related to the decision-making process for students who may need accessible instructional materials (AIM), as well as the process for obtaining AIM in New York state.
The New York State Education Department states that it is "committed to ensuring that students with disabilities who require accessible instructional materials receive them in a timely manner."
Instructional Materials Acquisition (adoption or open territory)
New York is an open territory state with no centralized textbook acquisition. The selection and purchase of textbooks and instructional materials is a local district activity.
SEA Policies and Practices
NIMAC Authorized User(s)
Sophie McDermott
P–12 Office of Special Education
Lisa DeSantis
Laurence Gardner
Bookshare
Learning Ally
Selected Accessible Media Producers (AMPs)
The New York State Education Department, P–12, Office of Special Education currently contracts with gh, LLC for the production of Braille and large print books and educational materials for blind and visually impaired students in New York state. For further information, please see http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/aim/announce-braillevendor.htm.
State Definition of Timely Manner for the Delivery of AIM to Students
Section 200.2(b)(10) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education requires that each board of education shall establish a plan to ensure that all instructional materials to be used in the schools of the district are available in a usable alternative format at the same time that such materials are available to nondisabled students. Please see http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/lawsregs/part200.htm.
AIM-Related State Laws and Regulations
Please see Sections 200.2(b)(10); 200.2(c)(2)(vi); and 200.2(i) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education for information pertaining to AIM, NIMAS, and the NIMAC:http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/lawsregs/part200.htm.
Parent Information & Advocacy Resources
New York State Special Education Parent Centers
Barbara Gioia
New York State Education Department
tel.: (518) 486-7462bgioia [at] mail [dot] nysed [dot] gov
SEA Web Links
The NYSED web site dedicated to AIM (http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/aim/) is intended to provide current information, including links to special education memos related to AIM, NIMAS, and the NIMAC.
Information related to AIM may also be obtained from the Resource Center for the Visually Impaired at the New York State School for the Blind:http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/aim/rcvi.htm.