State and Local Education Agencies

This page is intended to provide quick links to resources that may be of special interest to state and local education agencies. Note that links provided will take you to pages within the AIM Center site.

Overview & Introductory

All About AIM
http://aim.cast.org/learn/accessiblemedia/allaboutaim
Learn all about AIM from the basics to classroom practice from these resources explaining the ‘who, what, why’ of AIM.

AIM Online Courses
http://aim.cast.org/experience/training/courses
Two online courses have been designed for educators, administrators, parents, and others involved in the provision and use of AIM in schools and at home. These facilitated courses have been developed in Moodle and are freely available to SEAs, LEAs, or other agencies to use for training purposes.

What is NIMAS?
http://aim.cast.org/learn/policy/federal/what_is_nimas
This page explains the NIMAS briefly and provides details regarding the various steps involved in the whole NIMAS cycle, from states adopting NIMAS and agreeing to coordinate with the national repository (the NIMAC), the role of states and local districts, the role of AUs and AMPs, to delivery to students that qualify.

NIMAS Policy Brief 2008
http://aim.cast.org/learn/policy/stateresources/policy_brief-2008-04
This report provides information about NIMAS-related developments that may impact choices made within states and local education agencies. These developments should be of interest to anyone responsible for implementing IDEA 2004 and the regulations pertaining to the statute.

About Accessibility

Accessible Media
http://aim.cast.org/learn/accessiblemedia
Learn more about alternate-format materials to support access and enable participation in the general curriculum by students with print disabilities. Find out about accessible media that can be used to support diverse learners in the classroom, categorized by format.

Quality Indicators
http://aim.cast.org/learn/policy/stateresources/quality_indicators
This quality indicators document describes the critical attributes of a comprehensive set of mechanisms, supports, guidelines, policies, practices, etc. that are aligned across agencies to address this requirement. These indicators can help with analysis of current status and support planning for growth at all organizational levels.

Finding AIM

Commercial AIM
http://aim.cast.org/learn/practice/acquisitiondistribution/commercial
Commercial in this context means fee-based access (subscription or per-item) to alternate versions of print materials. Organizations/companies may require registration and/or membership as well. See also Mainstream below.

Copyright-Exempt AIM
http://aim.cast.org/learn/practice/acquisitiondistribution/copyright_exempt
Organizations on this list operate as authorized entities as described in Section 121 of the Copyright Act (the Chafee Amendment) and may only provide specialized format versions of print instructional materials to qualified students.

Copyright-Free AIM
http://aim.cast.org/learn/practice/acquisitiondistribution/copyright_free
Sources in this category provide access to digital versions of copyright-free or out-of-copyright (public domain) materials.

Disability-Specific Resources
http://aim.cast.org/learn/disabilityspecific
Acquire information about the functional impact of disabilities on education: specifically, as related to accessible instructional materials. Learn about available resources for extended study.

Mainstream AIM
http://aim.cast.org/learn/practice/acquisitiondistribution/mainstream
Sources on this list may offer content for free or for sale, or both. Digital electronic text and digital audio content may also be provided to patrons through public libraries. Check with your local library about resources listed here, as well as other services to which your library may subscribe.

Specialized AIM
http://aim.cast.org/learn/practice/acquisitiondistribution/specialized
Sources on this list provide texts available in alternate formats, including digital electronic text, digital audio narration, Braille, large print, or sometimes even combinations of these. Consumers are urged to consult the web sites provided here to determine which formats may be available and if they must qualify in order to access content or become members.

AIM Navigator
http://aim.cast.org/experience/decision-making_tools/aim_navigator
The AIM Navigator is an interactive tool that facilitates the process of decision-making around accessible instructional materials for an individual student.

AIM Guide to AMPs
http://aim.cast.org/learn/practice/acquisitiondistribution/aim_amp_guide
A survey, in the form of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), was developed collaboratively by members of the AIM Consortium. This survey was sent to each of the three accessible media producers (AMPs) that receive funding from the U. S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The information provided by each AMP is summarized in the Table to enable comparison at a glance. Each individual AMP FAQ is provided separately on the pages listed below.

Using AIM

Student Learning Journeys
http://aim.cast.org/collaborate/knowledge/story The stories in this section are from students with print disabilities and learning challenges—told in their own voices—from their unique perspective and reflective of where they are in their learning journeys. Students, educators, and parents will find student reviews of favorite assistive technology tools, tips for using academic support services, and strategies for building successful study skills.

 

e-Resources
http://aim.cast.org/learn/e-resources
These e-Resources provide information about hardware, software, and web-based applications for digitally rendered content including readers, players, hybrid products, and more.

Readers That Import NIMAS Files
http://aim.cast.org/experience/technologies/readersimport
This page describes products that use and convert NIMAS filesets. These products open or import NIMAS filesets and either read them or export them as another format (some products change NIMAS source files to a different format before reading and some work with the files directly).

AIM Implementation Guide
http://aim.cast.org/experience/training/aim_implementation_guide
Text-to-Speech (TtS) and Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM): An Implementation Guide for Use of TtS and AIM in Secondary Classrooms includes supports and strategies needed to design and implement programs in which AIM and text-to-speech technology are routinely used by secondary students with print disabilities.

Reference & Resource Materials

AIM Glossary
http://aim.cast.org/glossary
Use the AIM Glossary to find definitions of AIM- and NIMAS-related terms and acronyms.

FAQ
http://aim.cast.org/learn/policy/federal/faq
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the NIMAS and NIMAS-related topics.

AIMing for Achievement DVD
http://aim.cast.org/experience/training/AIMAchvDVD
The AIMing for Achievement DVD includes content of national impact that is designed to be useful across multiple environments with differing models of service provision. The DVD contains interviews, supplementary information, and illustrative scenarios that increase awareness and knowledge needed at both system and student levels to support timely provision of AIM.

AIM Explorer
http://aim.cast.org/experience/decision-making_tools/aim_explorer
The AIM Explorer is a free downloadable simulation tool that combines grade-leveled digital text with access features common to most text readers and supported reading software. Settings for magnification, colors of text and background, text-to-speech (synthetic and human), text highlighting, and layout options can be manipulated to help educators, families, and struggling readers decide ways in which these supports can be configured to help with access to and understanding of text.

Presentations
http://aim.cast.org/experience/training/presentations
AIM Center staff and colleagues often attend conferences and make face-to-face presentations at various venues around the country. This gives the AIM Center staff the opportunity to meet and interact with others who are interested in the development, delivery, and use of accessible instructional materials.

Webinars
http://aim.cast.org/experience/training/webinars
The AIM Center webinars offer interactive opportunities to develop and extend knowledge about accessible instructional materials.

AIM and the IEP
http://aim.cast.org/learn/policy/local/accessible_iep
A brief explanation of the NIMAS as it pertains to students with IEPs and guidelines for suggested language for individual students' IEPs is outlined at this page.

Accessible Instructional Materials: An Annotated List of Research Articles
http://aim.cast.org/learn/research/aimresearch
Articles listed in this resource focus on the following categories: audio, digital, large print, Braille, assistive technology, multimedia formats, supported reading (such as text-to-speech), and UDL. The articles include a mix of quantitative evidence, qualitative evidence, scholarly reviews, and expert opinions.

Accessible Textbooks
http://aim.cast.org/learn/aim4families/school/accessible_textbooks
A Guide for educators (administrators, teachers, and paraprofessionals) with strategies for acquiring and using accessible, alternate-format versions of print instructional materials for pre-K–12 students with print disabilities.

NIMAC
http://aim.cast.org/learn/practice/nimac
Learn about the NIMAC and its role in the provision of AIM through a variety of resources, including the designation of authorized entities (AUs), the NIMAC database and its metadata requirements for AIM source files, state coordination information, and forms and agreements.

Legal Brief: Provision of AIM via NIMAS & NIMAC
http://aim.cast.org/learn/aim4families/nimas_nimac_families_educators
An Examination of the NIMAS and the NIMAC Provisions in IDEA 2004: A Brief for Families and Educators

Legal Brief: Rights of Students to Receive AIM
http://aim.cast.org/learn/aim4families/aim_families_educators
The Provision of Accessible Instructional Materials to Students with Disabilities under IDEA, Section 504, and Title II of the ADA: An Overview for Families and Educators

LEA Critical Role
http://aim.cast.org/learn/policy/local/lea_critical_role
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) should be aware of the need to ensure that the NIMAC is adequately populated with materials that will need to be converted for students with print disabilities. The role of LEAs in this is very important.

NIMAS in IDEA 2004
http://aim.cast.org/learn/policy/federal/idea2004
Provisions related to access to instructional materials, NIMAS, and NIMAC. Includes background information and selected sections of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004 regulations.

OSEP NIMAS Regulations Summary
http://aim.cast.org/learn/policy/federal/osep_summary
This is one in a series of documents, prepared by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in the U.S. Department of Education, that covers a variety of high-interest topics and brings together the regulatory requirements related to those topics to support constituents in preparing to implement the new regulations. This document addresses statutory and final regulatory requirements regarding NIMAS.

SEA SPED Responsibilities
http://aim.cast.org/learn/policy/statereresources/sea_sped
This SEA SPED Responsibilities document provides a list of SEA-level actions, with both required and suggested activities, and a recommended timeline for implementation. Two versions of Word format copies are also available for download.

Primary Contacts for NIMAS/NIMAC
http://aim.cast.org/learn/policy/state/nimas_nimac_contacts
The Primary Contacts for NIMAS/NIMAC page includes information for all U.S. states, territories, outlying areas, and freely associated states.

State Information
http://aim.cast.org/learn/policy/state
Information on individual states pertinent to AIM, including textbook adoption/purchasing, resources, and more.

State Resources
http://aim.cast.org/learn/policy/stateresources
Information on statutes and policies, special education responsibilities, assistive technology, resources, and more.


Last Updated: 05/24/2012