Accessible Instructional Materials
Students who struggle to decode or extract meaning from print-based materials may require accessible instructional materials to receive an appropriate education. Accessible instructional materials include the specialized formats of audio, Braille, eText, and large print and are used by students with a variety of disabilities such as visual impairment, physical impairment, traumatic brain injury, learning disabilities, etc. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has a number of requirements related to the timely acquisition and delivery of high-quality educational materials in accessible formats for eligible students.
The links below provide information to assist schools to provide accessible instructional materials needed by students with disabilities.
IDEA Requirements
Sample Agreement/Contract Language
Accessing NIMAS File Sets
Eligibility for Electronic Source Files
MoAT AIM Grant
Missouri Assistive Technology (MoAT) is pleased to announce an Accessible Instructional Materials grant available to Missouri local education agencies (LEAs). The purpose of the grant is to aid LEAs in acquiring the assistive technology equipment needed to support delivery of accessible instructional materials to students with print disabilities. Examples of equipment include, conversion software for National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standards (NIMAS) file sets, Braille embosser, screen reading or enlargement software, portable text readers, etc.
Through funding from the AIM Consortium, Missouri Assistive Technology has offered a two-part training for LEA staff to increase their capacity to produce accessible instructional materials utilizing the NIMAS file sets. Scheduled trainings were June 2008 and October 2008. To be eligible for these grant funds a staff member must participate in both of these training sessions. Click on the following links for details and application:
AIM Grant eligibility requirements and timelines (.doc)
AIM Grant Follow-up Data Form (.doc)
Missouri Assistive Technology is pleased to announce . . .
MoAT Text-To-Speech Project
Missouri Assistive Technology, in collaboration with five Missouri school districts, provided comprehensive access to accessible instructional materials and text-to-speech technology for 20 students with learning disabilities in their junior year of high school as part of a pilot project. Each student had ready access to existing e-text through federally funded and other repositories and utilized scanning to create accessible instructional materials when e-text was not available. The text-to-speech technology was available to the student through out their school day and at home for completing school requirements.
Outcomes for the project were extremely positive with successful transition outcomes for all 20 students (75% going to post-secondary settings). Plans are underway to expand the pilot to additional districts, include students with other types of disabilities, and begin intervention earlier (freshman/sophomore year).