• If you are an educator or related professional, we ask you to forward this special edition to families and others who work directly with families.  

• If you are a family member, we invite you to explore these resources and share them with others who have similar interests and responsibilities.

• Access the AIM Factsheet for Families  

I think my child might need AIM? How can I learn more?

• AIM Basics for Families (2011). This booklet, available in English and Spanish, will help you and other members of your child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) team decide whether the student needs AIM, what type of specialized format the student needs, how to access the materials for the student, and what supports the student needs to use AIM.

• AIM: A Technical Guide for Families and Advocates (2011).  This guide Includes background information on AIM provisions in IDEA, definitions of terms, a thorough description of the decision-making process for AIM, and where to find additional resources.

• AIMing for Achievement Series: What Educators and Families Need to Know about Accessible Instructional Materials (2010-2011). This series of articles, originally published in Closing the Gap Solutions, addresses the complexities, challenges, and opportunities related to the provision of accessible instructional materials (AIM). 

Is there anything available to help IEP Teams and other teams make thoughtful decisions about AIM?

• Check out the AIM Navigator, a free online decision-making tool.   

The AIM Navigator is an interactive tool that facilitates a 4-step process of decision-making around accessible instructional materials for an individual student. Guiding questions, resources and scaffolds of support are built in to provide access to information at the level needed to assist the team in making informed, accurate decisions.

Where should I start and what additional AIM-related resources are available to families?

• Start by contacting your child's IEP team coordinator. Your district's Director of Special Education can also be of assistance.   

• Learn about your state's specific policies and resources by visiting AIM in Your State on the AIM Center web site. Contact your state's AIM Coordinator for additional information.   

• Check with the Parent Center in your state for services for children's educational, developmental and transitional needs.   

• Conduct a search of a wide range of disability resources in your state using the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities database.

How can get accessible books for my child to read for pleasure?

If your child meets the criteria for membership, sign up for individual accounts at Bookshare and Learning Ally, the two major libraries of accessible media.

• Bookshare  
• Learning Ally  

How can learn more and stay up to date about AIM?

• Visit the AIM Center web site homepage   

• Sign-up for the AIM Connector e-newsletter
   
• Check out upcoming and archived AIM Center webinars and presentations