Greetings from the AIM Center team!
As the school year begins, families of students who have difficulty using typical printed instructional materials effectively often have concerns and questions about "accessible instructional materials" and if those materials could be needed by their children. Educators often share similar concerns about the students they work with, and may be unsure of how and where to find answers to their questions about accessible instructional materials.
The AIM Center has put together this special back-to-school edition of the AIM Connector highlighting easy-to-understand resources that address questions frequently asked by family members and educators at the start of school.
Please explore these freely available resources and share them with others who have similar interests and responsibilities!
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How can I get a quick introduction to AIM?
Watch a 3-minute video
Scan AIM Quick Start for Educators and register for the free corresponding webinar (see below).
Scan AIM Quick Start for SEAs/LEAs and register for the free corresponding webinar (see below).
Scan AIM Quick Start for Families and register for the free corresponding webinar (see below).
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I think my child/student might need AIM? How can I learn more?
AIM Basics for Families. This booklet, available in English and Spanish, will help families and educators 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. 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.
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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 AIM 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. A print version is available too!
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What legal issues are important for me to know about?
IDEA requires that states and districts ensure timely provision of AIM, to elementary and secondary students with disabilities who need these materials. This means that school districts must take reasonable steps to provide AIM to eligible students with disabilities without delay, typically at the same time as other students receive instructional materials.
For students who do not receive special education services under IDEA, the disability civil rights laws (Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act) may require the provision of AIM. There are also copyright issues that may impact the sources that can be used to acquire AIM for your child/student.
Learn more:
The Right of Students with Disabilities Who Need AIM to Receive These Materials in a Timely Manner: A Brief for Families and Educators (2012)
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My school is starting to use digital devices and digital learning materials. Are they accessible?
Unfortunately, not all digital materials are designed and developed with features that make them automatically accessible to all students. Promoting accessibility in digital materials is becoming more and more important as school systems begin to move away from traditional print-based text.
Check out the PALM Initiative (Purchase Accessible Learning Materials) to find out about an important new initiative that encourages school systems to purchase digital learning materials that are designed to be accessible from the outset.
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Quick Start Webinar Series
Register Now for Late August, Early September
AIM Center Resources: Quick Start for Educators
DATE: Tuesday, August 27, 2013
TIME: 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. EDT
This webinar highlights the information and tools available on the web site of the AIM Center that support effective decision-making in all phases of selecting, providing, and using accessible instructional materials for the participation and achievement of students. In addition to an orientation to resources of special interest to educators with interests and responsibilities related to student participation and outcomes, there will be time for questions submitted by participants to be addressed by the presenters.
PARTICIPANTS: Teachers and others working with students
PRESENTER(S): Diana Carl, Joanne Karger, Joy Zabala
Register for the free August 27th webinar
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AIM Center Resources: Quick Start for SEA and LEA Leaders
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 2013
TIME: 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. EDT
This webinar, especially designed for leaders in state and local education agencies, provides a brief introduction to the supports and services available from the National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials. In addition to an orientation to resources of special interest to state and local leaders with interests and responsibilities related to implementation of systems for the timely provision of AIM, there will be time for questions submitted by participants to be addressed by the presenters.
PARTICIPANTS: SEA leaders and LEA leaders with system-level responsibilities at district and campus levels
PRESENTER(S): Diana Carl, Joanne Karger, Joy Zabala
Register for the free August 29th webinar
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AIM Center Resources: Quick Start for Families
DATE: Thursday, September 5, 2013
TIME: 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. EDT
This webinar is especially designed to provide families with a brief introduction to the supports and services available from the National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials. In addition to an orientation to resources of special interest to family members and those who work closely with families, there will be time for questions submitted by participants to be addressed by the presenters.
PARTICIPANTS: Primarily for families members, Family Center personnel and educators working with families
PRESENTER(S): Diana Carl, Joanne Karger, Joy Zabala
Register for the free September 5th webinar
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STAY CONNECTED
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More New Resources from the AIM Center
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COMING SOON from the AIM Center...
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The AIM Center staff is busily creating a series of 3-4 minute videos capturing the stories of teachers, special educators, administrators and students and their experiences using specialized formats and technologies to access the general education curriculum. We hope they'll be a useful resource for families and/or for educators interested in the personal reflections and perspectives of AIM users. In the meantime, be sure to check out our existing series of AIM video clips. You might also find our student Learning Journeys to be of interest. Happy viewing all! |
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