Accessible Educational Materials

Public education agencies (PEAs) are required by state and federal statute to provide accessible instructional materials in a timely manner to students with print disabilities. In 2006, a National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) was finalized to provide consistency in the electronic source files used to produce these accessible materials. Later that year, the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Center (NIMAC) began operations. The NIMAC is designed to aid schools in the provision of accessible materials by acting as a central repository for NIMAS files. Files are placed in the NIMAC by textbook publishers as a condition of purchase contracts for materials adopted by the PEAs. PEAs must decide to opt-in or opt-out of utilizing the NIMAC. However, choosing to opt-out does not relieve the PEA of its obligation to provide accessible instructional materials in a timely manner. Files placed in the NIMAC may only be used to produce accessible instructional materials for students with individualized education programs (IEPs) who meet the criteria of a person with a visual impairment or print disability as defined in a 1931 federal law (2 U.S.C. 135a; 46 Stat. 1487) commonly known as the Chaffee Amendment. While anyone may search the NIMAC, only authorized users may request or download files. In Arizona, the Arizona Department of Education, Exceptional Student Services (ADE/ESS) is the only authorized user. Schools wishing to access a NIMAC file submit a request to ADE/ESS which then authorizes a download and assigns the file to an Accessible Media Producer for the creation of the accessible instructional material in whatever format is required.

Watch this video by Simply Said, a video by the PACER Center that explains AEM.

SPANISH – Informacion Basica para Familias

 

NIMAS File Request Form

AEM Requirements IDEA/ARS

Accessible Media Producers Database

Alternative Media Producers - ARS 15-203

Arizona textbook Accessibility Law

Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) Contact Information

AEM Administrative Assistant

Elida Acosta

(602) 542-3852 or (844) 260-2890 (Toll Free)

From the Exceptional Student Services Blog

INTERNAL PD OPPORTUNITY: The Neurosequential Model Training for Educators and School Counselors/Social Workers/School Psychologists Tue, May 11 2021 Professional Learning and Sustainability, Updates

ADE/ESS is pleased to announce additional training opportunities for Arizona’s schools with The Neurosequential Model Network led by Dr. Bruce Perry. The trainings will assist schools in dealing with trauma and its effects on students. There are two training programs available to schools.
EXTERNAL PD INFO: Zoom Panel for Educators, "It's Really About Safety: A Panel Discussion on Sexual Abuse in Schools" Tue, May 11 2021 Transition News, Updates

Please see the following stakeholder communication opportunity from the Arizona Response to Sexual Violence & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Collaborative:

The Arizona Response to Sexual Violence & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Collaborative recently released, Preventing Sexual Abuse in Arizona Schools: Suggested Protocols for Students with Intellectual, Developmental and Other Disabilities.