Making Instruction Accessible

Today is the NJCART meeting focusing on Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM).

After our presentations from Joy Zabala of the Center for Applied Special Technology and the National AIM Center (10 Things Everyone Needs to Know About Instructional Materials.) and Perkie B. Cannon of NJDOE’s Office of Special Education Programs’ Learning Resource Center Project [Accessing Alternate Print Media Through the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC).]; Janet DeSenzo of JanTech Educational Services and I will lead a demonstration and discussion of Technology Tools to Enable Access to AIM.

Some of the tools we will be highlighting include:

Software Solutions

Kurzweil 3000 from Kurzweil Educational Systems

Read:OutLoud from Don Johnston Inc.

DAISY to ePUB from Don Jonhston Inc.

Hardware Solutions

Intel Reader from Intel

Classmate Reader from Don Johnston, Inc.

Come to the NJCART Meeting! Accessible Instructional Materials

Please join NJCART for our next meeting.

Making Instruction Accessible.

Join us on February 24, 2011 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Learning Resource Center – North Satellite in Morris Plains for an afternoon with Joy Zabala, Perkie B. Cannon, Janet DeSenzo and Mike Marotta.

First, Joy Zabala of the Center for Applied Special Technology and the National AIM Center will be joining us via the Internet to discuss 10 Things Everyone Needs to Know About Instructional Materials.

What are accessible instructional materials? What are they and who needs them? Is AIM the same as NIMAS? Wouldn't digital materials solve the problem? What does this have to do with copyright? How can we build on what we already know? If these questions and others sound familiar to you, join Joy for a fast-paced look at a few of the major issues swirling around the provision of print-based materials in accessible formats when needed.

Next, Perkie B. Cannon of NJDOE’s Office of Special Education Programs’ Learning Resource Center Project will present Accessing Alternate Print Media Through the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC).

This presentation will cover texts eligible for conversion to NIMAS format, student eligibility to receive NIMAS materials, assistive technology considerations for accessible print media and procedures to access the NIMAC repository.

Finally, NJCART’s own Janet DeSenzo of JanTech Educational Services and Mike Marotta of Advancing Opportunities will lead a demonstration and discussion of Technology Tools to Enable Access to AIM.

Our speakers will highlight a variety of assistive technology tools (both hardware and software solutions) available to enable students to access AIM.

For directions to the February meeting, located at the LRC – North Satellite, 104 The American Road, Morris Plains, NJ, please visit http://www.state.nj.us/education/lrc/dir2lrcns.pdf.

RSVP by February 18th to Mike at mmarotta@advopps.org.

Admission for NJCART members is FREE!!! Did you forget to send in your dues? Visit http://www.njcart.org/page17/files/Membership%20Application.pdf to download our application: print the form, fill it out and mail it with your check to NJCART c/o Advancing Opportunities, Inc., 1005 Whitehead Road Extension, Suite 1, Ewing, NJ 08638.

Not a member? You can participate in this meeting for just $10 – bring a colleague, and their admission is half off.

Come to the NJCART Meeting! Accessible Instructional Materials

Please join NJCART for our next meeting.

Making Instruction Accessible.

Join us on February 24, 2011 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Learning Resource Center – North Satellite in Morris Plains for an afternoon with Joy Zabala, Perkie B. Cannon, Janet DeSenzo and Mike Marotta.

First, Joy Zabala of the Center for Applied Special Technology and the National AIM Center will be joining us via the Internet to discuss 10 Things Everyone Needs to Know About Instructional Materials.

What are accessible instructional materials? What are they and who needs them? Is AIM the same as NIMAS? Wouldn't digital materials solve the problem? What does this have to do with copyright? How can we build on what we already know? If these questions and others sound familiar to you, join Joy for a fast-paced look at a few of the major issues swirling around the provision of print-based materials in accessible formats when needed.

Next, Perkie B. Cannon of NJDOE’s Office of Special Education Programs’ Learning Resource Center Project will present Accessing Alternate Print Media Through the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC).

This presentation will cover texts eligible for conversion to NIMAS format, student eligibility to receive NIMAS materials, assistive technology considerations for accessible print media and procedures to access the NIMAC repository.

Finally, NJCART’s own Janet DeSenzo of JanTech Educational Services and Mike Marotta of Advancing Opportunities will lead a demonstration and discussion of Technology Tools to Enable Access to AIM.

Our speakers will highlight a variety of assistive technology tools (both hardware and software solutions) available to enable students to access AIM.

For directions to the February meeting, located at the LRC – North Satellite, 104 The American Road, Morris Plains, NJ, please visit http://www.state.nj.us/education/lrc/dir2lrcns.pdf.

RSVP by February 18th to Mike at mmarotta@advopps.org.

Admission for NJCART members is FREE!!! Did you forget to send in your dues? Visit http://www.njcart.org/page17/files/Membership%20Application.pdf to download our application: print the form, fill it out and mail it with your check to NJCART c/o Advancing Opportunities, Inc., 1005 Whitehead Road Extension, Suite 1, Ewing, NJ 08638.

Not a member? You can participate in this meeting for just $10 – bring a colleague, and their admission is half off.

Come to the NJCART Meeting! Accessible Instructional Materials

Please join NJCART for our next meeting.

Making Instruction Accessible.

Join us on February 24, 2011 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Learning Resource Center – North Satellite in Morris Plains for an afternoon with Joy Zabala, Perkie B. Cannon, Janet DeSenzo and Mike Marotta.

First, Joy Zabala of the Center for Applied Special Technology and the National AIM Center will be joining us via the Internet to discuss 10 Things Everyone Needs to Know About Instructional Materials.

What are accessible instructional materials? What are they and who needs them? Is AIM the same as NIMAS? Wouldn't digital materials solve the problem? What does this have to do with copyright? How can we build on what we already know? If these questions and others sound familiar to you, join Joy for a fast-paced look at a few of the major issues swirling around the provision of print-based materials in accessible formats when needed.

Next, Perkie B. Cannon of NJDOE’s Office of Special Education Programs’ Learning Resource Center Project will present Accessing Alternate Print Media Through the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC).

This presentation will cover texts eligible for conversion to NIMAS format, student eligibility to receive NIMAS materials, assistive technology considerations for accessible print media and procedures to access the NIMAC repository.

Finally, NJCART’s own Janet DeSenzo of JanTech Educational Services and Mike Marotta of Advancing Opportunities will lead a demonstration and discussion of Technology Tools to Enable Access to AIM.

Our speakers will highlight a variety of assistive technology tools (both hardware and software solutions) available to enable students to access AIM.

For directions to the February meeting, located at the LRC – North Satellite, 104 The American Road, Morris Plains, NJ, please visit http://www.state.nj.us/education/lrc/dir2lrcns.pdf.

RSVP by February 18th to Mike at mmarotta@advopps.org.

Admission for NJCART members is FREE!!! Did you forget to send in your dues? Visit http://www.njcart.org/page17/files/Membership%20Application.pdf to download our application: print the form, fill it out and mail it with your check to NJCART c/o Advancing Opportunities, Inc., 1005 Whitehead Road Extension, Suite 1, Ewing, NJ 08638.

Not a member? You can participate in this meeting for just $10 – bring a colleague, and their admission is half off.

Podcast: Accessible Instructional Materials 101 - The Cliff Notes Version

This is one in a series of podcasts recorded live at the Texas Assistive Technology Network (TATN) Statewide conference this past June. These podcasts feature nationally known speakers talking about a wide range of topics related to assistive technology.

This episode features two speakers for the price of one: Joy Zabala and Diana Carl. The title of the podcast is Accessible Instructional Materials 101: The Cliff Notes Version .

Click HERE to listen to the audio podcast.

Click HERE for the interview transcription.

Do YOU have an idea for a future podcast? Leave a comment with your suggestion for either a speaker or a topic. We will work to honor those requests in future podcasts.

Happy Listening!

AIM - National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials

Are you familiar with AIM? If not, then make sure you visit their website. AIM is a resource to state and district level educators, parents, publishers, conversion houses, accessible media producers and others interested in learning more about and implementing AIM and NIMAS (National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard) part of IDEA 2004.

This website is an extremely comprehensive resource for information regarding accessible materials, as well as many other things. They even have information specific to each state in the US.

They hold webinars frequently. Missed a webinar? You can look in the archive.

So check it out, and be prepared to learn a lot.

Have you commented? The National Educational Technology Plan

Did you know that there is a draft of the National Educational Technology Plan available for comment?

Follow this link to read about the proposed plan.

National Educational Technology Plan 2010

Why is this important to us? In order to ensure that the assistive technology supports we use with students are recognized in the plan - we need to make our voices heard.

Check out the Executive Summary of the plan for a "snapshot" view of the proposed plan.

Or, read through the entire plan to learn all the details.

How about looking at a portion of the plan that has been adapted using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles? Check this link to experience the flexibility of material adapted to meet the needs of all learners.

Educate yourself on the plan and leave a comment.

Accessible Instructional Materials - FREE Webinars

Are you responsible for ensuring access to curriculum materials for students?

Are you searching for ways to present materials to students with a variety of needs?

Do you want to know more about Accessible Instructional Materials?

If the answer is yes, check out these upcoming FREE webinars hosted by the National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM)



DATE: May 4, 2010
TIME: 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. EST
EVENT: Webinar: AIM Basics: A General Introduction to Accessible Instructional Materials
REGISTRATION: https://cast.ilinc.com/register/xpmmyvb
TOPIC: The AIM Basics webinar provides general information about the provision of accessible instructional materials, legal mandates, an overview of the responsibilities of various stakeholders, and information about additional resources. Participation in this webinar is a strongly suggested as a prerequisite for other webinars.
SUGGESTED AUDIENCE: General
PRESENTER(S): Joy Zabala

DATE: May 11, 2010
TIME: 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. EST
EVENT: Webinar: Collaboration is Key: Developing a System that Ensures Timely Delivery of Accessible Instructional Materials
REGISTRATION: https://cast.ilinc.com/register/bxhpwjb
TOPIC: This webinar provides an overview of collaborative perspectives and actions needed to develop and sustain an effective, efficient system for the provision of accessible instructional materials in timely manner.
SUGGESTED AUDIENCE: SEA and LEA leaders
PRESENTER(S): Joy Zabala, in collaboration with AIM Consortium state leaders

DATE: May 11, 2010
TIME: 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. EST
EVENT: Webinar: AIM Center Supports for Decision-making Teams
REGISTRATION: https://cast.ilinc.com/register/hvpyszp
TOPIC: This webinar highlights information and tools available on the AIM Center web site that support effective decision-making in all phases of selecting, providing, and using accessible instructional materials for the participation and achievement of students.
SUGGESTED AUDIENCE: SEAs, LEAs, educators and families who are members of IEP teams and other decision-making teams
PRESENTER(S): Joy Zabala, Diana Carl, Ge Vue

DATE: May 18, 2010
TIME: 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. EST
EVENT: Webinar: What the National Center for Accessible Instructional Materials Can Do for Your State
REGISTRATION: https://cast.ilinc.com/register/jtcjpwr
TOPIC: This webinar, especially designed for leaders in state and local education agencies, is an introduction to the National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials. The session includes an overview of technical assistance and services available to SEAs and LEAs, a guided tour of the Center’s web site, and information about the process for obtaining services from the Center.
SUGGESTED AUDIENCE: SEAs, LEAs
PRESENTER(S): Chuck Hitchcock, Joy Zabala, Valerie Hendricks

DATE: May 18, 2010
TIME: 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. EST
EVENT: Webinar: Accessible Instructional Materials: A Process for Collaborative Decision-Making
REGISTRATION: https://cast.ilinc.com/register/mhzhwfh
TOPIC: This webinar provides IEP team members—educators and families—with a process for decision-making about accessible instructional materials, including identification of need, selection of formats, and sources for obtaining materials. Free decision-guiding tools available on the AIM Center web site will also be highlighted.
SUGGESTED AUDIENCE: SEAs, LEAs, educators and families who are members of IEP teams and other decision-making teams
PRESENTER(S): Joy Zabala, Diana Carl