About the AEM Center at CAST

Based at CAST, the AEM Center was funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) through September 2024. As of October 1, 2024, the AEM Center is an independent service provider, Accessibility at CAST. Through this transition, we are able to provide customized accessibility solutions to educators nationwide. We continue to work with states and districts to build capacity for developing and sustaining robust systems for providing accessible materials and technologies for all learners who need them. To us, accessibility means that individuals with disabilities—from early childhood through the workforce—have equal access to materials and technologies for reaching educational outcomes and advancing in employment. 

We provide multiple levels of support including:

• Universal assistance is available to everyone. You’ll find products and services throughout our website and collected on our resources page. Webinars and conference presentations are listed on our events page.
• Targeted assistance describes the Center's strategic collaborations to address problems of practice in early-childhood through higher education and workforce development. Supports for families are also a part of our targeted support as well as guidance and support on the updated Title II ADA regulations. 
• Intensive assistance describes the capacity-building activities with agencies to support customized developments to meet their organizations needs. 

To further explore concise definitions and explanations of common terms and acronyms related to AEM and its features, visit the AEM Glossary.

Center Products & Services

We are a resource for state- and district-level educators, parents, students, publishers, conversion houses, accessible media producers, and others interested in learning more about and implementing accessible digital materials and technologies. Our services and activities include the following:

• Developing and sustaining readily available information and tools to build the capacity of stakeholders to enhance both the effective provision and use of high quality accessible digital materials and technologies.
• Providing stakeholders with expert technical assistance and customized "just-in-time" consultation on major issues relevant to the timely provision and use of accessible digital materials and technologies.
• Collaborating with OSEP, OSEP-funded projects, technical assistance and dissemination center networks, family centers, early childhood, post-secondary and workforce providers to build capacity for and raise awareness about the timely provision and use of accessible digital materials and technologies to improve outcomes for learners with print-related disabilities.

With the support of national experts, we also maintain and advance the NIMAS Technical Specification for filesets that are deposited in the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Center (NIMAC) at the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). 

Center Staff

Professional Learning Specialists 

• Michelle Soriano
• Kelli Suding

Operations Coordinator

• Sam Bouchat