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Module 4 How to Find Specialized Formats of Print Materials

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About This Module

The AEM Center offers this module as a part of an online learning series. Each module is self-paced and self-directed with technical assistance available from AEM Center staff.

Technical Assistance

Contact AEM Center staff through email or Twitter at anytime:

Luis Perez, Technical Assistance Specialist
lperez@cast.org
@eyeonaxs

Cynthia Curry, Director
ccurry@cast.org
@clcurry

Credit

The AEM Center is only providing the content for these modules. The listed activities are suggested to encourage reflection as you interact with the content.  If you are taking this module for credit, you may be required to submit assignments to your credit provider.  The AEM Center itself will not be collecting assignments for these modules. If your district, state, or other agency is offering credit, please follow instructions provided to you for submitting evidence of participation directly to that agency.

All of the modules in the AEM series are pre-approved for the IAAP Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) credential. If you currently hold IAAP Certification, you can submit completed activities for CAECs through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals.

Module Introduction

As a fixed format, print can present barriers to learners who need a more flexible, customizable experience from their educational materials.  In Module 4, you have the opportunity to learn about the specialized formats (audio, large print, braille and digital text) that are available as alternatives to print for learners who need AEM, as well as how to get started with searching for and acquiring materials in those formats.

To begin, watch a 1-hour webinar. The webinar will introduce some of the key concepts and skills you will learn in this module, including:

  • Definitions of AEM under IDEA
  • Determination of need/eligibility
  • Sources of AEM: NIMAC and AMPs
  • Preview of upcoming changes to copyright law and their impact on specialized formats

Webinar Resources

After watching the webinar, choose a level of mastery based on your goals for this module: 

Entry Level

Time Commitment: 1 hour

Goal: Goal: Explain the importance of providing specialized formats for students

Read/Watch/Listen

Reflect/Do

Create a summary that  explains the importance of timely provision of print materials in specialized formats to a colleague who is new to the topic. In your summary, include the following:

  • a description of specialized formats in your own words
  • at least one example of a specialized format you have experienced and its impact on learning

Share your summary in the format that works best for you (text, audio or video).

Build Level

Time Commitment: 2 hours

Goal: Participate in the selection and acquisition of specialized formats of materials by students who need them.

Read/Watch/Listen

Reflect/Do

Using the AEM Navigator as a scaffold, investigate and summarize the process for determining the need and selecting at least one specialized format for a learner in your school or district. Using the format that works best for you (text, audio or video), share your summary with the appropriate educators who support that learner in achieving educational goals (this could be the IEP team). 

Proficient Level

Time Commitment: 3 hours

Goal:

Select, acquire, and provide instructional support for use of specialized formats by students in my classroom.

Read/Watch/Listen

Reflect/Do 

Using the information from the Build Level activity, develop a plan for acquiring at least one specialized format in your state. Make sure your plan includes the additional supports (strategies, technologies, services) needed for the learner to make use of the specialize format.

Share your plan in the format that work best for you (text, audio or video).

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