All resources in Oregon Accessible Educational Materials

How to Safely Evacuate a Special Needs Bus

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This is a unique subject area in which there can be numerous variables. The Emergency School Bus Evacuation for Special Needs Students Reference Guide and Test, instructional plan gives an introduction and preparation guidelines. It prepares the learner in procedural steps, lists several scenarios and has an evaluation with an answer key.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Author Unknown

NIMAS Q and A

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NIMAS Q&A Share: This Q&A provides states, state educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and other interested parties with information to facilitate implementation of the NIMAS and coordination with the NIMAC. The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in the U.S. Department of Education issued a Q&A document in August 2010 to provide states, state educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and other interested parties with information to facilitate implementation of the NIMAS and coordination with the NIMAC. OSERS has updated this document to reflect changes in the NIMAS resulting from the 2020 Notice of Interpretation (NOI) [3] and the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act (MTIA). [4] This Q&A document supersedes the previous document and will be updated with new questions and answers as important issues arise or to amend existing questions and answers, as needed.

Material Type: Primary Source

Author: National Center of Accessible Educational Materials

Federal Agencies and Resources

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Federal Agencies and Resources Many federal agencies issue regulations, provide technical assistance and enforce different sections of the ADA. For example the Department of Justice is responsible for title II, which applies to state and local governments, and title III, which applies to businesses and non-profit organizations. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission handles all things related to the ADA and employment. Below is a list of the relevant federal agencies.

Material Type: Primary Source

Author: ADA National Newtwork

Learn About the National Network

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Learn About the National Network [Version en Español] The ADA National Network provides information, guidance and training on how to implement the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in order to support the mission of the ADA to “assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.” Funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), the network consists of 10 Regional ADA Centers located throughout the United States and an ADA Knowledge Translation Center (ADAKTC). Each Regional ADA Center focuses on its region’s unique needs. This regional focus is critical to ensuring that ADA National Network services meet the needs of a diversity of populations and stakeholders throughout the country.

Material Type: Primary Source

Author: ADA National Network

Inclusive Educational Practices-Creation of a Lesson Plan

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This module is part of a course on Inclusive Educational Practices that offers professional development for educators who aspire to provide a supportive learning environment for dyslexic and with learning difficulties learners.Students have different needs, interests, and abilities. In order to effectively teach them and provide them with rich learning experiences, lesson plans need to be as diverse as they are. This module aims to help educators analyze different learning styles and accordingly build  their lesson plans as to embrace and support not only the needs of specific learners but provide quality education for all students. To this end, tools, articles, guidelines, videos, and examples are provided. Planning a lesson for an inclusive classroom entails less modifications for future use in a different learning context, facilitates a substitute to take over the class, and ensures learning for every child."It is not the disabilities of the students that prevent the implementation of a long effective instructional model, but the environment that is disabling"                               Katz, 2015 

Material Type: Module

Author: Chrysoula Lazou

NIMAS for SEAs & LEAs

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Both State education agencies (SEAs) and local education agencies (LEAs) have responsibilities related to the provision of accessible formats from NIMAS files through the NIMAC for qualifying students. The State Director of Special Education leads the following activities on behalf of the SEA and LEAs. Are some terms new to you? See the definitions section on this page or visit NIMAS & NIMAC. The NIMAS Q&A also provides answers to common questions related to the implementation of the NIMAS and coordination with the NIMAC.

Material Type: Primary Source

Author: National Center on Accessible Educational Materials

NIMAS in IDEA

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On November 17, 2004, a bipartisan House-Senate conference committee approved a final special education reform bill that reauthorized the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and set in motion important reforms that helped teachers, parents, and schools ensure every student with disabilities receives a quality education. The bipartisan agreement is based on legislation authored by House Education Reform Subcommittee Chairman Mike Castle (R-DE) that passed the House in 2003 with bipartisan support. The measure includes reforms recommended in 2002 by President Bush's special education commission, as well as key elements of the IDEA reauthorization bill passed by the Senate in 2004. On December 3, 2004, the President signed IDEA 2004 and stated: "All students in America can learn. That's what all of us up here believe. All of us understand we have an obligation to make sure no child is left behind in America. So I'm honored to sign the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, and once again thank the members for being here."

Material Type: Primary Source

Author: Nactional Center on Accessible Educational Materials

Understanding the VPAT®

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Understanding the VPAT® Share: You may come across the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) as you research vendors of digital materials and technologies and consider their products for procurement. The VPAT is meant to help U.S. federal government agencies determine how well the products they purchase meet the Section 508 accessibility standards. Many organizations outside the federal government now require the submission of a VPAT in their procurement process, especially if they receive any kind of federal funding. This includes K-12 schools and institutions of higher education. Start with general information about the VPAT, then review a sample Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) similar to one a vendor would submit for your consideration. Each section of the sample ACR (which is just a filled out VPAT) includes comments to help you understand the information you would find in that section of an ACR.

Material Type: Primary Source

Author: National Center on Accessible Educational Materials

Engaging Families and Creating Trusting Partnerships to Improve Child and Family Outcomes

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This four part web broadcast series is aimed at supporting early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE) systems leaders with building capacity in personnel and families to develop trusting partnerships. The series features discussions of the role that data play in strengthening family-professional partnerships. Suggestions and resources for designing personnel and family development activities to support partnerships are also shared. U.S. Department of Education funded Technical Assistance Center - resources are free for online viewing.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center

Quality Indicators for the Provision of Accessible Educational Materials & Technologies

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Ensuring accessibility of materials and technologies for learners with disabilities starts with a high-quality procurement system. The AEM Center’s Quality Indicators describe the essential elements of such a system, including compliance, guidelines, professional development, data procedures, and resources. The indicators can be used by decision makers in K-12, higher education and workforce development agencies to develop new procurement systems or to self-evaluate an existing system that may be absent best practices for accessibility.

Material Type: Primary Source

Author: CAST

E-Text Template

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This is a template for creating an accessible, mobile-friendly e-text using other openly licensed content. It can be customized and re-branded to work for any subject area at any institution. A working knowledge of HTML and CSS is required.

Material Type: Textbook

Improving the Accessibility of State-Mandated Assessments: Findings from a Focus Group of State Education Agency Representatives

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This report provides state leaders and test developers with initial considerations for improving the accessibility of state-mandated assessments for students with disabilities, specifically those who use assistive technology and accessible educational materials in daily instruction. These findings can be used by states to inform the development of policies and guidelines, and by test developers to inform the design of assessment systems and platforms. Most desirable is that the findings will help initiate improved collaboration between and among states, districts, and test developers.

Material Type: Reading

Author: National Center on Accessible Educational Materials

Audio-Supported Reading & Students with Learning Disabilities: Giving Voice to All Learners

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Audio-supported reading (ASR) is a practical and supportable intervention that has been documented to minimize the constricting impact of limited text decoding, thereby improving academic outcomes for many students with reading-related learning disabilities. This article provides detail on the nature of reading; the challenges of reading-related, learning disabilities; the supporting legal landscape; and practical considerations for how to accurately target ASR interventions to address the needs of students with learning disabilities.

Material Type: Reading

Author: National Center on Accessible Educational Materials