Nevada's Guidance for the use of Accessible Educational Materials (AEM)

Acknowledgements:

Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) Guidelines described on this site incorporate technical assistance materials from the National Center on Accessible Educational Materials (http://aem.cast.org), the states of Michigan, Iowa, Maine, as well as, other states in the AEM consortium. The Nevada Special Education Technology Assistance project (NSETAP) gratefully acknowledges the support of these resources.

What are Accessible Educational Materials (AEM)?

Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) are specialized formats of curricular content that can be used by and with learners who are unable to access standard print materials. Accessible educational material formats include Braille, large print, digital text and audiotext. In some cases, printed instructional materials may be a barrier to participation and achievement in the general education curriculum. Accessible educational materials provide access to the general education curriculum through an alternative format. Federal regulations found in the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) require the provision of accessible educational materials for students who meet established criteria.

The Nevada Special Education Technology Assistance Project (NSETAP) website is a resource for Nevada administrators, educators and parents to learn more about accessible educational materials.

In most schools, print-based instructional materials, such as textbooks, are the primary means of delivering curricular content; however, traditional print based textbooks may not be accessible for learners who struggle to read due to physical, sensory, cognitive, or learning differences.