Accessible Educational Materials (AEM)

Some people have difficulty comprehending written material due to visual, perceptual, or even physical differences. Yet if they have the ability to highlight the text, change fonts, have text read aloud, or translated into braille for tactile reading, these individuals may be able to read and comprehend better. They can do this with Accessible Educational Materials (AEM)!

Ensuring that individuals with disabilities are able to benefit from educational programs means that all types of instructional materials are produced and delivered in an accessible manner, whether they are books, documents, graphics, audio formats, videos, or electronic communications.

According to the National Center on AEM, AEM are print- and technology-based educational materials, including printed and electronic textbooks and related core materials that are designed or enhanced in a way that makes them usable across the widest range of learner variability, regardless of format (e.g. print, digital, graphic, audio, video). Read more on the National Center on AEM website.
Beginner’s Guide to Implementing AEM

Ensuring Availability of AEM

Wouldn’t it be awesome if all materials were created accessible? You can help make that happen!

Keep in mind that all curricular materials must be created, or adapted so that they are accessible to students with disabilities, whether the materials are purchased from publishers, created by teachers, or acquired online, such as in the case of Open Educational Resources (OER). When selecting curricular materials, schools should make every effort to purchase materials which are accessible. This will prevent them from having to invest time and money to adapt the materials for use by students with disabilities.

Click below to learn more about Accessibility Resources and Initiatives: Accessibility Resources and Initiatives

NIMAS and NIMAC

The National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) is a searchable online file repository of K-12 textbooks which are formatted according to the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS).

NIMAS files must be converted to specialized formats by an Accessible Media Producer (AMP), such as Bookshare. To learn about the accessible materials process, visit NIMAC.us. 

National AEM Center

The National AEM Center provides resources and technical assistance for educators, parents, students, publishers, conversion houses, accessible media producers, and others interested in learning more about AEM and implementing AEM and NIMAS. Learn more at AEM.Cast.org.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a set of principles for development of educational materials that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn. UDL provides a blueprint for creating instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments using flexible approaches that can be customized and adjusted for individual needs. To learn more visit udlcenter.org.

Born Accessible is an initiative of Benetech, parent of Bookshare. Benetech provides resources to help publishers and others who create digital content understand the basics of making content that is accessible from the start. To learn more, Visit the Born Accessible Initiative.

SETDA

The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) is an association of state education agency leaders whose mission is to serve, support and represent their emerging interests and needs with respect to the use of technology for teaching, learning, and school operations. Learn more at SETDA.org.

Oklahoma ABLE Tech will collaborate with diverse partners to further develop and expand AEM and technology services in the state. 

Education Resources

• Download the 2026 Accessible Educational Materials Technical Assistance (AEM-TA) Document (PDF)
• Online Assistive Technology Technical Assistance (AT-TA) Document