CISAM AIM Training Series, Module 4 – CISAM Services

1) Welcome to the CISAM AIM Training Series Module 4! This is the fourth Module in a five-part series. Module 4 provides information on supports for AIM, how to acquire AIM from CISAM, the Federal Quota Program, CISAM’s professional development, technical assistance from CISAM, and resources.

2) The Center for Instructional Supports and Accessible Materials, or CISAM, is a statewide project serving students with print disabilities, including students with reading disabilities, physical limitations, or blindness and visual impairments. A print disability impedes a student’s ability to access standard printed materials.

3) Our mission has four main components. Our first goal is to promote excellence in

educational opportunities for students with print disabilities and their families. Secondly, we strive to provide quality accessible instructional materials or AIM. Thirdly, we host professional development/learning opportunities, and finally, we offer technical assistance to educators, students and their families.

4) Upon completion of Module 4, participants will:

Know where and how to obtain AIM, and Know how to provide training and resource

information about CISAM and AIM to relevant stakeholders in regions across Ohio.

5) If you viewed Module 1, you are already familiar with the AIM decision-making process, which involves four major decision points, as outlined by the National AIM Center:

1.Establishing the need for instructional materials in specialized formats.

2.Selecting specialized format(s) needed by the student for access to the curriculum.

3.Initiating SEA and/or LEA-defined steps to acquire needed formats in a timely manner, and

4.Determining supports needed for effective use for educational participation and achievement.

Module 4 provides more insight into the third and fourth decision points regarding supports required for effective acquisition, use, and implementation of AIM in the classroom.

6) What supports are needed for students to use AIM effectively?

7) The following questions should be discussed by decision-making teams when

considering supports to ensure effective and efficient implementation of AIM:

What technology may be needed for the student to use the materials effectively?

What training for the student, educators, and family may be needed?

What instructional strategies may be needed?

What support services may be needed? And finally,

What accommodations and/or modifications may be needed?

8) After establishing that a student needs AIM and selecting which formats are needed for which materials (remember step 3 from the decision-making process – Initiate SEA and/or LEA-defined steps to acquire needed formats in a timely manner), the decision-making team

determines how and where to acquire the materials.There are a variety of sources for acquiring AIM; however, not all students are eligible to receive materials from each of the different sources.Many students may need more than one specialized format and may need materials from more than one source.Student eligibility will determine whether a student can receive NIMAC-sourced materials or materials from another source.

9) How does the Center for Instructional Supports and Accessible Materials or CISAM help school districts acquire AIM for students who need specialized formats?

10) CISAM is a statewide project serving students with print disabilities or students with reading disabilities, students with physical

limitations, and students with visual impairments. Our mission is to promote excellence in educational opportunities for students with print disabilities and their families.We provide accessible AIM for students with print disabilities in Ohio. Our goal is to assist school personnel in locating AIM in a timely manner in the specialized formats of braille, large print, audio, and digital text for eligible students. In Module 4, we will provide step-by-step information on how schools/districts can request and acquire AIM for their students with print disabilities.We also conduct the Federal Quota Registration of Blind Students on behalf of the Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children. This annual registrations determines a per capita amount of money

allotted for the purchase of AIM from the American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. located in Louisville Kentucky. CISAM also provides professional development/learning opportunities and technical assistance to students, families, and educators in Ohio. Our inservice calendar and brochures are posted on the CISAM website.

11) The next section of slides will walk you through the steps for requesting and receiving AIM from CISAM for a student who requires a specialized format. Visit the CISAM website at the URL above to view a Materials Request form. The first important step in requesting AIM from CISAM is to complete and send in a CISAM Materials Request form.

12) It’s very important to make sure the CISAM Materials Request Form is filled out completely. CISAM (APH in the case of a student with a visual impairment) assigns student numbers.

Contact CISAM if you do not know the Student Number. The Request Number is assigned by CISAM.

13) Teachers, supervisors, or administrators may submit requests for students who require AIM. Parents who homeschool their children may also submit requests as long as they are licensed, approved, and/or accredited by the local school district, state department of education, or other appropriate agency.

14) To submit requests, school districts can:1.Email Materials Request Forms to Judy Siens

or Kelly Houston at the email addresses above.

2.Fax to the number above. 3.Mail to CISAM at the address listed above.

CISAM/ APH provides student numbers which can be used when transmitting requests via email to protect student privacy. Contact

CISAM if you need a student number. Please do not transmit student names in emails.

15) To ensure timely delivery, which is defined in Ohio as receiving AIM at the same time as students receive standard print textbooks, requestors should submit requests in March preceding the school year in which the AIM will be used. Provide the requestor’s email addresses – both work and summer. Because our busiest time of year is over the summer when many educators are out of the office, it’s really important that requestors provide summer contact information so that we can keep in touch throughout the process and avoid any delay in shipping materials out to districts. CISAM may have a question on the request submission and if we cannot contact a requestor during the summer, this delays the

entire process until fall and the student cannot receive materials in a timely manner.

16) For a complete explanation of our process, visit the CISAM website to access the form: How the Center for Instructional Supports and Accessible Materials Processes Requests for Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM).

17) This document delineates CISAM’s steps to process a CISAM Material’s request for AIM. Take a moment to read through the document to become familiar with CISAM’s process. When you access this document on the website, you can click on highlighted links to read more about the agency.

18) As mentioned in the previous slide, CISAM maintains a collection of AIM that CISAM checks first before searching other sources when requests are made for AIM on a CISAM Materials Request form. As of January 13, 2014, 51,846 materials are currently in circulation

throughout Ohio’s schools, which leaves 4,672 AIM in stock for a total of 56,518 AIM in the CISAM collection.

19) CISAM’s Accessible Materials Production Center (AMPC) produces the four specialized formats and provides requestors with a CD containing the requested formats.

20) For braille requests, the CISAM AMPC provides a Word file ready to be formatted and embossed by the district. An image file is included for the production of tactile graphics, when available. If the district requires transcription services, AMPC can offer assistance to locate a braille producer.For large print, AMPC provides a Word and/or PDF file of at least 18 point font that is formatted and ready for printing. The files will include images when available.

For digital text, AMPC provides a student-ready PDF that can be viewed on a computer, tablet, or other device.For audio, AMPC provides a student ready file for listening on an MP3 or DAISY player.

21) CISAM started the Grafton Braille Service Center (GBSC) as one of the initiatives of the first Braille Excellence for Students and Teachers (BEST) grant in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Grafton Correctional Facility, and the Ohio State School for the Blind. CISAM works with Grafton Braille Service Center to provide schools with quality braille textbooks when no other source for a braille textbook is available.

22) The Grafton Braille Service Center brochure is posted on the CISAM website at the URL above.

23) In addition, but related to providing quality AIM, CISAM provides these free services for students with visual impairments: Brailler repair provided by a volunteer

coordinated by CISAM Technical assistance relating to the hardware

and software needs of students with visual impairments by a CISAM Technical Assistance Consultant

Professional development/learning opportunities and product development relating to braille literacy, instruction, materials, and technology in Ohio schools through the BEST Grant and the

Federal Quota Registration of Blind Students on behalf of the Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children

24) Federal Quota Registration of Blind Students

25) CISAM conducts the Federal Quota Registration of Blind Students on behalf of the Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children, to qualify for the federal allotment of funds to purchase AIM including textbooks and equipment available from the American Printing House for the Blind or APH for registered students. CISAM mails registration forms each December to school district superintendents and principals of other agencies. The registration forms are due back to CISAM by the end of January. Infants, preschool children, homebound students, adults, and home-schooled students can be registered providing they meet eligibility guidelines. Private and parochial schools can register students and order materials.

This annual registration is separate and not a part of the data reporting for EMIS, but is used solely to generate supplemental funds for AIM for students from APH. CISAM does not limit each student to $345.72, but asks that requestors prioritize and order only those items that a student needs.

26) The Braille Excellence for Students and Teachers (BEST) Grant is a statewide project of professional development, technical assistance, and product development dedicated to braille literacy, braille instruction, braille materials, and braille technology in Ohio’s schools.

27) The BEST Grant is a United States Department of Education grant providing $500,000 over five years ($100,000 per year) to focus on braille literacy. Braille literacy, or the ability to read and write braille, is an imperative skill for students who are blind.

Braille literacy is the foundation that ties together education, employment, and security. The goals of the BEST Grant are:

Increase braille literacy among targeted populations.

Increase the number of qualified transcribers providing quality braille to Ohio’s students and

Increase access to and availability of quality braille materials, including tactile graphics.

Through implementation of the BEST Grant, the collaborative partners addressed the goals and activities of the grant including the provision of training and technical assistance to students who are legally blind, educators, parents, and transcribers. BEST worked to expand braille production capabilities at the local school district level.

28) In addition to providing AIM to students across Ohio, CISAM also provides professional development and learning opportunities to students, teachers, administrators, and families.

29) Current professional development activities for the school year are always available on the CISAM website.The CISAM AIM Module or CAM is a completely online self-paced course through InfOhio for teachers, parents, support personnel, administrators, or anyone interested in learning about AIM. The CAM will be available in the Fall of 2013. Much like this series, the CAM provides an overview and introduction to AIM and information on accessing AIM. The CAM will be available for a professional development certificate and for college credit through Ashland University.

CISAM hosts Information Sharing Meetings for Administrators and Supervisors Serving Students with Visual Impairments biannually. During these meetings, participants share updates on their programs in the morning session and then select a speaker to present on a current topic in the afternoon session. Check the CISAM Professional Development calendar on the CISAM website for meeting dates.

30) As previously mentioned, the CISAM AIM Module or CAM is geared towards educators of students with print disabilities. Participants who complete Module 1 can earn a 15 hour PD certificate for free or a 1 hour graduate credit through Ashland University. You can access the CAM by going to aim.infohio.org.

31) 29, 298 Contacts for technical assistance were made to school districts during the 2012-2013 project year.

32) CISAM provides free technical assistance services related to assistive technology, software, and AIM to parents, teachers, administrators, and support personnel serving students with print disabilities including students who are blind and visually impaired. Along with collaborative partners, CISAM hosts free professional development/learning opportunities for school districts related to the provision of AIM, andEducators and families can access resource information about NIMAS and other sources of AIM by contacting CISAM.

33) The next several slides offer links to a variety of resources that pertain to the acquisition and provision of AIM. The slides are categorized by general AIM information; Specific Learning Disabilities; Support Services for students, families, and educators in Ohio;

and Visual Impairments. These same resources can be found on the CISAM website.

34) Accessible Instructional Materials35) Specific Learning Disabilities36) Support Services37) Visual Impairments39) CISAM contact information is available in

the CISAM brochure on the CISAM website. 40) If you have any questions or need resource

information or support related to any of the topics presented throughout this Train-the-Trainer series, please contact us. For information related to Federal Quota or requests, contact Judy Siens or Kelly Houston. For Professional Development/Learning Opportunities, contact Julie Pashovich. For NIMAS questions, contact Nicole Morris.

41) For more information on Accessible Instructional Materials, return to our site to access our other training modules and

resources. Thank you for viewing Module 4 of the CISAM AIM Training Series. We appreciate your time and hope that we have answered how to access CISAM services and how to request AIM from CISAM. If you have additional questions, please contact us by referring to the previous contact page.