This document provides information about accessible instructional materials and apps that can be used to access them on iPads. It discusses the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) and formats such as braille, audio, and digital text. It also summarizes apps like Bookshare, Read2Go, Kindle, Nook, iBooks, and Overdrive that can be used to access textbooks and ebooks in accessible formats on iPads. The document encourages using the built-in VoiceOver feature and notes resources like the Alaska Center for Accessible Materials.

1. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY OF ALASKA
Accessible Instructional Materials
www.atlaak.org
Rob LeFebvre

2. The Case Against AT
You Tube: The Case Against Assist#160C911

3. Students Speak Out
http://aim.cast.org/experience/training/aim_implementation_gui

4. Accessible Instructional
Materials
“Accessible instructional materials
(AIM) are specialized formats of
curricular content that can be used by
and with learners who are unable to
read or use standard print materials.
They include formats such as braille,
audio, large print, and digital text.”
From the National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials
http://aim.cast.org
http://patinsproject.com/

5. Accessible Instructional Materials
NIMAC | National Instructional Materials Access Center
provides the technical specifications designed to speed
the creation of student-ready accessible materials
NIMAS | National Instructional Materials Access
Standard
a repository for the cataloging, storage and distribution of
accessible files
CAST | Center for Applied Special Technology
educational research & development organization that
works to expand learning opportunities for all individuals
through Universal Design for Learning
www.atlaak.org

6. Problems addressed by NIMAS
Educators
Students
•Reduces duplication
•Timely delivery effort
•Appropriate formats
•Timeliness
•Breaks down one
•Increases awareness
barrier
•Increases
independence
Publishers
•Consistency
•Copyright
issues
•Multiple outputs
•Market model
www.atlaak.org

7. NIMAS – NIMAC Workflow
District
School District (LEA)
Purchase Order or
Textbook Adoption Contract with publisher
require NIMAS file sets to
NIMAC
District
Submit request to IRC
for specialized format
Publishers
Prepare and submit NIMAS
files set to the NIMAC
akCAM
Verify format meets standards
Deliver specialized format to District
NIMAC
AMP Receive, validate, catalog files
Makes Conversions
Delivers to akCAM
Alaska Center for Accessible Materials
Verify files are for qualifying student
Download files
Assign to Accessible Media Producer (AMP)
or
Email files directly to district representative
www.k12.wa.us/SpecialEd/pubdocs/NIMAS/WA_Workflow.ppt

8. Accessible Instructional Materials
Publishers
+ NIMAC
Authorize User (DOE)
Locally Produced Publisher
Accessible
Media Producer (SESA)
=
www.atlaak.org

9. Accessible Instructional Materials
www.atlaak.org

10. Accessible Instructional Materials
What are “Specialized Formats”?
•Embossed Braille
•Digital Braille - BRF (Braille Ready Format)
•Large Print
•Audio
•Digital Text
•DAISY (Digital Accessible Information SYstem)
•HTML eBooks
•Word and Rich Text files
•PDF
Digital does NOT always mean ACCESSIBLE
www.atlaak.org

11. Accessible Instructional Materials
Who REALLY qualifies?
The Library of Congress regulations (36 CFR 701.6(b)(1))
related to the Act to Provide Books for the Adult Blind
provide that "blind persons or other persons with print
disabilities" include:
•Persons who are Blind
visual acuity is 20/200 or less; angular distance no more than 20 degrees.
•Persons with Visual Disability
prevents the reading of standard printed material.
•Persons with Physical Limitations
unable to read, access, or use standard print
•Persons with a Reading Disability (of organic origin)
preventing reading printed material in a normal manner.
www.atlaak.org

12. Bookshare Qualification Matrix
Examples of Certifying
Disability Qualified/Not Qualified
Professionals
Visual Impairment (VI), such as blindness A family doctor, ophthalmologist,
Qualified
or low vision neurologist, psychiatrist, optometrist,
physical therapist, or other medical
professional.
Physical Disability (PD) which affects the
ability to read print, such as inability to hold Qualified Teacher of the visually impaired, special
a book or turn pages education teacher, learning disability
specialist, school psychologist, clinical
psychologist with a background in learning
disabilities, resource specialist or other
educational professional
Students with a severe enough disability,
Severe Learning Disability that affects the and a professional certifying that the Certification from the National Library
ability to read standard print disability is severe enough and the Service
individual needs accessible formats.
Proof of membership with RFB&D
Autism
Emotional disabilities
ADHD Not qualified, unless accompanied by a
visual or physical disability, or a qualified Not applicable
Other Learning Challenges reading disability that has a physical basis
ESL and ELL
www.atlaak.org

13. Bookshare Basics
Bookshare® is an online library of accessible media for readers with
print disabilities.
•Over 125,000 Members
•Over 9,000 schools and other organizations
•Over 95,000 titles
•Over a thousand new books added every month
•Textbooks
•NIMAC textbooks with images
•Postsecondary textbooks
•Over 100 publisher partnerships
•150 national and regional newspapers and magazines
•New York Times Best Sellers
•Young Reader’s Choice
www.atlaak.org

14. Bookshare Membership & Qualification
• Any K-12 school can complete a simple online application to
sign up for their FREE Bookshare Organizational
membership.
• Districts must add the names of all of their qualifying students
to a roster on the Bookshare web site.
• Districts must name one staff person as the Primary Contact.
• Teachers may be added to the Bookshare account by the
Primary Contact as Sponsors, each receiving their own
unique login and password.
www.atlaak.org

15. Bookshare Membership & Qualification
• Sponsors may be teachers, resource specialists, media
specialists, teacher consultants for the visually impaired, etc.
Sponsors may download books for their qualifying students.
• Students who have been added to the Bookshare roster by
their school may also sign up for a Bookshare individual
membership, allowing them to download books at home.
• NIMAC books can only be downloaded by the educator
serving the qualified student with an IEP. The student must
have an IEP.
www.atlaak.org

16. Bookshare – The Process
1. Use search tools to find
books on the Bookshare
web site
2. Choose the format you
need: DAISY or BRAILLE
• Download the book to your
computer.
• Unzip and use the file
www.atlaak.org

17. Formats available from Bookshare
Braille-ready
file (BRF)
format
DAISY book
without
pictures DAISY book with
pictures (note the
small picture icon in
the lower left corner)

18. Tabs found at the top of
all Bookshare web
pages.
Log In box Most used tabs for
Book Search box
teachers:
1. Membership
2. Getting Started
3. Help
4. Home

19. Textbooks and iPad

20. Why iPad?
The most comprehensive quality App ecosystem
Most user friendly hardware and software
VoiceOver - built in accessibility
Bookshare App
Large selection of third party peripherals & accessories
The most popular consumer tablet
Less expensive than laptop

21. iPad Apps for Reading
iBooks
ePub, PDF
Voice Over Capable
Read2Go (Bookshare)
word highlighting & text to speech
Learning Ally
accessible audio books

22. iPad Apps for Reading
VOD (Voice of DAISY)
Kindle
Nook
Overdrive Media

23. Bookshare
Bookshare.org - Federally funded source for ebooks
A place to get accessible eTextbooks
NIMAS & Non-NIMAS books
Free membership to Families and Individuals who
qualify.

24. Read2Go
Bookshare’s iOS app - for iPhone, iPod touch, & iPad

25. Overdrive Media
Use to connect to Anchorage Municipal
Libraries, among others
http://listenalaska.lib.overdrive.com/
Download books in both audio (mp3/wav) and
text format (epub)

26. Overdrive for iPad
Download from the App Store
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/overdrive-media-
console/id366869252?mt=8
Sign in with Adobe ID (register at adobe.com)
Not VoiceOver Compatible

27. Overdrive Media for iPad

28. nook
nook requires Barnes & Noble Account
Free Samples
not VoiceOver compatible

32. Kindle App
Requires Amazon.com account
Not Voice Over Friendly

35. iBooks
Free app from Apple
VoiceOver compatible
Uses it’s own store - need iTunes account

38. VoiceOver
Comes with all iPad, iPhone & iPod touch devices
allows people with visual impairments to use the
devices
not limited to usefulness for visual impairments

40. Final Thoughts
The Alaska Center for Accessible Media:
http://akaccessiblematerials.org
Contact Info
Rob LeFebvre – 907-553-2599
rob@atlaak.org
Mystie Rail - 907-553-2599
mystie@atlaak.org