Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM-VA)

The Virginia Accessible Instructional Materials Center (AIM-VA), part of the Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities at George Mason University, will produce and deliver accessible instructional materials for Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) in Virginia who have students with print disabilities. The AIM-VA will also provide training and technical assistance to LEAs who will order and use these accessible instructional materials. The AIM-VA will also assist the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to implement the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standards (NIMAS) regulations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Braille Order Policy Change

To more efficiently serve you, AIM-VA is asking that books affiliated with Braille orders be sent directly to The Library and Resource Center, Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, C/O Barbara McCarthy, 395 Azalea Avenue , Richmond, VA 23227-3623

Please note: Requests for educational materials in Braille format must be submitted to the AIM-VA Library Database. A copy of these online requests will be automatically sent to the Library and Resource Center at DBVI.

TRAINING ANNOUNCEMENT FOR AIM-VA

AIM-VA and its collaborative partners are offering one day training's sponsored by VDOE across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Click here to download the training announcment.

DRMs Help Us Help You!

AIM VA opened on May 12, 2008. We are now accepting requests from DRMs. Because of high demand, AIM-VA must prioritize materials. All materials that are textbooks and workbooks directly associated with those texts will be given priority in the conversion process. We encourage educators to seek other educational materials, such as trade books, from other resources until further notice. Please see Resources for assistance in finding materials from other entities.

Here are some tips for making the order processing easier for you.

Please Note: All trade books are being held until later in the fall semester after textbooks and curriculum support materials are finished. To support your need for accessible formats of trade books, we put together a list of resources that may be helpful.
Label all books and materials sent to AIM-VA with a return mailing address on the inside cover. This will help us return your materials to rightful owners!
Please submit orders electronically. AIM-VA’s database automatically logs your order in the order it is submitted. Hand written orders will delay the ordering process and are highly discouraged.
In order for AIM-VA to process your request efficiently, please send two clean (not tattered or written in) copies of the book for each format requested.
When ordering multiple formats, please inlcude two clean copies for each format requested.
Please put a copy of the electronic order form(s) for each book inside the front cover of the matching book, please do not send them separately or in a stack.
In order to expedite the ordering process, please verify that the order form matches the book (ISBN, title, etc. must all match).
For multiple orders for the same book, please put the copies of the orders inside the front cover of each book without staples, rubber bands, tape, or paper clips.
When packing boxes, please use bubble wrap or paper instead of shredded paper or peanuts.
If you think the box might not be strong enough to hold all the books, you're right. Use 2 boxes or one stronger box.
If you are unable to lift the box, we are unable to lift the box. Please consider limiting the number and weight of the books in one box.
Please use “Free Matter for the Blind” or the UPS shipping labels provided by AIM-VA. For shipping instructions, see “Shipping Information” on the www.aimva.org website.

AIM-VA Offers School Divisions Free Assistive Technology!

The Accessible Instructional Materials Center of Virginia is excited to announce a recent agreement made between George Mason University and Don Johnston Incorporated, to provide Read:OutLoud Universal Access program, a digital text reader, to support all students with IEPs. This statewide whole-school license program is available to you -- at no cost – by being a registered Digital Rights Manager with AIM-VA.

Virginia education administrators, special educators and families will be particularly interested in the Read:OutLoud Universal Access program because of its ability to provide print disabled students with access to a variety of digital alternate formats that can be customized to meet a student’s individualized needs.

This initiative is intended to help support the use of materials that will be provided by AIM-VA and its partners. The whole-school license will enable your division the greatest amount of flexibility in providing reading related accommodations to your students at school and at home.

To read more please see the letter of announcement in the Documents, Forms, and Memos section of the AIM-VA website.