Step 3: Selecting Formats

After determining a student needs accessible formats, the team selects which format(s) are needed. Accessible formats might include: Braille, tactile graphics, large print, audio, and/or digital text. Educational materials to be considered during this process include textbooks, trade/chapter books, websites, magazines, newspapers, and teacher-created materials.

The selection process includes five checkpoints outlined below. Teams can use the Student Summary Worksheet to support consideration of accessible format(s) needed, and document the results of the team’s discussion after each checkpoint.

Checkpoint 1: The team considers the whole learning context.

The team considers multiple factors to understand the full context of how, where, and for what varied purposes the student uses educational materials, including:

  • The student's skills, needs, and preferences

  • The environments in which the student will be learning

  • The tasks for which accessible formats will be needed.

Checkpoint 2: The student trials a range of formats.

Information collected from Checkpoint 1 will inform the nature of accessible format(s) the student needs. Under the guidance of a special education or assistive technology (AT) professional, the student trials a variety of options. Examples include:

  • Tactile formats (e.g. Braille, raised images)

  • Large print formats

  • Audio formats (e.g. MP3)

  • Accessible digital (e.g. PDF)

Checkpoint 3: Select the format or combination of formats the student needs.

The questions below can guide the consideration process.

  • What formats and specific features are most useful to the student?

  • Does the usefulness of certain features vary by subject matter?

  • How might different learning environments impact the usefulness of certain formats?

*Note-the outcome of this process may result in the need for more than one format.

Checkpoint 4: List the text-based educational materials used across the curriculum.

The team gathers information about the text-based, print and digital educational materials the student needs for access to all subjects across the curriculum.

Checkpoint 5: Match formats to materials.

For each text-based educational material needed by the student, the team selects the appropriate format.

Proceed to Step 3: Acquiring Materials.