Textbooks and Printed Materials

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires schools to provide accessible versions of textbooks and other printed materials for students who are blind or otherwise unable to use printed materials. In addition, schools need to take steps to assure that students with disabilities receive their accessible materials at the same time as their peers receive their textbooks.

In the state of Tennessee, there are a few options to meet his requirement. In order to create materials in alternate formats, these providers rely on an exemption to copyright law. As a result, the materials are available only to students who fall into one of the categories named in the law. Eligibility is restricted to students who are blind, visually impaired, have a physical disability, or have a reading disability that is physically based.

• Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) Library http://aim.tennessee.edu/

The state’s AIM Library lends specialized educational materials such as braille and large print books to eligible blind and visually impaired students. Responding to requests by certified teachers of the visually impaired, the library provides accessible versions of textbooks, workbooks, and works of literature. The library also borrows, purchases, or contracts with vendors to produce the needed books if they are not available in its collection. In addition, the AIM Library circulates materials available through the American Printing House for the Blind, such as early literacy skill builders, math manipulatives, accessible media devices and braille note takers.

• Learning Ally (http://www.learningally.org/)

Formerly known as Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, Learning Ally provides audio versions of textbooks and other books that students need to read. Books are available as downloadable audio and CDs, which can be played on various portable devices. Learning Ally audiobooks are recorded using the human voice and include figure, graph and picture descriptions.

• Bookshare (http://www.bookshare.org/)

Bookshare offers downloadable digital text for textbooks and other books. Using software or apps provided by Bookshare (or other popular text-to-speech applications), students can listen to text while they viewing it on a computer screen or portable device. Digital braille files are available for use with refreshable braille devices.