Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM)

Printed textbooks, trade books, and other educational materials can be converted to alternate formats to support students with a documented visual, physical or print disability.

What are Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM)?
Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) are printed textbooks, trade books, and other educational materials that are converted to alternate formats (Braille, Large Print, Electronic/Digital Text, and Audio Recordings). Students with a documented visual, physical or print disability (IEP) may require accessible instructional materials (AIM) if the limitations of print materials are the barrier to their success. IEP teams are required to consider whether a student requires materials in an alternate format.

AIM Simply Said Video

What is AIM-VA?
The AIM-VA center, located at the Helen A. Kellar Institute at George Mason University, provides accessible instructional materials at no cost to eligible Virginia K-12 students with Individualized Education Plans (IEP).

How does a student qualify for materials from AIM-VA?
A student might qualify for materials from AIM-VA if they have a documented physical, visual, or print disability. A student with a reading (print) disability, whose IEP team is considering his or her need for materials from the Accessible Instructional Materials Center of Virginia (AIM-VA), must have certification that his or her reading disability is a result of an organic dysfunction. Students with a visual or physical disability should already have this documentation on file. The IEP team must also find that the student requires access to materials in an alternate format. Students with a 504 plan do not qualify for AIM-VA.

How does a student get the materials from AIM-VA?
Each school will have a designated Lead Digital Rights Manager who can add teachers into the AIM-VA system as Digital Rights Managers. After a student is found eligible and the teacher is added, the teacher can go into the system and order the needed materials.

Why would a student want to use these materials?
For some students, access to print materials in an alternate format can drastically enhance their ability to interact with and comprehend text. Materials provided through AIM-VA can offer features that are not available in online textbooks or other digital or online materials. Students can also access popular literature titles and other materials that are often not available electronically from other sources.

What if a student does not qualify for materials from AIM-VA, but still requires accessible materials in alternate formats?
If an IEP team or 504 team finds that a student requires an accommodation of materials in an alternate format and they are not eligible for AIM-VA materials, then the school will need to provide alternate access to materials. Additionally, the school team may work with the Assistive Technology Services resource teacher assigned to their building to explore resources available to support the student.

For more information, please visit AIM-VA.

For assistive technology tools and strategies to help support students with reading difficulties, please visit our Assistive Technology Support for Students with Reading Difficulties page.
Assistive Technology Support for Students with Reading Difficulties

Check out our reading resources section on our Technology Tools to Support All Learners page for school based technology tools.
Technology Tools to Support All Learners