Activate your background

What is your current definition of AEM?
What are the key pieces that define AEM?
When was a time you could not acquire, engage, or enjoy the information, interactions, or services? How could that interaction have been changed to be more accessible for you?

Build background: Define AEM

Educators face a critical challenge every day: how to design for each and every learner. When experiences are designed from the beginning with accessible, flexible materials, then all students benefit. Fewer accommodations are needed for students with disabilities, which can sometimes delay participation and progress in the curriculum.

Here is the AEM Center’s definition of accessible educational materials:
(AEM) are “print- and technology-based educational materials, including printed and electronic textbooks and related core materials that are designed or enhanced in a way that makes them usable across the widest range of learner variability, regardless of format (e.g., print, digital, graphic, audio, video).”

In this video from the AEM Takeaways series, you will build an understanding of what makes materials accessible, especially for students with disabilities who require them.

Video: Defining AEM (length 3:52)

Download the transcript (doc) | Access this video on YouTube

Takeaways:

Learners vary in all kinds of ways, including how they interact with educational materials based on physical, sensory, and learning differences.
Some learners don’t have the same choices in how they receive information from materials due to physical, sensory, and learning disabilities that impact mobility, sight, hearing, and how the brain processes language.
Accessibility doesn’t change the content of a material.

Deeper insights on AEM

Choose from this list of resources that showcase student and practitioner perspectives that can help build on your definition of AEM.

Websites

The Potential Benefits of Accessible Digital Learning Materials for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
This issue brief discusses the potential benefits of accessible digital learning materials for students who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH).

The Right of Students with Disabilities Who Need Accessible Educational Materials to Receive These Materials in a Timely Manner
Explore this policy brief that includes how families and educators can understand the rights of students with disabilities who need AEM to receive these materials in a timely manner.

Podcast

Are using AT and AEM cheating? (length 24:55)
Learn practical tips to help you ensure all students have the access they need for success. Topics include the SETT framework (Topic 2) and why using assistive technology and accessible educational materials is not cheating

Videos

AEM in Simple Language (length: 4:34)
Build an understanding of what Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) mean and examples that can be used in classrooms.

Access to Learning (length 9:26)
Learn about a variety of accessible technology designed to be inclusive for a broader range of abilities with the built-in customizable accessibility features.

Accessible Learning Across the Lifespan
Discover accessible learning across the lifespan in these three short and informative videos designed to start conversations about the importance of accessibility and accessible materials in your context.

Reflect on new insights

How have the perspectives in the resources you explored impacted your definition of accessible materials?

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