School Age Resources - Learning Ideas Tipsheets
Click on the Tipsheet titles listed below to open an accessible PDF file. (Download Adobe Reader here.)
Accessing and Implementing Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM): Tips for K-12 Educators (PDF) - Accessible instructional materials are specialized formats of curricular content that reduce barriers for students who are unable to access print materials. Students with a print disability can obtain specialized formats of copyrighted materials under a copyright law exemption. Examples of alternate formats include talking books, software programs, CDs, MP3 files, large print and digital text. Every student has a different learning style: accessible instructional materials provide the flexibility to meet the needs of a broad range of students.
Building Educational Support for Children and Youth in Foster Care (PDF) – Education is a change agent for children and youth in foster care… education creates hope for succeeding in the adult world. Former youth in foster/surrogate care emphasize that placement stability and high expectations from teachers were related to their positive educational attainment.
Special Education Tips for Foster Parents Who are Surrogate Parents (PDF) – Surrogate parents are appointed to represent children with disabilities whenever the birth parents or guardian of a child with a disability cannot be identified, located, or when the child is in the custody of the state. They have all the rights of birth parents for educational matters, e.g. permission for evaluation and placement, release information and request for educational hearing. The primary responsibility of surrogate parents is to ensure that children with disabilities are provided with a free, appropriate public education.
Understanding Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) and Their Use: Tips for K – 12 Educators (PDF) - Students arrive in classrooms with a variety of skills, interests and needs. For many learners, the typical curriculum—including instructional methods, classroom materials, and assessments of knowledge—may contain barriers to educational participation and achievement. Students who are unable to access print materials face particular challenges. Accessible instructional materials reduce barriers and provide rich supports for learning. By using accessible instructional materials, educators enable all learners to gain knowledge, skills and enthusiasm for learning.
Universal Design in Pre-K and Early Elementary Classrooms (PDF) – Universal Design is an approach to designing environments and products so that the greatest number of people can use them. When applied to curriculum, teachers consider the potential barriers inherent in materials and activities, and plan many avenues to learning. Children enter classrooms with different experiences, backgrounds, interests, emotional, social, and academic strengths and needs. Planning for this diversity by intentionally creating accessible teaching processes and materials will allow more children to learn successfully.
