State and Local Educational Agencies (SEAs and LEAs)
Students with disabilities can fall behind when classroom materials—print or digital—are inaccessible. These barriers are avoidable. When state and local educational agencies (SEAs and LEAs) work together to move from awareness to action, they remove barriers by ensuring that the materials selected or created for instruction are usable by all students.
Two complementary federal laws define schools’ responsibilities for accessibility. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires proactive digital accessibility. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires the provision of accessible formats—such as braille, digital text, audio, and large print—in a timely manner for eligible students with disabilities. Together, these laws establish the foundation for ensuring that students with disabilities have access to the general education curriculum at the same time, and with the same privacy, independence, and ease of use, as their peers. Compare the laws side by side.
Technical Assistance for SEAs and LEAs
In early 2025, NCADEMI gathered input from SEA and LEA administrators and staff to better understand their technical assistance needs. Through surveys, listening sessions, and focus groups, the study team explored current challenges and opportunities related to the accessibility of digital educational materials in K–12 schools. The report, Technical Assistance Needs of State and Local Educational Agencies: Summary of 2025 Data Collection, summarizes key findings and insights.
In response to the input we collected from SEA and LEA administrators and staff, NCADEMI offers two monthly opportunities for live interaction with our Technical Assistance and Digital Accessibility Specialists.
Access Point LIVE!
Access Point LIVE! is an open forum for any PreK-12 educator or team seeking assistance with improving digital accessibility. Every session starts with a short 10-minute spotlight of a practical accessibility skill (recorded), followed by time to address the questions and problems of practice presented by attendees (not recorded). Access Point LIVE! occurs the fourth Wednesday of every month, 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET.
Virtual Professional Learning Group
The virtual Professional Learning Group (PLG) is for SEA and LEA teams ready to implement the Quality Indicators for the Provision and Use of Accessible Materials in PreK–12 Systems. Participants receive one year of targeted technical assistance through the PLG, followed by the option to join a Community of Practice for continued support. The PLG meets on the second Thursday of every month, 2:00–3:30 p.m. ET. Enrollment is always open to new teams.
Prerequisites for Enrollment in NCADEMI’s PLG
For an introduction to the Quality Indicators and implementation supports, refer to our archived six-part webinar series, Powering Digital Accessibility Through Systemic Action. This resource is specifically designed for teams preparing to implement one or both sets of Quality Indicators, whether independently or in partnership with NCADEMI’s PLG.
Three prerequisites are required for enrolling in the PLG:
- Establish a cross-disciplinary team from the same SEA or LEA (e.g., general education, special education, technology, assessment), including at least one administrator or other decision-maker. Quality Indicator DM1.1 and AF1.1 provide specific examples of appropriate roles and responsibilities. Additionally, archived webinar 3 and webinar 4 provide information about an effective implementation team.
- Complete the Hexagon Readiness Protocol. Refer to archived webinar 2 (discussion begins at 39:39) and webinar 6 (discussion begins at 20:03) for guidance.
- Schedule a 30-minute pre-enrollment meeting with NCADEMI to review Readiness Protocol results and set goals for participation.
Questions? Don’t hesitate to contact our team!