Fast Facts for Parents & Caregivers

Parents and caregivers play a key role in helping their children with disabilities get accessible educational materials (AEM).

1. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires schools to provide AEM—in a timely manner—for students who need them. IDEA is the federal law schools follow to provide Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
2. AEM isn’t just for IEPs! Providing AEM can be an accommodation under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well.
3. Parents, caregivers, and students should advocate for AEM when needed. Learning to advocate for their own needs is one of the most important lessons for a student when it comes to AEM!
4. Providing AEM for a student doesn’t replace the need for specialized instruction or interventions.
5. It’s never too early to think a child might need AEM. Services are appropriate during early intervention and early childhood education.
6. When educational materials aren’t made accessible from the beginning, they can be changed to digital text, audio, large print, or braille.
7. Educational materials are accessible when they’re usable by a student with a disability, contain the same information, and are provided at the same time as materials used by students without disabilities.
8. Students and their families are an important part of the IEP team and should be consulted about their thoughts on the use of AEM.
9. Providing a student with AEM is not enough—it’s important that the student learn how to use the materials, and that parents and caregivers learn, too.
10. A student’s need for assistive technology might be an indication that they would benefit from the use of AEM.