Donna McNear, M.A., COMS

Independent Educational Consultant
34651 Blackfoot Street NW
Cambridge, MN 55008
763.689.3602

Accessible Content Management (ACM) of Educational Materials for Students with Visual Impairments
Strategies, methods, tools to access, manage, deliver, & use educational content
Planning ACM
Introduction: Use this tool to plan, consider, and problem-solve access to instruction at the classroom level in order to comprehensively plan for accessible content.
Student / School Year / Grade
About the student: Individualized student information helpful to the ACM planning process
List student subscriptions, such as Bookshare, Learning Ally, Library of Congress / List student materials, tools, and technology available at school and home / List the student’s learning environments and contexts
Content Discovery: Understanding teaching and learning content
Introduction: Observe, survey, and interview teachers to discover the many ways, activities, and use of educational content in their classrooms. Consider the elements in the columns below to comprehensively plan for student access and participation.
Delivery / Delivery Format / Instructional Technology / Source / Digital File Info / Format
Needed / Student IEP Accommodations
How will the teacher deliver the content to students? / How will content be accessed by all students? / What other instructional technology is used? / If content is needed for accessible formatting, how will you access? / If the content is digital, expand on file details / Be sure to consider all the formats needed by the student / What else might need to be considered based on student IEP accommodations?
  • Textbook
  • Workbook
  • Lecture content
  • Prepared
  • Real-time
  • Classroom work
  • Lab
  • Whole group
  • Small group
  • Classroom tests
  • Homework
  • Digital internet
  • Multimedia
  • Video
  • Displayed
  • Electronic
  • Print
/
  • Print
  • Image
  • Digital
  • Video
  • Audio
  • Object
/
  • Web-based
  • Tools
  • Apps
  • Pers
/
  • Who has content?
  • Where is the content located?
  • What information is needed?
/
  • Publisher
  • Teacher created
  • Digital internet
  • Digital file
  • PowerPoint
  • Pdf
  • Word doc
/
  • Digital
  • Braille: embossed
  • Braille: electronic
  • Audio
  • Video: described
  • Tactile image
  • Object
  • Print

ACM Planning Form
Introduction: Use this form to systematically collect information to comprehensively plan for accessible content.
Instructional Item / Delivery Format / Source Info / Digital File Info / Format
Needed / Probable Use / Action
Examples:
Science labs:
  • Lecture content
  • Electronically displayed (Smartboard)
/ Digital / Teacher created / Word file / Braille / Electronic file for braille note taker / Communicate with teacher about sending the electronic lecture content in Word file to student.
Science labs:
  • Small group work
/ Print handout / Teacher created electronic file / Word file / Braille / Embossed hardcopy braille / Ask teacher to send electronic Word files of the print handouts to the braille transcriber.
Science labs:
  • Video of lab work
/ Video / YouTube / Auditory / Described video / Explore access through video description portal
Science labs:
  • Tests
/ Digital: Web
Socrative App / Web / Braille / Internet access through braille note taker / Ensure access is established with the braille note taker
Science labs:
  • Homework
/ Digital: Web / Publisher created online content / PDF / Braille / Electronic file for braille note taker / Determine how PDF file will be made accessible
Science labs:
  • Workbook
/ Print / Publisher / Braille / Embossed hardcopy braille / Braille transcriber obtains electronic file from NIMAC for transcribing into braille
Content Discovery: Understanding teaching and learning content
Introduction: Observe, survey, and interview teachers to discover the many ways, activities, and use of educational content in their classrooms. Consider the elements in the columns below to comprehensively plan for student access and participation.
Delivery / Delivery Format / Instructional Technology / Source / Digital File Info / Format
Needed / Student IEP Accommodations
How will the teacher deliver the content to students? / How will content be accessed by all students? / What other instructional technology is used? / If content is needed for accessible formatting, how will you access? / If the content is digital, expand on file details / Be sure to consider all the formats needed by the student / What else might need to be considered based on student IEP accommodations?
ACM Planning Form
Introduction: Use this form to systematically collect information to comprehensively plan for accessible content.
Instructional Item / Delivery Format / Source Info / Digital File Info / Format
Needed / Probable Use / Action

Developed by Donna McNear 11.15