Introducing the PALM Initiative

What is the PALM Initiative? The PALM Initiative is focused on encouraging purchasers to buy, and publishers and developers to create, accessible learning materials.

PALM Beliefs PALM Objectives No student should be denied the right to a high quality education All education settings should be accessible to every student Materials, in all settings, should be useable by every student from the start Schools cannot rely on parallel delivery systems or on costly and difficult accommodations Bring accessibility into the lexicon and daily activities of educators and others who purchase learning materials Increase the number of educators who are seeking and purchasing materials that are useable by all students from the start http://aem.cast.org/navigating/palm.html

Why buy accessible? Supports inclusion Benefits all students’ learning Benefits teachers Reduces complexity Reduces costly accomodations

What are accessible learning materials? Accessible educational materials are designed to give students with disabilities the opportunity to learn the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as students without disabilities To ensure this is possible, both the content and the technology used to deliver and interact with the content need to be accessible, so both must be considered.

What can you do?

Purchasers Educators Require that all materials purchased are fully accessible Incorporate accessibility into your policies and practices Include accessibility in contract language Create lesson plans and units that include accessible materials Introduce PALM at a staff meeting Form an accessibility action team Talk with administrators, technology coordinators, and purchasing coordinators about accessibility

Advocates Families Present PALM to your stakeholders Share the PALM documents through your networks Include accessibility in your mission statement Form an accessibility taskforce Create an accessibility action group in your child’s school or district Inform school administrators about accessibility Talk with your child’s teacher about accessibility Talk with other parents and parent groups about accessibility