1. Introducing the PALM Initiative

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

3. 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

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

5. 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.

6. What can you do?

7. 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

8. 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