The Learning Experience

In April 2024, the United States Department of Justice issued a final rule requiring state and local governmental entities — including early childhood, elementary, secondary, and postsecondary institutions — to ensure web or mobile app-based digital learning resources are appropriate for and usable by students with disabilities. Join CAST’s AEM Center to break down the updates and requirements and what that means for schools.

Note: This is a podcast version of an AEMing for Access session on the Title II updates.

4 Key Takeaways:

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aem.cast.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for show notes. If you’re getting value out of this podcast, please share it with others and let us know by providing a rating and commenting wherever you get your podcasts!

The contents of this podcast were developed under a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Education, #H327Z190004. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer: Rebecca Sheffield, Ph.D.

We are excited to bring you this episode to wrap up Season 3 of the Accessible Learning Experience with a discussion of the updated Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines. Universal Design for Learning is the framework CAST has pioneered over the last 40 years to assist educators in optimizing teaching and learning so that it works for everyone, and accessibility is a foundational component of UDL. We are lucky to have with us on this episode Jenna Gravel and Nicole Tucker Smith, who have led a community-focused, accessible and transparent process for ensuring the updated guidelines reflect the best thinking in the field as well as in the research literature. 

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aem.cast.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for show notes. If you’re getting value out of this podcast, please share it with others and let us know by providing a rating and commenting wherever you get your podcasts!

The contents of this podcast were developed under a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Education, #H327Z190004. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer: Rebecca Sheffield, Ph.D.

The correctional setting is one that is often overlooked when it comes to accessibility and inclusive learning opportunities, but it is a setting where these are most needed. On this episode, we are excited to welcome CAST Career and Technical Education and UDL trainer Donald Walker to the podcast. Donald is joined by Jennifer Montag, Director of Disability Services at Marion Technical College, which offers a number of programs that take place in a correctional setting. As Jennifer explains, programs that provide access to educational opportunities in correctional settings can have a positive impact not only on the lives of the individuals enrolled in those programs, but on the community that receives them once their term is over. In essence, we all benefit when those in corrections are able to grow and improve their lives through education.  

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aem.cast.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for show notes. If you’re getting value out of this podcast, please share it with others and let us know by providing a rating and commenting wherever you get your podcasts!

The contents of this podcast were developed under a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Education, #H327Z190004. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer: Rebecca Sheffield, Ph.D.

We are so excited to bring you this interview with Jordyn Zimmerman, a passionate educator and disability advocate who is currently the Head of Product Strategy at the Nora Project. Jordyn was diagnosed as autistic at a young age, but she did not receive access to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)  until the age of 18. Her own lived experience  fuels her beliefs about leveraging tools and supports to drive change around inclusion for all learners.  Among her many accomplishments, Jordyn has twice been appointed to the Presidential Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities and her work has been published in the Boston Globe and the New York Times. 

Note: You will hear some long pauses between the question and Jordyn’s answer because we’ve done our best to preserve the authenticity of Jordyn’s communication experience. 

(00:00) Introduction

(01:21) Question 1 Accessibility Story

(06:55) Question 1 Response

(07:52) Question 2 Empowering Factors

(18:18) Question 2 Response

(20:05) Question 3 Impact of Technology

(26:55) Question 3 Response

(27:44) Question 4 Accessible Educational Materials

(33:32) Question 4 Response

(34:12) Question 5 Advice to Educators

(41:33) Question 5 Response

(42:30) Question 6 Contact Information

(45:33) Question 6 Response

(46:26) Closing

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠aem.cast.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ for show notes. If you’re getting value out of this podcast, please share it with others and let us know by providing a rating and commenting wherever you get your podcasts!

The contents of this podcast were developed under a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Education, #H327Z190004. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer: Rebecca Sheffield, Ph.D.

A key goal for this podcast is to share the lived experience of learners who use and benefit from providing accessible educational materials and technologies. In that spirit, this month we are lucky to have Connor Joyce on the podcast. Connor is a student at Gettysburg College double majoring in Emerging Threats in National Security and Political Science and minoring in History. In 2018 he was awarded the first copy of Pennsylvania House Resolution Bill No. 1044, which designated October as dyslexia awareness day in the Commonwealth, and in 2021, he received the Pennsylvania Governor's Civic Engagement Award for his work in the community. 

Visit ⁠⁠⁠aem.cast.org⁠⁠⁠ for show notes. If you’re getting value out of this podcast, please share it with others and let us know by providing a rating and commenting wherever you get your podcasts!

The contents of this podcast were developed under a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Education, #H327Z190004. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer: Rebecca Sheffield, Ph.D.

The federally-funded Technical Assistance centers based at CAST are always working on new resources to help the field implement best practices in the provision and effective use of high-quality accessible materials and technologies. This month, we are pleased to share two new resources from the AEM Center. Michelle Soriano shares information about a new Family’s Guide to Accessible Educational Materials designed to help parents and caregivers work with their child’s teachers and education team to make sure each child receives the AEM they need in a timely manner. Kelli Suding then introduces a new Online Learning Series on Accessible Materials and Technologies, which are delivered through Canvas and are ready for you all to add to your professional development offerings. But first, we have the pleasure of introducing our new AEM Center Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth Barker. Elizabeth brings a wealth of experience with accessibility and has a rich background in special education as well. We are thrilled to have her on our small but mighty team!

Visit ⁠⁠aem.cast.org⁠⁠ for show notes. If you’re getting value out of this podcast, please share it with others and let us know by providing a rating and commenting wherever you get your podcasts!

The contents of this podcast were developed under a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Education, #H327Z190004. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer: Rebecca Sheffield, Ph.D.

Diana Garcia-Mejia is a Pre-K teacher of students with visual impairments who is passionate about accessibility and inclusion for all students. On this episode, Diana shares many practical tips and ideas for ensuring young learners with visual impairments get off to a strong start in their educational journey. That includes learning about braille and other supports, including assistive technology, as early as possible. The conversation with AEM Center Technical Assistance Specialist Luis Perez touches on the importance of involving families in braille education for young learners, ensuring representation by providing role models for young learners with visual disabilities to emulate and be inspired by, and much more. Stay tuned to the end to learn about an exciting project Diana was involved in: What I Can Be Is Up to Me, an accessible children’s book featuring characters who are blind or visually impaired. 

Visit ⁠⁠aem.cast.org⁠⁠ for show notes. If you’re getting value out of this podcast, please share it with others and let us know by providing a rating and commenting wherever you get your podcasts!

The contents of this podcast were developed under a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Education, #H327Z190004. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer: Rebecca Sheffield, Ph.D.

For our final episode of 2023, we are excited to welcome Loui Lord Nelson to the podcast. Loui, who herself is a master podcaster and the creator of the popular UDL in 15 minutes podcast, is an international UDL educator, consultant, speaker, and author. She has worked with schools, districts, universities, and ministries of education around the world to support UDL implementation and research, and you will hear about some of those experiences in this episode. Loui will share her UDL journey which began at Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) in Columbus, Indiana, her insights on the importance of accessibility for UDL practitioners, and her tips for getting started with accessible podcasting as a way to grow the UDL community by sharing the work of the many great educators she has met on her UDL journey.

Visit ⁠aem.cast.org⁠ for show notes. If you’re getting value out of this podcast, please share it with others and let us know by providing a rating and commenting wherever you get your podcasts!

The contents of this podcast were developed under a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Education, #H327Z190004. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer: Rebecca Sheffield, Ph.D.

On this episode, we welcome CITES Framework Development District partners Janna Greathouse and Samantha Reid with Jenks Public Schools in Oklahoma, and Bijul Dalal with Grossmont Union High School District in California. Janna and Bijul serve as their districts’ assistive technology leads, while Samantha Reid serves her district as the ed-tech lead. CAST Senior Technical Assistance Specialist and CITES Project Director Maggie Pickett talks with Janna, Samantha, and Bijul to pull back the curtain and share their stories about what worked to build and sustain inclusive technology ecosystems in their districts.

Visit ⁠aem.cast.org⁠ for show notes. If you’re getting value out of this podcast, please share it with others and let us know by providing a rating and commenting wherever you get your podcasts!

The contents of this podcast were developed under a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Education, #H327Z190004. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer: Rebecca Sheffield, Ph.D.

The AEM Center has enjoyed an exciting partnership with Step Up AT and the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) .  On this episode, CAST Technical Assistance Specialist Maggie Pickett is joined by Michelle Schladant and Austin Garilli from Step Up AT and Jani Kazlowski from ECTA to discuss how their respective centers are working to foster more inclusive learning in early childhood settings. All three centers are funded by the Office of Special Education Programs to improve outcomes for children with disabilities. Over the past year, the teams collaborated on a workshop series to help early childhood education providers better understand how the use of assistive technology (or AT) and accessible educational materials (or AEM) relates to the successful development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities. 

Visit aem.cast.org for show notes. If you’re getting value out of this podcast, please share it with others and let us know by providing a rating and commenting wherever you get your podcasts!

The contents of this podcast were developed under a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Education, #H327Z190004. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer: Rebecca Sheffield, Ph.D.