Obtaining AEM

Purchasing Guidelines

When textbooks and other learning materials are purchased by school districts, there is a unique opportunity to obtain materials that are accessible to all students. The Purchase Accessible Learning Materials (PALM) initiative explains this mission. Ohio has guidance to assist with these purchases. The resources linked below provide information and guidance on purchasing AEM.

PALM Initiative

PALM Initiative

Read about the PALM Initiative (Purchase Accessible Learning Materials) that was launched to ensure that digital education materials are designed to be usable by all students from the start.

Ohio Brochure for PALM

Developed for use in Ohio, the PALM Initiative (Purchase Accessible Learning Materials) provides guidance for Ohio school districts regarding design of digital educational materials.

Publisher Requirements and Conversion Services

When choosing textbooks for use in Ohio schools, districts must adopt or purchase textbooks from publishers that meet the requirements of the Ohio Revised Code 3329.01. These requirements include specific details for the provision of a copy of the textbook in the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) code to the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC).

Approved Textbook Publishers List

Review the requirements of Ohio Revised Code 3329.01 for the adoption or purchase of textbooks from publishers, see the approved list of publishers, and download a publisher's application.

Ohio Publisher Legislation

Review the OAC Rule 3301-51-21 on providing instructional materials to children with print disabilities including publisher instructions if an e-book is not fully accessible.