Maine students with disabilities due to blindness or visual impairment and who are eligible, are likely being provided services from Education Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Children (ESBVIC), a service of Catholic Charities of Maine. Typically, ESBVIC assigns a Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) to work directly with these eligible students, their teachers and their families. The Instructional Materials Center (IMC) at ESBVIC is a repository of some Braille and large print textbooks available to students who are eligible. The IMC is also able to research other repositories and order AIM for schools. For more information about this program, please contact:

Jean Small, Director
ESBVIC - Bangor Office|
1066 Kenduskeag Ave.|
Bangor, ME 04401
207-299-1933
e-mail: esbvic@ccmaine.org

Steps in acquiring AIM: hardcopy Braille

1. The school-based team should consult the student's TVI to discuss the instructional needs and plan for the ordering of hardcopy textbooks and core instructional materials in Braille. Under federal law, the school is responsible for ensuring that students with disabilities receive their instructional materials in a timely manner.
2. The TVI submits an order for these materials to the IMC Coordinator, who researches the availability. Orders should be made as early as possible to ensure delivery in a timely manner. The deadline for ordering books from the IMC for the next school year is May 1.
3. If the hardcopy Braille textbooks and core instructional materials are available in the IMC collection or available at the American Printing House for the Blind (APH), they will be shipped to the school at no cost. The APH can also produce some Braille hard copy books for students registered as legally blind with ESVBIC. These materials are almost always provided to the school at no cost as the IMC receives an annual quota from APH.
4. If the book is not available at either the IMC or APH, the ESBVIC staff can also search the NIMAC to determine if the book is available from that collection. If so, ESBVIC is a NIMAC Authorized User and can arrange for the download of the materials. If the student needs these materials in hardcopy Braille, the NIMAS file can be forwarded to an Accessible Media Producer (AMP) for conversion. The cost of the actual conversion and shipping will be the responsibility of the school.
5. If the book is not available at the IMC, APH or NIMAC, the IMC Coordinator will supply the school with the names of other vendors. The school is responsible for ordering the materials as well as any costs associated with book production and shipping when other vendors are involved.

Notes and other alternatives:

• Schools may be able to locate instructional materials as Digital Text in DAISY format and/or Braille Ready Format (BRF). These materials work effectively with assistive technology DAISY e-book readers and refreshable Braille displays. Bookshare is an excellent source for finding these materials free of charge.
• The TVI may assist the school in contacting the Perkins Braille Library in Massachusetts, which offers Braille books to Maine residents.
• A fee may be associated with production of hardcopy high-quality Braille format. A school may have its own Braille production capacity to convert files in-house.
• Determination of hard copy or electronic Braille is an IEP decision rather than one of economy.

Still need help?

There are currently several organizations in Maine that can provide technical assistance, consultation and assessment services to schools regarding students with print disabilities who need AIM. Some of these services may be free and some may charge a fee.

Here is a link to a list of some of the providers of technical assistance. Please contact these organizations directly to discuss their services and any fees that may be charged.

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