Technical Assistance Services to Maine Schools

Maine AIM - Accessible Instructional MaterialsThe following organizations provide technical assistance services to Maine schools who have students with print disabilities. Please contact the provider for more information about their services and fees.

 

ALLTech: Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) Technical Assistance Project

ALLTech: Where Technology is About PeopleThis program will support educators who don’t have the time or resources to provide student mandated access to print-based instructional materials. Such access is guaranteed in federal education statutes, such as IDEA and NCLB. ALLTech can support you with AIM and NIMAS in the following ways:

  • Coordination of textbook acquisition from the State's NIMAC "authorized user"
  • Acquisition and implementation of individual or institutional subscriptions to bookshare.org/rfb&d.org
  • Coordinate district/student AIM-related materials and activities
  • Coordinate paperwork (subscription forms)
  • Organize individual student ID's
  • Download digital books/burn audio CDs
  • Distribute with copyright laws intact
  • Provide professional development to staff regarding tools to access digital text
  • Provide individual training/support to students who have print disabilities and use AIM

ALLTech®: Where Technology is About People!
Phone: 207-321-6080 x 114
info@alltech-tsi.org

Education Services for Blind & Visually Impaired Children (ESBVIC)

Catholic Charities Providing help and creating hope in MaineEducation Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Children (ESBVIC) is a program of Catholic Charities Maine provided through funding from Maine's Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired. ESBVIC serves children with vision loss and covers the ages from birth to completion of high school. Sixteen teachers of blind and visually impaired children (TVI) cover the entire state and serve children in public or private schools as well as in home and/or pre-school settings.

The Instructional Materials Center (IMC) at ESBVIC provides some Braille and large print textbooks and researches the APH files for books and provides specialty teaching materials for TVIs.

Please noted that applications for Braille materials - particularly those for science and math books may take many months to produce. Please place orders no later than March 1st for the following fall semester.

ESBVIC - Instructional Materials Center
136 State Street
P.O. Box 2028
Augusta, ME 04338-2028
207.620.3220 or
207.621.8520 x 5420
207.622.9781 Fax

ESBVIC - Bangor Office
1066 Kenduskeag Ave.
Bangor, ME 04401
207.299.1933

esbvic@ccmaine.org

Mainely Access, Inc.

Mainely Access logoMainely Access, Inc., founded in 2004, is a company, staffed by rehabilitation professionals who have provided adaptive technology services to over 1,000 individuals within the state of Maine. With Master's Degrees in Special Education, and Certifications in Low Vision Therapy, Rehabilitation Teaching and Orientation and Mobility, the staff of Mainely Access Inc. brings the highest level of professionalism to the services we provide.

With a focus on services to consumers who are blind or visually impaired, Mainely Access provide adaptive technology assessment and training utilizing a wide variety of assistive devices and software. Services are available statewide and can be provided in the workplace, school, or home.

In addition to adaptive technology services for those who are blind or visually impaired, we are also pleased to offer training in the use of various speech recognition packages, as well as other alternative methods of computer input for those who require alternatives to the standard keyboard and mouse.

Mainely Access, Inc.
91J Auburn Street, #1182
Portland, ME 04103

Staff

Mary Beth Walsh
Phone: 207-650-8151
E-mail: mbwalsh@mainelyaccess.com

Mike Adams
Phone: 207-650-8343
E-mail: m.adams@mainelyaccess.com

 

Maine State Library AIM Services

Talking Book / Large Print Book Program:

Maine State LibraryEligibility: Blind and physically handicapped patrons, patrons with learning disabilities caused by an organic dysfunction.

Available resources: Talking books on cassette and digital formats, large print books. A small collection of "twin-vision" Braille. Cassette and digital players.

Cost: free.

Books-By-Mail Program:

No application required for standard Books By Mail services.

Eligibility: Maine residents living in a community without a local public library, or Maine residents with a disability qualifying them for homebound services.

Cost: Patrons receiving standard services must pay postage for returning books to MSL. Homebound patrons do not pay postage.

Maine State Library Public Services

Eligibility: All Maine residents.

Cost: Free to all Maine residents.

Available resources:

Pine Tree Society

Pine Tree Society: Discovering Abilities TogetherPine Tree Society helps people in Maine with disabilities lead richer, more socially connected lives. Too often, people with disabilities feel left out, even isolated. With the help of Pine Tree Society, they’re not alone! We share a spirit of innovation and desire to discover new ways to break down barriers that many find insurmountable. It started as a bold new idea in 1936 and it continues every day.

Pine Tree Society
P.O. Box 518
149 Front Street
Bath, Maine 04530
(207) 443-3341 voice/tty
(207) 443-1070 fax
info@pinetreesociety.org