Page 1 Making A Difference For All! Providing Timely Educational Materials in Appropriate Accessible Formats for Students with Disabilities in the Pacific The Pacific CIMAP Outcomes Report February 19, 2009 Page 2 © 2009 University of Guam CEDDERS Pacific CIMAP Outcomes Report Connie Guerrero, M.Ed., Editor Updated April 15, 2009 University of Guam Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (Guam CEDDERS) Office of Academic & Student Affairs University of Guam UOG Station Mangilao, Guam 96923 Cover Photo by Jim Fruchterman: During an on-site visit to Eot, Faichuk Islands in Chuuk State, FSM, Donna McNear, Pacific CIMAP Consultant, plays with Freda Phillip, a child with vision impairment, while the child’s mother, Wenty Phillip, looks on. Photos courtesy of: Jim Fruchterman, Mary Kidd, Jonas Macapinlac, Donna McNear, JJ Mendiola, Michael Sharpe, and Michael Terlaje. Pacific CIMAP Outcomes Report developed and produced by University of Guam CEDDERS through the IDEA Technology and Media Services Grant No. H327S070011 from the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the U.S. Department of Education. Page 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special Si Yu’os Ma’ase to the following Pacific CIMAP partners and consultants for making a difference in support of each entity’s effort to improve the educational programs and services for ALL children with disabilities in the Pacific: Pacific Chief State School Officers Rita Sablan, Ed. D., Commissioner of Education, CNMI Biram Stege, Secretary of Education, RMI Claire Poumele, Ed. D., Director of Education, American Samoa Nerissa Bretania-Shafer, Ph.D., Superintendent of Education, Guam Casiano Shoniber, Secretary of Education, FSM Emery Wenty, Director of Education, ROP Carrie Karnos, Scanning & Validation Operations Manager, Bookshare.orgCalifornia Scott Marfilius, Assistive & Educational Technology Consultant, Wisconsin Donna McNear, VI Specialist/Teacher, Minnesota Marcelene Santos, Esq., Legal Consultant, California (Guam) Lisa Friendly, Ph.D., Director, Bookshare.org, California Jim Fruchterman, CEO, Benetech Initiative, Bookshare.org, California Dominic Gagliano, Vice President, Sales, HumanWare Group, California Chuck Hitchcock, Chief Officer, NIMAS-TA, Massachusettes Michael Sharpe, Ph.D., Director, NCRRC, Minnesota Dave Wilkinson, Product Specialist, HumanWare GroupCalifornia Joy Zabala, Project Manager, AIM, CAST, Texas Ruth Ziolkowski, President, Don Johnston, Inc., Illinois Page 4 Full page photo with caption: Three-year old Avylia from Pohnpei, FSM, who is blind, tries out a Braille Notetaker under the guidance of her aunt. Page 5 Talofa! Håfa Adai! Tirow W??mi! Ran Anim! Lenwo! Kaselehlie! Mogethin! Iokwe! Alii! Greetings to ALL! The Pacific Consortium for Instructional Materials Accessibility Project (Pacific CIMAP) is pleased to present this Outcomes Report. Making a Difference for ALL! is intended to share the results, to date, of implementing prioritized technical assistance and training activities in the six Pacific entities that make up the consortium: American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau (ROP). The Pacific CIMAP overall outcome is to support the implementation and/or enhancement of each entity’s system for providing timely educational materials in appropriate accessible formats for students with disabilities who are eligible for services under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA). This Pacific CIMAP Outcomes Report, therefore, highlights how the project has been making a difference through the facilitation of local capacity development/enhancement in personnel, technology access, and infrastructure for improving the teaching and learning dynamics for students with disabilities who require timely educational materials in appropriate accessible formats. Overall Outcome The overall outcome of Pacific CIMAP is to implement and/or enhance each entity’s system for providing timely educational materials in appropriate accessible formats for students with disabilities who are eligible for services under Part B of IDEA. The Pacific CIMAP Outcomes Report is organized primarily around the five (5) project goals. For each goal, a short description of the project work is provided with highlights of the entity outcomes related to personnel, technology access, and infrastructure development for supporting students with disabilities who require timely educational materials in appropriate accessible formats. Project Goals Goal 1: To increase the understanding and implementation of the NIMAS and NIMAC requirements through the development of Jurisdiction Implementation Teams (JITs). Goal 2: To create and/or enhance each jurisdiction’s system to address the NIMAS and NIMAC requirements, as appropriate, as well as to meet the accessibility requirements of Sections 614(d) of IDEA that addresses children with disabilities who do not meet the NIMAC eligibility requirements, but who need accessible versions of educational materials. Goal 3: To increase the knowledge and skills of local IEP teams for determining how student needs for accessible materials will be identified and how the need for NIMAC materials will be documented. Goal 4: To develop and/or enhance each jurisdiction’s data management and tracking system for managing NIMAS files and providing educational materials in accessible formats. Goal 5: To develop the capacity of the Pacific Basin to provide accessible materials for students with visual disabilities and other print disabilities through centralized coordination with Federal technical assistance providers, as well as vendors. Page 6 Background On behalf of the six Pacific entities, the University of Guam Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (Guam CEDDERS) serves as the administrator for Pacific CIMAP through funding from an 18-month IDEA, Technology and Media Services Grant. Pacific CIMAP is a consortium established to address the common and unique needs of the six Pacific entities in implementing or enhancing a system for providing timely educational materials in appropriate accessible formats for students with disabilities eligible for services under Part B of IDEA. The project service area of the six Pacific entities includes nine (9) island communities: American Samoa, CNMI, FSM (Chuuk State, Kosrae State, Pohnpei State, and Yap State), Guam, RMI, and ROP. Pacific CIMAP started in October 2007 with an on-site visit to each island community. The purpose for the visit was to conduct an initial needs assessment for how the project can support each entity address the IDEA National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) requirements, and as appropriate, the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) coordination. The findings from the individual visits were shared during the February 2008 Regional Leadership Meeting held on Guam and were used to structure specific follow-up communication and on-site visits. In summer 2008, an 11-day intensive regional institute designed for Jurisdiction Implementation Teams (JITs) was held on Guam, followed by an on-site visit to each island community in Fall 2008. This month, February 2009, a follow-up Regional Leadership Meeting is being held on Guam for the consortium to assess the policy, procedures, and practice “status” of each Pacific entity related to meeting the NIMAS requirements and priorities for continued technical support. Page 7 Goal 1: To increase the understanding and implementation of the NIMAS and NIMAC requirements through the development of Jurisdiction Implementation Teams (JITs). OUTCOMES: * 47 local personnel, representing the nine (9) island communities, were selected as Jurisdiction Implementation Team (JIT) members to serve as the local technical “cadre” of support in their respective island community. * The project’s 11-day summer 2008 intensive regional institute held on Guam included specific training on software, tools, and equipment designed to access, produce, and apply the technology for crafting and transforming educational materials into appropriate accessible formats. The nine (9) island communities were provided with equipment and software for the JIT members to utilize in their respective island community. Follow-up on-site visits by project staff in Fall 2008 provided the technical support to “test” the equipment, tools, and software. * As a result of participating in the project’s 11-day summer 2008 intensive regional institute held on Guam and the follow-up on-site visits, the 47 JIT members have increased their knowledge and skills in content and coaching skills for implementing the NIMAS/NIMAC requirements through the use of technology and equipment/tools designed to access, produce, and utilize the educational materials in appropriate accessible formats. “Based on the results obtained from pre-, mid-, post-training measures, it is clear that the CIMAP Project activities have helped Pacific Basin entities to reach significant project goals. For example, with regard to the project goal aimed at increasing understanding of the NIMAS and NIMAC requirements through working through JIT teams, the 2008 Summer Institute participants consistently indicated an increased level of knowledge and skills.” Evaluation of the CIMAP Project Summer 2008 Institute (page 24) Michael Sharpe, Ph.D. Pacific CIMAP Evaluator Page 8 Goal 1 Continued... Pacific CIMAP Jurisdiction Implementation Teams (JITs) General Makeup of JIT Members: 1. An Individual knowledgeable of the overall goals of Pacific CIMAP to provide leadership of the JIT members, take on the responsibility as an Authorized User (AU) with the NIMAC, and take on the responsibility of the teacher resource center. 2. A SPED / Itinerant Teacher knowledgeable and experienced in providing instruction to students with print disabilities - visual impairments. 3. A SPED / Itinerant Teacher knowledgeable and experienced in providing instruction to students with print disabilities - learning disabilities & physical disabilities. 4. An individual knowledgeable and comfortable with technology willing to get additional training, train others (such as teachers, parents, etc.), maintain and trouble shoot problems/equipment, and assist in the development of accessible formats. 5. An individual knowledgeable and responsible to collect, maintain, and operate the data and data system, as required. Photo with caption: Republic of the Marshall Islands Jurisdiction Implementation Team From Left to Right: Atte Lang, Hanty Kaisha, Ronnie Bungitak, and David Robert. Not shown: Asmon Langidrik AMERICAN SAMOA: Patrick Danielson, AT Specialist/Assessment Officer; Brian Thompson, Resource Specialist; Moeolo Vaatausili, Assistant Director, SPED CNMI: Kelly Phillips, VI Specialist; Jerry McVicar, AT Specialist; Antonette Camacho, DATA/Statistics; Jason Teregeyo, Teacher Aide (VI); Olympia Manibusan, Teacher Aide (VI); Thelma Cing, SPED Teacher (VI); Edith Borja, SPED Teacher (RST); Christie Sablan, CNMI AT Program; Pamela Sablan, CNMI AT Program; Carla Torres, SPED Teacher (VI) FSM (National): Mitchon Ioanis, ECSE Coordinator FSM (Chuuk): Harvey Fritz, Technology Cordinator; Santino Musahara, VI Teacher FSM (Kosrae): Lugo Skilling, Adm. Facilities & Support/Technology; Likiaksa Elesha, SPED Data Manager & Acting Coordinator; Shrue W. Kephas, Kosrae High School RR Teacher; Meriam Waguk, Deaf Blind Teacher FSM (Pohnpei): Karlina Henry, Diagnostician; Roddy Robert, Blind Classroom Teacher; Nixon Martin, Supply Technician FSM (Yap): Francis Gilmoon, Data Manager; Judith Gapey, Coordinator; Fandila Waathan, CRT; Sylvester Yaiuglig, Information Technology Support; Richard Mungwaath, Curriculum Coordinator; Jeffrey Filenguy, Supply & Procurement Officer; Rosalia Pinfen, Deaf/Blind Teacher GUAM: Bing Santos, VI Program Coordinator; Catherine Emmi, Itinerant VI Teacher; Christine Rosario, AT Consultant; Lee Wright, School Aide; Franklin Artero, Project Coordinator RMI: Asmon Langidrik, Special Ed. Specialist; Hanty Kaisha, MOE Technician (Media); Stanley Heine, MOE Testing & Evaluation Specialist; Ronnie Bungitak, Special Ed. Data Collector; David Robert, Special Ed. Teacher; Atte Lang, VP – Majuro Middle School ROP: Claver Filibert, LRC/Media Specialist; Delina Kebekol, Special Ed. Teacher; Tsungiko Renguul, Sp.Ed. Teacher; Gwendolyn Rengiil, Sp.Ed. Teacher; Janet Ruluked, Reading Specialist- MOE Page 9 Technology - Equipment/Tools/Software provided to each of the nine (9) island communities BRAILLE PRODUCT WORK STATION * Desktop Computer Systems w/ 20” Monitors * Duxbury Braille Translation Software w/Site Licenses * Epson Perfection 4490 Photo Scanner * Juliet Classic 60 Interpoint Braille Embosser (except Guam) * ViewPlus Braille Embosser Spot Dot (Guam only) * IVEO Talking Touch Pad * HP DeskJet9800 Printer. * Braille paper * WindowEyes Screen Reader with Site Licenses * Kurzweil 1000 Software10-User Site License BRAILLE WRITING DEVICES AND NOTETAKERS * Mountbatten Braille Writer Learning System * Mimic LCD Visual Display * Jot a Dot Braille Writer * BrailleNote Braille Keyboard 18 Cells * VoiceNote w/QWERTY Keyboard * SD Memory Cards - SanDisk Standard SD Card 1GB PRINT DISABILITIES/LD * Laptop Systems * Victor Stream Daisy/MP3/Memo Player * Kurzweil 3000 Color Scan/read Software * Kurzweil 3000 Learn Stations * Victor reader Software * Don Johnston Solo: Write Out Loud/Cowriter * ClassMate Reader Page 10-11 PACIFIC CIMAP TIMELINE Oct ’07 Guam CEDDERS was awarded an 18-month grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to administer Pacific CIMAP Oct ’07 - Jan ’08 On-site TA for all entities to complete needs assessment of IDEA NIMAS/NIMAC requirements in ALL entities Jan ’08 Pacific CIMAP Updates, NIMAS Implementation Council, Orlando, Florida Feb ’08 Regional Leadership Meeting I at the University of Guam Feb - Jul ’08 All 9 island communities registered with Bookshare.org, an AMP May ’08 Making a Difference for ALL!, Pacific CIMAP presentation at the NIMAS Related Projects Meeting, Washington, D.C. Jul ’08 IMAS and Beyond in the Pacific, Pacific CIMAP presentation at OSEP Project Directors’ Conference, Washington, D.C. Jul - Aug ’08 Training for JIT members on connecting technology with the IEP’s of students with print disabilities Aug ’08 Initial operation of on-line data management system Aug ’08 State Response to the National Instructional Materials Standard (NIMAS): An Opportunity, Pacific CIMAP presentation at OSEP Leadership Conference, Baltimore, MD Sep - Dec’08 On-site TA for all entities to address policy, standard operating procedures, equipment and data management November ’07 Meeting held in Washington D.C. with Pacific CIMAP collaborators and federal officials Nov - Dec’08 VI Consultant & Training Associate on-site TA for Pohnpei, Yap, CNMI, & Guam Jan ’09 Pacific CIMAP Updates presented at NIMAS Implementation Council, Orlando, Florida Feb ’09 Regional Leadership Meeting II at the University of Guam. Page 12 Goal 2: To create and/or enhance each jurisdiction’s system to address the NIMAS and NIMAC requirements, as appropriate, as well as to meet the accessibility requirements of Sections 614(d) of IDEA that addresses children with disabilities who do not meet the NIMAC eligibility requirements, but who need accessible versions of educational materials. OUTCOMES: * All 9 island communities completed an On-Site Needs Assessment. * As a result of participating in the February 2008 Regional Leadership Team meeting on Guam, 30 key leadership personnel obtained critical information about the Pacific CIMAP, NIMAS/NIMAC, and the array of policy and procedural requirements to increase availability of instructional materials for students with print disabilities. * All 9 island communities signed up to become members of Bookshare.org. * All 9 Island communities developed policy, procedures for ensuring identification and delivery of accessible instructional materials, including textbooks. * Through the IDEA Part B Grant Application, all 6 Pacific entities assured compliance with the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) requirements. * Through the IDEA Part B Grant Application, all 6 Pacific entities opted to coordinate with the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC). However, the June and July 2008 Library of Congress (LOC) responses to the Pacific CIMAP legal consultant’s query regarding the Freely Associated States (FAS) status in relation to the Chafee Amendment recommended that the FAS be considered foreign entities “because an exemption under U.S. copyright law is applicable only within the United States and not in the FAS, which are, essentially, independent, self-governing foreign territories with their own governments and constitutions.” (LOC Memorandum, June 2008) The LOC recommendation meant that the “FAS is required to acquire copyright permission from rights holders in works received by the FAS pursuant to copyright exemptions under U.S. copyright law, e.g. the Chafee Amendment.” (LOC Memorandum, June 2008) * As a result of the June 2008 LOC recommendation, the US Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) instructed Pacific CIMAP to provide technical support to the FAS in obtaining required copyright permission from the publisher and/or copyright holder of the entity’s “core instructional materials” and to directly coordinate all required conversion requests for accessible formats with Bookshare.org. So, for the FAS – FSM, RMI, and ROP, the option to coordinate with NIMAC is not considered feasible given their “foreign” status in relation to U.S. copyright law. Photo with caption: Connie Guerrero, Pacific CIMAP Project Coordinator and Biram Stege, Secretary of Education, RMI discuss policy issues. Page 13 Goal 2 Continued... NIMAS Work Flow for the Pacific Entities Outlying Areas 1. American Samoa 2. Guam 3. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) NIMAS Workflow for the Outlying Areas: Step 1 - The Pacific Entity procures “Core Instructional Materials” from the Publisher. Step 2 – The publisher then provides the textbooks and related materials to the National Instructional Materials Accessible Center (NIMAC), where it made available in the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) file format. Step 3 – These instructional materials in the NIMAS format are available for download online directly from accessible media producers such as Bookshare.org. Accessible media producers converts instructional materials in the NIMAS file format into digital files which can then be converted for use by individuals with print disabilities. Step 4 – The entity’s Pacific CIMAP Resource Center downloads the instructional materials files, then converts it into Braille, large print, audio, digital formats and other accessible formats for the students. Freely Associated States 1. Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) 2. Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) 3. Republic of Palau (ROP) NIMAS Workflow for the Freely Associated States (FAS): Step 1 - The Pacific Entity procures “Core Instructional Materials” from the Publisher. Step 2 – The Publisher then provides the textbooks and related materials to Bookshare.org, where it is made available online. Bookshare.org is an accessible media producer, which converts instructional materials into digital files which can then be converted for use by individuals with print disabilities. Step 4 – The entity’s Pacific CIMAP Resource Center downloads the instructional materials files, then converts it into Braille, large print, audio, digital formats and other accessible formats for the students. Page 14 Goal 3: To increase the knowledge and skills of local IEP teams for determining how student needs for accessible materials will be identified and how the need for NIMAC materials will be documented. OUTCOMES: * As a result of participating in the project’s 11-day summer 2008 intensive regional institute held on Guam, 47 JIT members increased their knowledge to make decisions on which students need accessible instructional materials following NIMAS/NIMAC requirements. * JIT members from all 9 island communities have conducted on-site awareness presentations to administrators, teachers, parents, and/or special education staff on the NIMAS requirements and the equipment and software available through the project. * As a result of participating in the project’s 11-day summer 2008 intensive regional institute held on Guam, 47 JIT members increased their knowledge of the decision-making process for accessible instructional materials to support IEP teams. As part of the training, the JIT members learned: The Five-Step Process for IEP Teams 1. Identification of students with a disability 2. Evaluation for a print disability/need for accessible formats 3. Documentation of student needs 4. Implementation of accessible formats 5. Follow-up Key Message: Access plus tools plus effective instruction results in literacy skills (Donna McNear, Consultant, August 2008) Page 15 Full page photo with caption: In American Samoa, Kamo Koloi, VI Teacher, works with his student Alini while she reads the Braille version of the instruction manual for the BrailleNote. Page 16 Image of Pacific CIMAP’s database for each jurisdiction’s data management and tracking system. Page 17 Goal 4: To develop and/or enhance each jurisdiction’s data management and tracking system for managing NIMAS files and providing educational materials in accessible formats. OUTCOMES: * All 9 island communities established an inventory report of hardware and software. * All 9 island communities developed an Action/Implementation plan for data management/tracking system. * All 9 island communities developed a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the management, production, documentation, and delivery of accessible instructional materials to students with print disabilities. * In August 2008, the project implemented a web-based data collection and tracking system for managing NIMAS files and monitoring the download of books and educational materials in accessible formats. * As a result of the training and implementation of the web-based data management system, the following students with print disabilities have been recorded: 12 students who are blind, 4 students with multiple disabilities, and 70 students with visual impairments. Page 18 Full page photo with caption: Celestia Cepeda, 3rd Grader at PC Lujan Elementary, reads with Catherine Emmi, Itinerant VI Teacher. Page 19 Goal 5: To develop the capacity of the Pacific Basin to provide accessible materials for students with visual disabilities and other print disabilities through centralized coordination with Federal technical assistance providers, as well as vendors. OUTCOMES: * A mechanism established through Guam CEDDERS for coordinating accessible • instructional materials with Federal TA providers as well as vendors that includes a centralized website. [Bookshare.org, NIMAC, CAST, OSEP, AIM, Don Johnston, HumanWare, APH] * Project partner, Bookshare.org, established a “Pacific Collection,” making available • these materials in accessible formats. * Coordinated, centralized system for data management and tracking system of • accessible materials and production of accessible materials that supports entity-level data management/tracking system (Goal 4). * Accessible website operational – • http://www.guamcedders.org. * Project personnel and members presented at national conferences/meetings:• - January 30, 2008 & January 27, 2009: Pacific CIMAP Updates, NIMAS Implementation Council, Orlando, Florida - May 6-7, 2008: Making a Difference for ALL!, NIMAS Related Projects Meeting, Washington, D.C. - July 22, 2008: NIMAS and Beyond in the Pacific, OSEP Project Directors’ Conference, Washington, D.C. - August 27, 2008: State Response to the National Instructional Materials Standard (NIMAS): An Opportunity, OSEP Leadership Conference, Baltimore, MD Page 20 Pacific CIMAP Entity Liaisons AMERICAN SAMOA Moeolo Vaatausili Assistant Director, Special Education P.O. Box 7078 Pago Pago, Am. Samoa 96799 Email: mvaatausili@yahoo.com COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERNMARIANA ISLANDS (CNMI) Suzanne Lizama Special Education Coordinator P.O. Box 501593 Saipan, MP 96950 Email: lizamas@pss.cnmi.mp FEDERATED STATESOF MICRONESIA (NATIONAL) Arthur Albert Executive Director of Special Education P.O. Box P Kolonia, Pohnpei 96941 Email: Arthur.albert@fsmed.fm FEDERATED STATESOF MICRONESIA (CHUUK) Steve Marcus Acting Special Education Coordinator P.O. Box 460 Chuuk FM 96942 Email: chuuksped@mail.fm FEDERATED STATESOF MICRONESIA (KOSRAE) Elesha Likiaksa Acting Special Education Coordinator P.O.Box 218 Tofol, Kosrae FM 96944 Email: likiaksa.elesha@fsmed.fm FEDERATED STATESOF MICRONESIA (POHNPEI) Henry PhillipSpecial Education Coordinator P.O. Box 901 Kolonia, Pohnpei 96941 Email: philliph57@yahoo.com FEDERATED STATESOF MICRONESIA (YAP) Judith Gapey Special Education Coordinator P.O. Box 220 Colonia, Yap FM 96943 Email: judith_gapey@yapseed.fm GUAM May Camacho Assistant Superintendent Special Education P.O. Box DE Hagatna, GU 96932Email: maycamacho52@gmail.com REPUBLIC OF THEMARSHALL ISLANDS (RMI) Ruthiran Lokeijak Special Education Director P.O. Box 911 Majuro, MH 96960 rlokeijak@yahoo.com REPUBLIC OF PALAU Helen Sengebau Special Education Coordinator P.O. Box 955 Koror, Palau 96940 Email: spedcor@palaunet.com Pacific CIMAP Staff Heidi San Nicolas, Ph.D. Principal Investigator Email: heidi.sannicolas@guamcedders.org Dolores (Dee) Palomo AT Assistant Email: dolores.palomo@guamcedders.org June De Leon, M.Ed. Project Director Email: june.deleon@guamcedders.org Mary Kidd, M.Ed. Training Associate Email: mary.kidd@guamcedders.org Asuncion (Connie) Guerrero, M.Ed. Project Coordinator Email: connie.guerrero@guamcedders.org Jonas Macapinlac Media Specialist Email: jonas.macapinlac@guamcedders.org Joseph John (JJ) Mendiola Data Coordinator Email: jj.mendiola@guamcedders.org University of Guam CEDDERS UOG Station Mangilao, Guam 96923 For more information, contact: June De Leon at (671) 735-2494 or email at june.deleon@guamcedders.org