The Educational Technology, Media, and Materials program (ETechM2 Program) is the primary source of support for accessible technology and media-related activities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The program supports two broad categories of activities: accessible technology and educational media and materials.
Technology activities are generally designed to promote the development, demonstration, and use of accessible technology. The technology component of the program also supports research on using technology to improve outcomes for students with disabilities, and technical assistance and dissemination activities to enhance the use of technology by students, parents, and teachers. Media and materials activities focus on closed captioning, video description, timely provision of books and other educational materials in accessible formats, and other activities to improve access to education for students with disabilities.
Supports audio description, open captioning, and closed captioning that is appropriate for use in PK-12 settings (ALN: 84.327C).
Funds a Center to provide free educational materials in fully accessible media for eligible children and postsecondary students (ALN: 84.327D).
Funds a Center to assist future special education personnel and leaders use modern education technology (ALN: 84.327F).
Funds a National Center on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) for young children with disabilities (ALN: 84.327G).
Funds a Center that distributes accessible education videos through a free online site for eligible users (ALN: 84.327N)
Supports projects to improve innovative evidence-based, technology-based tools to improve outcomes for students with disabilities (ALN: 84.327R)
Supports efforts to identify strategies to implement evidence-based technology tools that benefit students with disabilities (ALN: 84.327S).
The Center provides TA for LEAs to implement comprehensive and sustainable assistive and instructional technology systems (ALN: 84.327T)
The Center improves the quality, availability, and timely provision of accessible digital educational materials and instruction (ALN: 84.327Z)