College of Education and Human Development

A Trip to Capitol Hill: AIM-VA Presents at American Dyslexia Event

Last week, team members from the AIM-VA project helped raise awareness about learning disabilities at a Capitol Hill event organized by American Dyslexia.

The team's presentation to students, parents, and members of Congress at the Rayburn Office Building in Washington, D.C., featured resources that help students with learning disabilities/differences, dyslexia, and attention issues.

Based at George Mason University, AIM-VA is a project that creates accessible instructional materials for use by eligible students throughout the state of Virginia. At the event, the team set up hands-on stations so participants could interact with and try the various accessible formats. 

 

On Capitol Hill last week, team members Stacey Schwartz, Cindy George, and Maureen Schepis helped raise awareness about the free services available from the AIM-VA project. Not pictured but also participating was Paul Yang as well as Ian Moore, a trainer who travels throughout Virginia providing teachers with information on how the project's services can help students with visual disabilities. 

 

"Instruction with appropriate learning materials is important for students with dyslexia and other learning, physical, or vision impairments who struggle to read traditional print," said Maureen Schepis, assistant director of research and development for The Kellar Institute, part of the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University.

Such learners may be entitled to free accessible educational materials under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and an exception to federal copyright law. (Eligibility is determined at Individualized Education Program planning meetings). Students then learn with audiobooks, PDFs, braille, and other digital or large-print formats that help them stay on grade and meet curriculum goals.

The AIM-VA project is funded by the Virginia Department of Education. 

 

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About CEHD

George Mason University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) includes two schools: the Graduate School of Education, one of the most comprehensive education schools in Virginia, and the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism. CEHD offers a full range of courses, certificates, and degree programs on campus, online, and on site to more than 4,000 students each year. CEHD is fully accredited by NCATE, and all licensure programs are approved by the Virginia Department of Education. George Mason University, located just outside of Washington, DC, is Virginia's largest public research university.

For additional information:

• CEHD Communications: cehdnews@gmu.edu
• College of Education and Human Development: cehd.gmu.edu
• AIM-VA project: aimva.org

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