Innovation Configuration for the Quality Indicators with Critical Components for Providing AEM and Accessible Technologies in Higher Education

Oct 15, 2026

Innovation Configuration for the Quality Indicators with Critical Components for Providing AEM and Accessible Technologies in Higher Education presents an implementation framework aligned to AEM Quality Indicators for postsecondary institutions. Developed by the National AEM Center at CAST with support from the U.S. Department of Education, it explains essential institutional system components, from timely, high-quality accessible materials to training, technical assistance, data collection and data use, and resource allocation. The guide supports campus teams with establishing an implementation plan and monitoring progress using Innovation Configuration Matrices.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages48

Reading Time2 h 1 min

AccessFree to download

About the National AEM Center and the AEM Quality Indicators

Purpose of the Innovation Configuration for the AEM Quality Indicators

Getting Started and Applying the Innovation Configuration

Progress Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

Innovation Configuration Matrices (ICMs) for the AEM Quality Indicators

ICM for Quality Indicator 1: A Coordinated System

ICM for Quality Indicator 2: Provision in a Timely Manner

ICM for Quality Indicator 3: Written Guidelines

ICM for Quality Indicator 4: Learning Opportunities & Technical Assistance

ICM for Quality Indicator 5: Data Collection

ICM for Quality Indicator 6: Data Use

ICM for Quality Indicator 7: Allocation of Resources

Acknowledgements

Glossary

Contact the National AEM Center

References

Innovation Configuration for the Quality Indicators with Critical Components for Providing AEMand Accessible Technologies in Higher Education By National AEM Center at CAST Published: 2023 The contents of this document were developed under a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Education,\#H327Z190004 . However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer, Rebecca Sheffield, Ph. D. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons AttributionShareAlike 4.0 International license. [http://creativecommons.org/l](http://creativecommons.org/l)icenses/by-sa/4 .0/ National Center on Accessible Educational Materials at CAST (2023) . Innovation configuration for the quality indicators with critical components for providing AEM and accessible technologies in Higher Education. Lynnfield , MA: National Center on Accessible Educational Materials. Table of Contents About the National AEM Center and the AEM Quality Indicators ................................ 3 Purpose of the Innovation Configuration for the AEM Quality Indicators ..................... 3 Getting Started and Applying the Innovation Configuration ......................................... 4 Progress Monitoring and Continuous Improvement ..................................................... 6 Innovation Configuration Matrices (ICMs) for the AEM Quality Indicators ................... 8 ICM for Quality Indicator 1: A Coordinated System .................................................. 9 ICM for Quality Indicator 2: Provision in a Timely Manner ..................................... 13 ICM for Quality Indicator 3: Written Guidelines ...................................................... 17 ICM for Quality Indicator 4: Learning Opportunities & Technical Assistance ......... 24 ICM for Quality Indicator 5: Data Collection ........................................................... 28 ICM for Quality Indicator 6: Data Use..................................................................... 33 ICM for Quality Indicator 7: Allocation of Resources .............................................. 42 Acknowledgements.................................................................................................... 45 Glossary .................................................................................................................... 46 Contact the National AEM Center.............................................................................. 48 References ................................................................................................................ 48 About the National AEM Center and the AEM Quality Indicators The National Center on Accessible Educational Materials for Learning at CAST (National AEM Center) is a technical assistance (TA) center funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) . The National AEM Center provides training, coaching, and resources to increase the availability and use of AEM and accessible technologies for learners with disabilities across the lifespan. The Quality Indicators with Critical Components for Providing AEM and Accessible Technologies in Higher Education (AEM Quality Indicators) are the foundation of the Center’s TA for postsecondary academic institutions. They describe the essential components of an institutional system that provides timely, high-quality accessible materials and technologies. These relate to complying with federal legislation; selecting, creating, and using accessible materials and technologies; implementing policies and guidelines; providing training, technical assistance, and professional learning; collecting and using data; and allocating resources. The Innovation Configuration for the Quality Indicators with Critical Components for Providing AEM and Accessible Technologies in Higher

FAQs

What is the Innovation Configuration designed to help higher education institutions do?

It assists campus or university system teams with establishing an implementation plan and monitoring progress over time for the AEM Quality Indicators.

What are the AEM Quality Indicators based on?

They describe essential components of an institutional system that provides timely, high-quality accessible materials and technologies, including compliance, materials practices, policies, training and technical assistance, data collection and use, and resource allocation.

How does the guide help teams assess implementation level for critical components?

Using the Innovation Configuration Matrices, institution representatives identify the stage that best describes implementation of each critical component, from “not started” to “robust.”

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Jordan Avery