Director, Technical Assistance
Project Director, NIMAS Development Center
Co-Director, AIM Consortium
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Short Biography – Education– Current Projects – Selected Publications
A nationally recognized expert in accessible digital materials and Universal Design for Learning, Mr. Stahl has extensive experience in providing professional development and assistance to educators in K–12 and postsecondary settings. As project director for theNIMAS Development Center, he leads a national initiative implementing the transformation of K–12 textbooks into specialized accessible formats for students with print disabilities.
He has consulted with software and curriculum publishers in accessible product design and is a nationally recognized conference presenter. Recent speaking engagements include:
- Universal Design for Learning, Digital Media, and the Changing Marketplace, CEC Annual Convention 2008, Boston, MA, April 2008
- Oklahoma Education Association/National Education Association. Lawton, OK, February, 2008
- ATIA annual Conference, Orlando, FL, January, 2008
- Universal Design for Learning: New Directions for Teaching Learners with Diverse Needs“ NIMAS & Classroom Impact”, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, July 2007
- OSEP Project Director’s Conference, “NIMAS and Teacher Preparation,” Washington, DC, July 2007
- Partnership for Assistive Technology in Indiana Schools, “Implementing NIMAS”, Indianapolis, IN, April 2007
- Region IV Education Service Center, “Implementing NIMAS”, Houston, TX, March 2007
- OSEP IDEA Regional Implementation Meetings, “Implementing NIMAS”, Washington, DC; Los Angeles, CA; Kansas City, KS, February 2007
- National Association of State Textbook Administrators, “Implementing NIMAS”, Austin, TX, March 2007
Mr. Stahl is the author of over twenty articles published in peer-reviewed, popular, and trade publications. In addition, he is a consultant for a number of national elementary, secondary, and higher education initiatives focused on Universal Design for Learning.
M. S., Special Education, Bank Street College of Education, 1975
B.A., English Literature, Bard College, 1968
NIMAS Standards Board – Chair of this OSEP-funded grant, the board maintains, advances, and supports the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) and facilitates the timely provision of accessible versions of core print instructional materials to qualifying students.
NIMAS Development Center – Project Director of an OSEP-funded grant, the NIMAS Development Center seeks to improve the original Standard by identifying new research and technological advances relevant to the Standard. The Center also explores existing and new distribution models for the provision of accessible materials to students with disabilities.
AIM Consortium – Co-Director of an OSEP-funded grant to work intensively with 15 states on National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) implementation. The goal of the consortium is to put into place effective systems to ensure that students with print disabilities receive accessible materials as mandated by IDEA.
In addition to this work he supports CAST’s professional development initiatives through national presentations and the design and delivery of online courses.
Hall, T. & Stahl, S. (2006). Using universal design for learning to expand access to higher education. In M. Adams & S. Brown (Eds.), Inclusive Learning in Higher Education. London: RoutledgeFalmer.
Pisha, B. & Stahl, S. (2006). The promise of new learning environments for students with disabilities. In D.H. Rose & A. Meyer (Eds.), A Practical Reader in Universal Design for Learning (pp. 85-101). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.
Rose, D. H., Hasselbring, T. S., Stahl, S., & Zabala, J. (2004). Assistive technology and universal design for learning: two sides of the same coin. In D. Edyburn, K. Higgins, & R. Boone (Eds), Handbook of special education technology research and practice. Whitefish Bay, WI: Knowledge by Design, Inc.
Stahl, S. (2004). The promise of accessible textbooks: Increased achievement for all students. National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum (NCAC), Wakefield, MA.
Rose, D. & Stahl, S. (2003). The NFF: A national file format for accessible instructional materials. Journal of Special Education Technology, (18)2.
Pisha, B., Hitchcock, C., & Stahl, S. (2003). Assistive technologies resource list. Perspectives, 29 (4), 14–18.
Hitchcock, C. & Stahl, S. (2003). Assistive technology, universal design, universal design for learning: Improved opportunities. Journal of Special Education Technology, (18)4.
