Senior Policy Analyst, CAST
Project Director, NIMAS Center
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Biography – Education– Current and Recent Projects – Selected Publications
Biography
A nationally recognized expert in accessible digital materials and Universal Design for Learning, Mr. Stahl has extensive experience in the development of technical standards related to accessible instructional materials, technical assistance to states, and professional development for educators.
Mr. Stahl is the director of the federally-funded NIMAS Center, where he leads a national initiative implementing the transformation of K–12 textbooks into specialized accessible formats for students with print disabilities. In addition to his leadership of the NIMAS Center, Mr. Stahl works with education and instructional materials policy advocates to assure that instructional materials are accessible, appropriate and readily available to all students.
He has consulted with software and curriculum publishers in accessible product design and is a nationally recognized conference presenter. Recent speaking engagements include:
- OSEP Project Director’s Conference, “Getting Accessible Textbooks Into the Hands of Students Who Need Them,” Washington, DC., July, 2009
- Pennsylvania Department of Education Annual Conference 2009, “Out of Print: Curriculum Access for Struggling Readers,” Hershey, PA., April, 2009
- Council for Exceptional Children National Conference, “Universal Design for Learning: Reaching and Teaching ALL Students,” Seattle, WA., April, 2009
- Michigan Council for Exceptional Children, “Universal Design for Learning: NIMAS & Accessible Instructional Materials,” Grand Rapids, MI., March, 2009
- Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Annual Conference, “Five for Free!: A Handful of Online UDL/NIMAS Tools from CAST,” Orlando, FL., January, 2009
- Technology, Reading, & Learning Disabilities (TRLD) Conference, “E-Text for All Students,” San Francisco, CA., January, 2009
- CEC Annual Convention, "Universal Design for Learning, Digital Media, and the Changing Marketplace," Boston, MA, April 2008
- Oklahoma Education Association/National Education Association. Lawton, OK, February, 2008
- Assistive Technology Industry Association (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 and accessible instructional materials.
M. S., Special Education, Bank Street College of Education, 1975
B.A., English Literature, Bard College, 1968
NIMAS Center – Project director of an OSEP-funded grant to maintain and update the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) technical specifications which guide publishers in preparing digital source files for their copyrighted content (2009-2014).
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 (2004-2009).
NIMASDevelopment 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 (2004-2009).
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 (2007-2009).
In addition to this work he supports CAST’s policy work through XXXXX and 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.
