Read an important message about the new location of the RIMAC library
We’re writing to share an important update about the location of the Rhode Island Accessible Materials Library (RIMAC). After many years of working with you and the State of Rhode Island, this program will now be provided by another nonprofit—Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College in Providence—effective December 1, 2025.
For over a decade, TechACCESS of Rhode Island has housed the RIMAC library, providing individuals, families, educators, and service providers with accessible materials and support from our location in Cranston. During this time, we’ve proudly partnered with the Rhode Island Department of Education to grow RIMAC into a comprehensive resource library to support Rhode Island’s students.
If you are a current user of the RIMAC library, please note that RIMAC loan and delivery services will continue from our Cranston location through November 30 and that the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College in Providence will provide services beginning December 1, 2025.
Our team has been working closely with the Sherlock Center and Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) to ensure they have everything they need to continue supporting you and the mission of this program. We are confident that their team will be excellent stewards of this work and that you will be in good hands.
At TechACCESS of Rhode Island, our fantastic team remains committed to supporting community members through our other services, including assistive technology assessments, consultations, and professional development.
If you have any questions about this transition or about services or resources you previously received through TechACCESS, please feel free to contact Jennifer at JenM@TechACCESS-RI.org. We are grateful for your ongoing partnership and look forward to continuing to serve individuals, families, and professionals from across Rhode Island.
What is RIMAC?
The Rhode Island Materials Access Center (RIMAC) is the support center for the RI AEM (Accessible Educational Materials) Initiative, a statewide system designed to provide appropriate accessible formats for an eligible person.
RIMAC has worked in partnership with RIDE to develop RIMAC into a more comprehensive resource library to support Rhode Island’s students with unique needs. Historically, materials access centers have focused on visual impairments and formats such as large-print and Braille to support students. RIMAC now has a broader focus on providing accessibility through even more formats such as objects, tactile images, digital resources, and high contrast items.
Reading
Books are matched with a variety of resources to support Common Core State Standards, and include multiple ways to reinforce content. This allows opportunities for all students to be involved in learning. Book kits and other resources are available to be checked out through our loan system. These kits support a wide range of learners with diverse materials that may include audiobooks, adapted books, visuals, 3D models of the images and characters from the book. Other materials that can be found in book bags are games, adapted retells, sensory supports, and high contrast videos or slides that reinforce learning. These book based sets allow for adaptive materials that can be enjoyed by many, allowing a classroom to learn as a community. Our library continues to grow and move towards higher grades while also supporting students with resources for alternate assessments.
Math and Science
Math and science kits are growing areas of our library that utilize books to explain concepts, models, manipulatives, and 3D printed items. The goal of these kits is to provide more hands-on, adapted materials so that students can receive the extra support they need.
Social Emotional
Accessible materials are not just limited to content areas. We also have a large collection of social emotional kits with hands-on activities and multi-leveled resources that help teach self-regulation, social skills, and much more. These provide great opportunities for speech and language therapists, social workers, and classroom teachers to have access to materials that are already adapted to meet a variety of needs.
Life Skills
An area of the library that is being developed is our life skills section. We currently feature skills students may need to be be successful in their daily lives and also as they progress to vocational skills. Hands on activities help students practice these skills in a fun manner.
Resources
Sometimes you just need a single resource to expand on a skill so RIMAC has several additional resources that can be borrowed on their own. The focus of these items is to increase access to learning which may be through objects, added Braille, interactive resources, and more.