Serving more than 4,000 students annually, the Illinois Instructional Materials Center (IIMC) is a statewide, state funded resource center for students with visual disabilities enrolled in a formal educational program in Illinois’ public and private schools.

The IIMC works with local school systems, textbook publishers, and other public and private agencies to procure and produce alternative format educational materials such as Braille and large print textbooks.

Our goal is to provide the students of Illinois who are blind or visually impaired the information they need in a form they can read.

The IIMC was established by an Act of the Illinois State Legislature, originated by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and began operation in July, 1965. The State Board of Education contracted the operation of the IIMC to the Springfield School District #186 from November, 1979 to June, 2003. On July 1, 2003 The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired began the contracted operation of the IIMC.

There is no charge for any services offered by the IIMC.

The specially adapted materials and equipment available for loan for the school year from the IIMC are:

Textbooks: Braille and large print
Workbooks: Braille and large print
Equipment: recorders, magnifiers, Perkins Braillers, Braille embossers, Braille N Speaks, Braille Notes, Braille Lites, Pac Mates, closed circuit television magnifiers (desktop, portable and handheld), light boxes, optical aids, mobility equipment, talking calculators, scientific calculators, scanners, Franklin Language Master, digital book players, accessibility software and more

For further information, please contact:

Melanie Hennessy
Director of Illinois Instructional Materials Center
Phone: (312) 997-3699
Email: melanie.hennessy@chicagolighthouse.org