Transcript Slide 1

The NIMAC for Transcribers:
An Overview
Nicole Gaines
February 28, 2008
What we’ll cover today …
• An overview of the NIMAC, its purpose
and role
• How AMPs work with the NIMAC
• A very brief update on NIMAC operations
• Where to go for additional resources &
help
True or False?
1. NIMAC files are student-ready and are
distributed directly for use in the classroom.
2. Accessible Media Producers, such as
transcribers, do not have direct access to the
NIMAC.
3. Only visually impaired students can be served
with materials produced from NIMAS files.
4. The NIMAS specification requires that
publishers supply alt-text for all textbook
images.
5. Anyone can search the NIMAC database.
Who are we?
• The NIMAC is the National Instructional
Materials Access Center. Created by IDEA
2004, we are a central repository of
electronic source files for accessible
media production.
• These files can be used to produce
student-ready specialized formats, such as
Braille and audio, for students in K-12 with
qualifying disabilities.
What is NIMAC’s relationship to
APH?
• Although physically located at APH,
NIMAC is a separate entity and exists
outside of APH’s regular business
operations. For this reason, we have a
separate web site and telephone numbers.
What does the NIMAC do?
• The NIMAC receives and catalogs publishers'
electronic files of print instructional materials
in the NIMAS format.
• We provide the searchable web interface.
• We work with states to register State
Coordinators and Authorized Users.
• We contract with OverDrive, Inc., who
provide the database software and off-site
storage for the NIMAC.
How does the NIMAC get files?
• States and local education agencies direct
publishers to send us files when they
contract for new textbook purchases.
• NIMAC is not authorized to require files
from publishers.
• The NIMAC is not “retroactive.” Files
needed for books purchased before NIMAC
was created may still need to be requested
directly from the publisher.
Which file formats are in the
NIMAC?
• The NIMAC contains only NIMAS format.
• No other file formats can be accepted.
• Requests for other digital formats, such as
PDF, must go directly to the publisher.
• NIMAC does not distribute student-ready
accessible versions. As such, we do not
work directly with individual students,
parents, teachers or schools.
What is a NIMAS file set?
A NIMAS zip file contains:
• An XML file of the textual portion of the
book
• A folder containing all of the images (in
JPG, PNG or SVG format)
• A package file containing metadata and a
list of image files included in the file set
• A PDF of the title page/copyright page of
the print book
What does “source file” mean?
• NIMAS file sets are not a “student ready”
format.
• A typical textbook may contain thousands
of images. The NIMAS standard does not
require alt text for images.
• While many devices can read an XML file,
value-added work must be done to make a
NIMAS file set a fully-accessible version
for a print disabled student.
Which Students Are Eligible?
IDEA 2004, PART D, SEC. 674. (e)
(3)(A) BLIND OR OTHER PERSONS WITH PRINT
DISABILITIES—The term 'blind or other persons
with print disabilities' means children served
under this Act and who may qualify in
accordance with the Act entitled 'An Act to
provide books for the adult blind', approved
March 3, 1931 (2 U.S.C. 135a; 46 Stat. 1487) to
receive books and other publications produced
in specialized formats.
• NIMAC does not determine student eligibility.
This task belongs to the state.
What types of materials does
NIMAC contain?
(3)(C) PRINT INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS—
The term 'print instructional materials' means
printed textbooks and related printed core
materials that are written and published
primarily for use in elementary school and
secondary school instruction and are required
by a State educational agency or local
educational agency for use by students in the
classroom.
What materials are not
included?
• Excluded from NIMAC are:
– Teacher’s editions
– Material not published in a print edition
– “Advance copy” file sets (printings that
are not ready for use in the classroom)
– Higher education materials
NIMAC: Working with States
What’s a State Coordinator?
• A State Coordinator is a state-level
representative who “opts into” the NIMAC
on behalf of that state.
• The State Coordinator designates and
manages the Authorized Users for the
state.
NIMAC: Working with States
What is an Authorized User?
• Each State Coordinator names a small number
of Authorized Users such as IRCs and schools
for the blind.
• These users can directly download files from the
NIMAC, and have them converted into studentready formats like Braille.
• Authorized Users can also assign files to AMPs
who are registered with the NIMAC.
AMPS and the NIMAC
• AMP registration with NIMAC is
voluntary—AMPs do not have to be
“designated” by anyone.
• Any Authorized User can assign files to
any registered AMP.
• AMPs only have access to assigned files.
• Authorized Users are also welcome to use
AMPs who are not registered with NIMAC.
The AU and the AMP
• Just as in the past, business
arrangements for work to be performed
happen directly between the AMP and
their customer.
• Any and all negotiations between the AU
and AMP are outside of the NIMAC,
including cost, timeline and other
expectations.
Spell check: “AUs not in
dictionary. Do you mean Auks?”
For downloading files, we
recommend …
1. A high-speed internet connection
2. 512 RAM (minimum)
3. 1GHz processor (minimum)
4. Sufficient storage for large files
How do AMPs register?
1. Fill out the web form at the NIMAC web
site. The system will automatically email
you the Limitation of Use Agreement
when you submit the online form.
2. Sign the LUA and mail it in.
3. NIMAC activates your account.
Once you’ve mailed in your LUA …
• NIMAC activates your account.
• You will receive two automated
emails: one contains your user ID and
the other your password.
• You are ready to go!
How does an AU assign a file to
an AMP?
1.
The Authorized User logs in and does a search for the
needed title.
2.
At the search results screen, the AU clicks on the
option, “Assign title to accessible media producer.”
3.
The AU selects the desired AMP from an alphabetical
list.
4.
The AU then chooses the format they want produced.
5.
The system sends an email to notify the AMP that the
file is in the AMP’s work queue.
Changing your password …
• As a matter of security—and also because
the system-generated passwords are
impossible to remember!—we recommend
that you change your password the first
time you log on.
• Just choose Manage Your User Account
and type the new password over the
existing “dots.”
Download Options
• There are two download options available:
• The “Full” download includes the images
folder in the zip file.
• The “XML” download does not include the
images.
NIMAC: Stats (2/25/08)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Publishers: 56
States Coordinating with NIMAC: 44
Authorized Users: 69
Accessible Media Producers: 49
Files accepted into NIMAC: 4,403
Unique downloads: 311
All Figures Correct as of
November 18, 2007
Policy & Technical Issues
• Indemnification: Resolved! (Hooray!)
• What is “core” instructional material?
• NIMAS file sizes
• Learning to use NIMAS!
Getting Help
Questions about NIMAC policy,
how to use the AMP portal or
registering with NIMAC?
Call or email us!
[email protected]
877-526-4622
Getting Help
Technical problems or errors
arising when you are working in
the NIMAC system?
OverDrive NIMAC Support Team
[email protected]
Getting Help
Questions about converting NIMAS
into accessible formats?
NIMAS Technical Assistance Center
Chuck Hitchcock, Director
[email protected]
781-245-2212, x233
http://nimas.cast.org
Getting Help
“Best practices” questions or
feedback about XML coding?
• Contact the AU who assigned the file
so that he or she can provide
feedback to the publisher.
• For serious quality issues that may
require file replacement, be sure to cc
NIMAC on your communications.
Getting Help: NIMAC Publisher
Contacts
• NIMAC is working with OverDrive to
create a list of publisher contacts
within the AU and AMP portals.
• These contacts will be the designated
contacts for reporting issues with
XML or other file set concerns.
Resources: NIMAS Conversion
Tool
• CAST has created a tool that can break
the XML in the NIMAS file set into smaller
files.
• The tool can be found here:
http://nimas.cast.org/about/resources/conv
ersion_tool.html
Resources: Louis and AMP
• Louis will continue to list availability of the
specialized formats:
http://www.aph.org/louis.htm
• The Accessible Media Producers
Database will continue to provide
information on AMPs.
http://www.aph.org/ampdb.htm
Resources: APH File Repository
• The APH File Repository will continue to
house non-NIMAS publisher files and
embosser-ready Braille files for Braille
production only.
• It is separate and distinct from the NIMAC
and its mission has not changed. For more
information:
http://www.aph.org/louis/reposinf.htm
•
•
Resources: Requesting nonNIMAS files
The Association of American Publishers
maintains a list of contacts for Braillerelated questions here:
www.publishers.org/SchoolDiv/issues/iss
ues_01_Access_pages/issues_01_Acce
ss_01.htm
The AAP also provides contacts for rights
and permissions for publishers here:
www.publishers.org/about/rpacurls.cfm
Resources: Working in Your State
NIMAS State Contacts can be found at this page:
http://nimas.cast.org/about/resources/nimas_nima
c_contacts.html
California
Dennis Kelleher
CDE Sped Division Consultant
California Department of Education
Sacramento, CA
(916) 327-0842
[email protected]
Resources: NIMAC Outreach,
Training & Support
• Web cast trainings
• Archived presentations and web casts
• Conference workshops
• FAQs and resources on web site
• Telephone and email support
How to Reach Us
• http://www.nimac.us (This PowerPoint
will be available for download here!)
• 502-899-2230
• 1-877-526-4622 (1-877-52-NIMAC)
• [email protected]