Transcript National Instructional Materials Access Center

National Instructional
Materials Access Center
Overview
Julia Myers
04/30/07
NIMAC and APH
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) of
2004 requires states to address the critical difficulty in obtaining
accessible textbooks for students with disabilities by adopting a new
file format, the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard
(NIMAS).
This same legislation offers a means to assist states in this
responsibility by establishing a national repository to collect and
store these files and make them available to states.
This repository is the National Instructional Materials Access Center
(NIMAC), and it is being established at the American Printing House
for the Blind, Inc. (APH) with support from the U.S. Department of
Education. The legislation directs the Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Education to establish the center at APH.
NIMAC
The National Instructional Materials Access Center
(NIMAC) serves as a national repository for NIMAS
files and as a conduit through which NIMAS files are
made available only to authorized users so that these
files may be converted into fully accessible textbooks
and instructional materials for students with qualifying
disabilities.
NIMAS File Set
The NIMAS file set consists of an XML file of the
text of the book, a folder containing all content
images, an OPF file, and a PDF of the title and
copyright/ISBN pages of the book.
These files are "raw" source files that require
conversion processes and technology in order to
create the specialized format--the finished
braille, audio, large print or digital text format—
needed by the student.
NIMAC Basic Concept
• The NIMAC is a central repository that contains
NIMAS file sets. It has an automated system for
allowing publishers to submit NIMAS file sets.
• The NIMAS files are checked to confirm that
they are NIMAS format, and the files sets are
cataloged into a web-based database. ANYONE
may search the database.
• Those who have been authorized for access to
download file sets are issued user identifications
and passwords. These authorized users will be
able to search the NIMAC database AND
download directly the file(s) they need.
How Are Files Distributed by the
NIMAC?
• After cataloging and acceptance, the NIMAS file sets are available
for downloading by authorized users via an online, searchable
database.
• To ensure copyright protection and that files are used only to
produce accessible textbooks for students with disabilities as
defined in IDEA, access to files from the NIMAC are restricted to
authorized users who have agreed to and signed the NIMAC
Limitation of Use Agreement.
• The Limitation of Use Agreement is also included as a click through
agreement that must be accepted before NIMAS file sets are
downloaded.
What Happens When NIMAS File
Sets Are Downloaded?
• The authorized user may convert files to fully
accessible textbooks in specialized formats
or may deliver the files to outside vendors or
contractors to convert them on their behalf.
• Registered accessible media producers, as
agents of the AU, may download and convert
file sets assigned to them within NIMAC by
authorized users.
What about Copyright?
• SEA names limited number of authorized
users.
• SEA opts in via coordination agreement
limiting use of files.
• Access to the file sets in the NIMAC
repository is given only to authorized users
who have agreed to the NIMAC Limitation
of Use Agreement.
Copyright Continued
• Files are digitally fingerprinted and watermarked
before downloading, identifying who and when
the file set was downloaded.
• File sets include publisher, copyright, and rights
information.
• System captures and stores data on which
account downloaded which NIMAS file sets. The
data will be accessible via reports for review by
publishers.
How Do Publishers Work with
NIMAC?
• Publisher is required to provide files through contract
with a coordinating agency, a state or local educational
agency.
• Publisher receives error report if file is rejected and may
resubmit it when corrected.
• Publisher receives certificate when valid file is accepted
via NIMAC.
• Publisher may use certificate to verify that files have
been submitted to NIMAC, if necessary.
• NIMAC will accept files from publisher even without a
contract, at publisher discretion.
Publishers: Registering
1. Register “super user” account by emailing all
requested information to: [email protected]
2. Log on with user ID and password that will be
provided to you via email by NIMAC.
3. Change the password under Manage User
Information.
4. Set up additional accounts as desired under the
Manage User Accounts tab!
5. Download validation tool by going to Support tab on
top menu bar after logging in to NIMAC.
6. Use Manage Inventory to upload files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a "super user" account?
A. This is an account that has the most extensive rights. It includes the
ability not only to upload files, create reports, manage content, etc,
but it also includes the right to establish accounts for others.
Q. How many "super user" accounts may a publisher have?
A. Because this account has the highest authority level, the number
should be limited. However, each publisher needs to determine
whether one "super user" account for the entire company is
sufficient or if one is needed for each division or imprint as well.
Q. How do conversion houses/vendors gain access to upload files?
A. The holder of the "super user" account may establish an account to
allow the vendor to upload files. This vendor or conversion house
would hold more limited rights, as established by the "super user."
Detailed Information for Publishers
on Working with NIMAC
Publishers: Metadata Update & Working in the Publisher
Portal
http://www.nimac.us/Advanced_Publishers.ppt#1
NIMAC Metadata Information
http://www.nimac.us/metadata.html
Sample OPF
http://www.nimac.us/Sample_OPF_v9.doc
Publisher Registration FAQ
http://www.nimac.us/PublishersandNIMAC2.doc
Publishers and NIMAC:
How Have We Been Working Together?
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Conference calls
Web casts
Advance feedback on OPFs
Tips to make acceptance of file sets faster
AAP and AEP on NIMAC Advisory Council
Confer with individual publishers and
conversion houses
How do states work with the NIMAC?
To coordinate with the national repository, states will:
• Officially choose to act as a coordinating agency with the
NIMAC.
• Include language in contracts with publishers directing them
to send NIMAS files of elementary and secondary textbooks
and related core print instructional materials to the NIMAC.
• Identify authorized users who may obtain files directly from
the NIMAC.
• Arrange to have the files converted to accessible textbooks by
using their own resources or contracting with others.
• Be encouraged to share information about the availability of
the textbooks in accessible format through APH’s Louis
Database of Accessible Materials for People who are Blind or
Visually Impaired (http://www.aph.org/louis/index.html), in
order to avoid duplication of effort.
CAST’s NIMAS Development and Technical
Assistance Centers
• The NIMAS Development Center will improve the
original standard by identifying new research and
technological advances relevant to the standard. The
Center will also explore existing and new distribution
models for the provision of accessible materials to
students with disabilities.
• The NIMAS Technical Assistance Center will work with
key stakeholders such as states, school boards, and
publishers to raise awareness of the benefits of
accessible materials. It will also advise stakeholders on
the efficient production and distribution of NIMAScompliant materials.
• http://nimas.cast.org/
NIMAS/CAST Quick Links
NIMAS/NIMAC in IDEA
http://nimas.cast.org/about/idea2004/index.html
NIMAS Technical Specification
http://nimas.cast.org/about/proposal/index.html
NIMAS Resources
http://nimas.cast.org/about/resources/index.html
NIMAS NIMAC State Contacts
http://nimas.cast.org/about/resources/nimas_nimac_contacts.html
Statistics as of April 30, 2007
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Accepted file sets: 840
Publishers: 23
States Coordinating: 37
Authorized Users: 37
AMPs: 36
How to Reach Us
• http://www.nimac.us/
• 502-899-2230
• 1-877-526-4622 (1-877-52-NIMAC)
• [email protected]