Transcript National Instructional Materials Access Center

National Instructional
Materials Access Center
Overview
Julia Myers
10/12/06
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.
Definitions
• Accessible media producers (AMPs)
produce braille, large print, Daisy books,
and other accessible format materials for
people with disabilities.
• Accessible media producers are eligible to
download files directly from the NIMAC as
agents of authorized users.
Authorized User
“Authorized user” in this document simply means
an individual who has signed the NIMAC
Limitation of Use Agreement and who has been
provided a user id and password that enables
him/her to access the NIMAC database AND
download NIMAS files in accordance with that
agreement.
Authorized Entities
“Authorized entities” are referred to in the
Chafee Amendment of 1996, and are defined
therein: “‘authorized entity' means a nonprofit
organization or a governmental agency that has
a primary mission to provide specialized
services relating to training, education, or
adaptive reading or information access needs of
blind or other persons with disabilities.”
Coordinating agencies
“Coordinating agencies” are those local
and state educational agencies that have
chosen to coordinate with the NIMAC by
directing publishers to provide NIMAS files
to the NIMAC.
Print disabilities
• IDEIA includes a definition of students who may be
provided accessible textbooks created with NIMAS files
from the NIMAC. That definition used within the
legislation is “Blind or other persons with print
disabilities.” “Blind or other persons with print
disabilities” means children served under IDEA and who
may qualify in accordance with the act entitled “An Act to
provide books for the adult blind,” approved March 31,
1931 (2 U.S.C. 135a; 46 Stat. 1487) to receive books
and other publications produced in specialized
formats. [674(e)(3)(A)]”
• Authorized users of the NIMAC will agree to a Limitation
of Use Agreement for NIMAS files that restricts the files’
use and defines the qualifying disabilities as stated
above.
Acronyms
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AMP: accessible media producer
DRM: digital rights management
LEA: local educational agency
NIMAC: National Instructional Materials
Access Center
• NIMAS: National Instructional Materials
Accessibility Standard
• SEA: state educational agency
NIMAC
The National Instructional Materials Access Center
(NIMAC) will serve 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.
NIMAC Basic Concept
• The NIMAC is a central repository that will contain
NIMAS file sets. It will have an automated system for
allowing publishers to deposit NIMAS file sets within the
repository.
• The NIMAS files will be checked to confirm that they are
valid NIMAS format, and the files will be cataloged into a
web-based database.
• Those who have been authorized for access will have
user identifications and passwords. These authorized
users will be able to search the NIMAC database AND
download directly the file(s) they need.
Basic Concept (continued)
• Authorized users (AU) may choose to
assign files within NIMAC to accessible
media producers (AMPs)
• AMPS must first register signed Limitation
of Use Agreement with NIMAC
• AMPs can download only files assigned to
them by AUs, but may do so directly
How Are Files Distributed by the
NIMAC?
• After validation and cataloging, the NIMAS files
will be 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, access to files from the NIMAC will be
restricted to authorized users who have agreed
to and signed the NIMAC Limitation of Use
Agreement.
What Happens When NIMAS File
Sets Are Downloaded?
• The authorized user may convert files to fully
accessible textbooks or may deliver the files
to outside vendors or contractors.
• Accessible media producers, as an agent of
the AU may download and convert file sets
assigned to them within NIMAC by
authorized users.
What about Copyright? DRM?
• SEA names limited number of authorized users.
• SEA opts in via agreement limiting use of files.
• Access to the files in the NIMAC repository will
be to authorized users only who have agreed to
the NIMAC Limitation of Use Agreement.
• Files are fingerprinted and watermarked.
How Do Publishers Work with
NIMAC?
• Publisher is required to provide files through contract
with a coordinating 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: Submission of File Sets
• Will validate files before submission using
NIMAC validation tool.
• May choose to provide files singly or
batch.
• May submit directly via portal, FTP,
CD/DVD.
Publisher Files (continued)
• Validation tool checks that XML is wellformed.
• Validation tool verifies that XML conforms
to the DTD referenced in the OPF and
XML files.
• Validation tool confirms that all referenced
files do exist
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.
States: How to Register
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1. The state director of special education director (SPED) or state
NIMAS/NIMAC coordinator registers with NIMAC by signing the NIMAC
Coordination Agreement and the NIMAC Limitation of Use Agreement
(LUA), which will be available via web site http://www.nimac.us . Both
forms most be returned to NIMAC as signed, hard copy agreements.
2. State director/coordinator completes the authorized user
designation forms, which will be available via NIMAC web site. The
NIMAC strongly recommends no more than 5. (Some exceptions may
be made. Please consult NIMAC Director.)
3. State director/coordinator informs authorized users that they have
been so designated and notes they must sign Limitation of Use
Agreement and provide one copy to NIMAC and one to state
director/coordinator.
4. State director/coordinator must reauthorize these accounts every 12
months. Email message will be sent automatically to remind state
director/coordinator that this is necessary.
State Registration (continued)
Authorized User action
• 1. Authorized user signs Limitation of Use Agreement
and returns to state director/coordinator and NIMAC as
directed.
NIMAC action
• 1. Once both designation form and LU agreement
received, NIMAC emails authorized user a user id and
password. User can then log in and administer the
account.
• 2. NIMAC provides email welcome message with written
instructions for using NIMAC and contact email and
telephone numbers for assistance.
State Registration (continued)
• Authorized user reviews instructions.
• Authorized user may choose to establish
accounts that permit third party accessible
media producers (AMP) (vendors) to
access files as an agent of the authorized
user. These accounts allow the authorized
user to assign files to them for
downloading.
State Registration (continued)
• Authorized user may establish two
temporary sub accounts as needed.
AMPs Registration
• Option 1: The AMP uses the NIMAC web-based form for entering
data about itself, including name, address, email, contact person
name and telephone numbers. The AMP completes a Limitation of
Use Agreement (LUA) and files with the NIMAC.
• Once the NIMAC has the LUA on file, the download account for the
AMP will become active, and authorized users (AU) may then assign
files to AMP.
• Option 2: If an AU wishes to assign files through the NIMAC to an
AMP that is not yet registered through the NIMAC, the AU can
complete the account information for the AMP via the NIMAC web
based form. The account will not be activated until the AMP has
completed and returned an LUA to the NIMAC.
Features of Special Interest
• The complete file set or only XML may be
downloaded.
• The title page/verso may be viewed by
searchers to assist in identifying correct
files.
• Authorized users may enter list of ISBNs
of files and will be alerted when files
become available.
More Special Features
• Publishers and authorized users can query
system and create reports.
• Basic search and advanced search
options will be supported.
• NIMAC record will indicate if file has been
downloaded previously.
Timeline: October 2006
• Complete work on administrative and
authorized user components of system.
• Provide test accounts for authorized users.
• Continue outreach via webcasts,
conference calls and meetings, including
AFB, IRCBVI meetings.
Timeline: November 2006
• Make any final tweaks to system.
• Begin registering authorized users, AMPs.
• Develop work flow procedures for NIMAC
staff.
Timeline: December 2006
• NIMAC open and ready for operation.