Transcript Slide 1

NIMAC UPDATE
Julia Myers
Nicole Gaines
October 13, 2007
What is the NIMAC?
NIMAC is a central repository for NIMAS
files. NIMAS files are source files that can
be used to produce accessible, studentready specialized formats, such as Braille
and audio, for students in K-12 with
qualifying disabilities.
NIMAC FACTS
Why did APH establish the National Instructional
Materials Access Center?
• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement
Act (IDEIA) of 2004 named APH to house the NIMAC.
• The same legislation requires states to adopt the NIMAS
file format for source files for accessible materials for
their K-12 students.
NIMAS NIMAC in IDEA:
http://nimas.cast.org/about/idea2004/index.html
NIMAC FACTS
What does the NIMAC do?
• The NIMAC receives and catalogs publishers'
electronic files of print instructional materials in
the NIMAS format. We also sign up registered
users and provide the searchable web interface.
• OverDrive, Inc. is the vendor who is providing
the database software and off-site storage for
the NIMAC’s file sets.
NIMAC FACTS
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.
NIMAC FACTS
How does the NIMAC distribute file sets?
• NIMAC does not work directly with students, individual
schools, teachers, or parents.
• A small number of Authorized Users (AUs), such as IRCs
and schools for the blind, are named in each state.
• AUs can download files from the NIMAC, and have them
converted into student-ready formats like braille.
• AUs can also assign files to AMPs registered with
NIMAC to download on their behalf.
• Anyone may search the public database.
NIMAC FACTS
What kinds of materials are in the NIMAC?
• NIMAC contains NIMAS files of elementary and
secondary “printed textbooks and related printed core
materials.”
• No other file formats can be accepted.
• Remember: The NIMAS format is not student-ready.
These files are not distributed directly for use in the
classroom. They must be converted to the finished
specialized format first.
• NIMAC cannot help parents or teachers who are seeking
PDF, audio files or other e-book formats.
NIMAC FACTS
How does NIMAC get files?
• States and local education agencies instruct publishers to send us
files when they contract for their textbook adoptions/purchases. This
is the only mechanism for us to get files. The NIMAC itself is not
granted any authority to request or require that files be submitted by
any publisher.
Can NIMAS files be used to produce formats for any child with
a disability?
• No, IDEA provides the definition of students who may be served.
Will college students with qualifying disabilities be able to get
files from NIMAC to produce accessible formats?
• No, IDEA restricts the mission of the NIMAC to serving students in
elementary and secondary school.
How do states coordinate with the
NIMAC?
1. The state chooses a person to serve as
the NIMAC state coordinator.
This person might be the …
– State Director of Special Education
– NIMAS/NIMAC State Contact
– State Counsel
– Or other state official
How do states coordinate with the
NIMAC?
2. T he coordinator registers by:
•
Completing the registration web form in the
NIMAC portal:
http://nimac.privatereserve.com
•
Signing the hard copy Coordination Agreement
found at the NIMAC web site:
http://www.nimac.us/coordinagreemntfinal1130.doc
How do states coordinate with the
NIMAC?
3.
The NIMAC activates the account.
• Once the NIMAC receives the Coordination
Agreement, the coordinator’s account is activated.
• The coordinator receives a user ID and password
through two automated emails.
• He or she can then log in to the system and
designate Authorized Users for the state.
How do Authorized Users receive
NIMAC accounts?
1. Authorized Users are designated by the
coordinator from among state or local
educational agencies.
How do Authorized Users receive
NIMAC accounts?
2. The coordinator logs into his or her
account and registers the AU using the
web form in the portal.
How do Authorized Users receive
NIMAC accounts?
3. The NIMAC system sends the
designated AU a Limitation of Use
Agreement (LUA) by automated email
when the coordinator submits the web
form.
How do Authorized Users receive
NIMAC accounts?
4. The AU signs the form and mails it to
NIMAC.
5. Upon receiving the LUA, NIMAC staff
activate the AU’s account.
How do Authorized Users receive
NIMAC accounts?
6. The AU receives user ID and password
information by email.
7. He or she can then begin downloading
files immediately or assigning files to an
AMP for download.
How do AMPs register with
NIMAC?
1. Register using the AMP registration web form:
http://nimac.privatereserve.com
2. Mail in the Limitation of Use Agreement (LUA)
to NIMAC.
3. NIMAC activates account and AMP receives
user ID and password by automated email.
4. The AMP can then download ONLY file sets
assigned by an Authorized User.
How do publishers register with
NIMAC?
• Publishers work with NIMAC by setting up an
account with us and working in the system’s
publisher portal.
• Once publishers have registered, they can
can directly upload files to their inventory via
the publisher portal or they can submit files
to OverDrive in “batches” using FTP or on
DVD.
Working in the AU portal
• Now we will take a few minutes to explore
the AU portal, beginning with logging in
and doing a basic search!
Now you'
At the brief display, the AU can . . .
– Select a download option
– Assign the file to an AMP
– View the title and copyright page PDF
– Click the title or “Click Here to See Full
Record Display” to see the complete title
information.
Options
Opening the title page PDF
• If the AU wants additional reassurance
before downloading that the correct file
has been located, he or she can download
and view the PDF of the title and copyright
page for the book.
NIMAS set download options …
• The AU can choose a full NIMAS set
download which includes the images, or
an XML-only download, which does not
include images.
• In either case, the AU will see a clickthrough LUA and then the usual Windows
download dialog box.
Assigning a file to an AMP
•
The AU may choose to assign a file
directly to an AMP rather than download
the file.
•
The AU just chooses this option from the
brief or full display, selects the AMP and
the format.
•
Let’s walk through these screens now!
After you assign the file . . .
• The AMP will receive an email notification that
the file is waiting in its work queue.
• Once the AMP has downloaded the file, the
authorized user who assigned the file will
receive an email notification that the file has
been downloaded.
• If the file has not been downloaded within 30days, the authorized user will receive an
automated courtesy notification that the file is
still in the AMP’s queue.
NIMAC: Stats (10/3/07)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Publishers: 39
States Coordinating with NIMAC: 40
Authorized Users: 51
Accessible Media Producers: 43
Files ready to download: 2021
Downloads: 475
All Figures Correct as of October
3, 2007
For technical assistance with
NIMAS …
Technical questions from transcribers (or others)
about the NIMAS specification or how to work
with NIMAS should be directed to:
NIMAS Technical Assistance Center at CAST
Chuck Hitchcock, Director
[email protected]
781-245-2212 x233
http://nimas.cast.org
Accessible Textbooks in the
Classroom
• CAST also makes available an Educator’s Guide
that includes strategies for acquiring and using
accessible, alternate-format versions of print
instructional materials for pre-K–12 students with
print disabilities:
http://nimas.cast.org/about/resources/accessible
_textbooks.html
x
• The Louis Database of Accessible
Materials for People Who Are Blind or
Visually Impaired will continue to list
availability of specialized formats.
http://www.aph.org/louis.htm
x
• The Accessible Media Producers
Database will continue to provide
information on AMPs.
http://www.aph.org/ampdb.htm
APH File Repository
• The APH File Repository will continue to house
non-NIMAS publisher files and embosser-ready
Braille files for Braille production only. Its mission
is the same as always, and it remains separate
and distinct from the NIMAC.
• Files from APH File Repository are available for
downloading via Louis for registered users. For
more information:
http://www.aph.org/louis/reposinf.htm
Obtaining non-NIMAS files
•
NIMAC cannot help parents or teachers who are
seeking PDF, audio files, or other e-book formats.
•
NIMAC also cannot provide NIMAS files for testing.
The Association of American Publishers maintains a
list of contacts for Braille-related questions. Many of
these contacts are also involved with NIMAS:
www.publishers.org/SchoolDiv/issues/issues_01_Acce
ss_pages/issues_01_Access_01.htm
•
The Association of American Publishers also provides
contact information for rights and permissions for
publishers and for specific imprints here:
www.publishers.org/about/rpacurls.cfm
Hot Topics
• Indemnification
• Definition of “Core” Print Instructional
Materials
• Advance Copies
• Transcriber Training
• Images and ALT-Text
• NIMAC Outreach
Indemnification
• APH and NIMAC have been working diligently to
pursue a legislative solution to the need for
indemnification. Language indemnifying APH
has been included in S.1710, the FY2008 Labor,
Health and Human Services and Education
(LHHSE) appropriations bill.
• It is our strong hope that this language will be
retained when the House and Senate meet to
reconcile differences in their respective bills .
• We continue to monitor the situation and will
inform you when we have news!
“Core” Print Instructional Materials
(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.
http://nimas.cast.org/about/idea2004/index.html
Advance Copies
• NIMAC has issued a policy statement that file
sets for “advance copy” versions of textbooks
will not be accepted.
• We ask that SEAs and LEAs craft their contracts
with this in mind and to please avoid using
language that would lead to publishers’
submitting file sets that do not correspond to the
finalized print version that will be used in the
classroom.
• For more info, please refer to the policy
statement found at the NIMAC web site:
http://www.nimac.us/advance_policy.htm
AFB to Offer NIMAS Training for
Transcribers
• American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
is pleased to be offering braille translation
software training with NIMAS updates.
• Training dates are November 28 and 29,
2007, at St. Petersburg College in St. Pete
Beach, Florida.
• For more information, contact Mary Ann
Siller at [email protected].
Images and Alt Text
• NIMAS file sets are source files to be used to
produce accessible formats—they are not studentready.
• The current NIMAS specification does NOT require
alt text for images nor any other description of the
educational content contained within them.
• Most textbooks have thousands of images, many or
most conveying educational content. Making this
educational content accessible is part of the valueadded process that AMPs can provide.
NIMAC Outreach
• Webcast Trainings for AUs and AMPs
• Quarterly Conferences Calls for Publishers
• Upcoming Conferences:
– Getting in Touch With Literacy (November
2007
– NIMAS Development Committee Meeting
(January 2008)
Contact Us!
• http://www.nimac.us
• 502-899-2230
• 1-877-526-4622 (1-877-52-NIMAC)
• [email protected]