NIMAS Resources

The U.S. Department of Education has endorsed the NIMAS as the preferred approach for publishers to provide accessible instructional materials to students in grades K–12. It will take some time, however, for publishers to provide those electronic source files via established distribution channels. In the meantime, we hope that the resources presented on the NIMAS site will be useful to groups such as state representatives, publishers, content developers, educators, developers of playback and production technology, and consumers.

Many of the resources on the NIMAS site open in a new window of your Internet browser (an 'opens new window' icon appears alongside these items), while some are internal to the NIMAS site and will open in the same window. Screen reader users will find that headings are used consistently. Navigating by heading may provide the fastest method for skimming page contents.

Background Knowledge

  • History and Core Technologies
    A brief overview of the history of NFF and NIMAS, XML, and DAISY.
  • Alternate Formats and Learning Materials
    Information about accessible options for obtaining both digital electronic text and digital audio, and on state-level resources and sources of digital content.
  • Opens new windowDAISY Resources
    The DAISY Consortium publishes a variety of good, basic information sheets that they call modules about DAISY, the Consortium, accessible audio, XML, and other topics.
  • Digital Talking Books
    Information about DTBs including descriptions of play-back software and hardware, DAISY-capable play-back and production options, and reviews and comparisons of DTB products.
  • Disability-Specific Resources
    Links to disability-related information and materials that may be of interest to those who are responsible for developing and implementing policies, practices, and technologies regarding accessible materials.
  • OSEP NIMAS Regulations Summary
    This OSEP-published summary addresses "statutory and final regulatory requirements regarding NIMAS."
  • NIMAS Statute
    NIMAS has been incorportated into the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004). At this page you can read the relevant portion of the statute: Part B—Assistance For Education Of All Children With Disabilities.
  • Who Qualifies?
    Information and references regarding which students qualify for specialized-format instructional materials produced from NIMAS source files.
  • NIMAS/NIMAC Glossary
    Defines essential NIMAS and NIMAC terms as well as acronyms, words, and terms directly and indirectly related to NIMAS/NIMAC policies and technologies.
  • NIMAS 1.1 OPF File Archives
    NIMAS fileset metadata requirements have evolved over time. This page includes an OPF archive that may be used for technical comparisons. OPF archive files do not meet NIMAC submission metadata requirements, having been created before these were finalized. See the NIMAC web site's metadata page for current information on NIMAC-valid OPF files.
  • Opens new windowIndiana Designs Equitable Access for Learning (IDEAL)
    IDEAL has created a freely available NIMAS 2006 podcast consisting of 9 segments addressing an overview of NIMAS, related statute and regulations and copyright protection information, and other topics relating to accessible materials and the NIMAS.

 

Support for State Education Agencies

  • NIMAS Policy Brief, April 2008
    This article describes current progress regarding implementation of the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) and provides updated information about NIMAS-related developments that may impact choices made within states and local education agencies.
  • State Director of Special Education Suggested Responsibilities Regarding NIMAS & NIMAC
    Suggested actions, activity descriptions, timeline, background information, definitions of key terms, and a NIMAS/NIMAC graphic.
  • Opens new windowState Guidelines Checklist for the Blind or Visually Impaired
    Developed by the Opens new windowAmerican Foundation for the Blind, this checklist was designed as a tool to help states identify current systems for providing instructional materials to students who are blind or visually impaired.
  • Opens new windowThe National Instructional Materials Accessibility Center (NIMAC)
    The NIMAC, established in Louisville, Kentucky, receives and catalogs publishers' electronic files of print instructional materials in the NIMAS format. The center then provides these standardized files to those who have been authorized to obtain the files to produce textbooks and other core print instructional materials for blind, visually impaired, and print-disabled students.
  • Opens new windowInstructional Resource Centers for the Blind and Visually Impaired (IRCBVI)
    IRCBVIs are nonprofit organizations or governmental agencies that have 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 in local school districts or special school settings. Additional services are often included. These centers and their respective representatives are considered authorized entities by the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) for the production and delivery of textbooks and instructional materials to students who are blind or have low vision and should be named as authorized users of the NIMAC by states.
  • Assistive Technology
    Information regarding the Assistive Technology Act, links to AT resources, and information related to federally funded programs.
  • The Accessible Instructional Materials Consortium (AIM)
    CAST and 15 states awarded a grant by OSEP to form the AIM Consortium and support the implementation of NIMAS.

 

Primary Contacts for NIMAS/NIMAC within the States & Territories

  • Primary Contacts for NIMAS/NIMAC
    Names and contact information for those who have been designated as primary contacts regarding NIMAS and NIMAC within each State Education Agency (SEA). In most cases, the primary contact also serves as the NIMAS/NIMAC Coordinator (NNC) for the state or territory, has registered with the NIMAC as the Coordinator, and has or will name the State's Authorized Users (AUs).

 

Support for Local Education Agencies

  • Accessible Instructional Materials and the IEP
    State and local education agencies are encouraged to include language relating to a student's need for accessible, alternate-format versions of print instructional materials in the IEP. A general introduction to this topic and language that may be used in IEPs are provided.
  • Accessible Textbooks in the Classroom
    A Guide for educators (administrators, teachers, and paraprofessionals) with strategies for acquiring and using accessible, alternate-format versions of print instructional materials for pre-K–12 students with print disabilities.
  • Accessible Textbooks in the Classroom II
    This document is the third in a series related to accessible instructional materials and provides suggested guidelines for administrators, teachers, and paraprofessionals for determining which alternate formats (and which tools to access them and exploit their flexibility) are best suited to a given student's print-related challenges. (The first of the series, The Promise of Accessible Textbooks: Increased Achievement for All Students, is available via CAST's Opens new windowPublications web page, and the second of the series, Accessible Textbooks in the Classroom, is available via this NIMAS resource list.)
  • Local Education Agency (LEA) NIMAS Language for Purchase Orders
    The LEA role in requiring publishers to submit NIMAS filesets to the NIMAC (national repository) is critical for ensuring that students with print disabilities have access to specialized formats.
  • Opens new windowAn Educator's Guide to Making Textbooks Accessible and Usable for Students with Learning Disabilities
    An article by LDOnline and CAST about flexible learning materials, with a focus on e-text.
  • Opens new windowAccessible Textbooks: A Guide for Parents of Children with Learning Disabilities
    This article by LDOnline and CAST was written for parents of students with learning disabilities and discusses supported reading software, e-text, accessibility issues, the NIMAS, and the IEP process.

 

The NIMAC: The National NIMAS Source File Repository

  • Recently UpdatedOpens new windowThe NIMAC Web Site
    Background information and resources related to the National Instructional Materials Access Center at the American Printing House for the Blind (APH).
  • Opens new windowThe NIMAC FAQ
    A FAQ about the NIMAC, implementation schedule, copyright, digital rights, and more.
  • Opens new windowState Coordination with the NIMAC
    Summary table indicating whether states have selected to coordinate with the NIMAC. Note that all fifty states and the District of Columbia have recently indicated that they plan to coordinate with the NIMAC and updates will be posted when each Annual State Application under Part B of IDEA 2004 is amended.
  • Word DocumentNIMAC Metadata
    An annotated list of metadata fields required by the NIMAC as part of NIMAS fileset submission to the national repository. Includes notes and examples. Note that NIMAC metadata requirements are in addition to the requirements of the NIMAS 1.1 specification for filesets. Includes a full version sample OPF file with NIMAC metadata, NIMAS metadata, history, and comments. (Go to CAST's post of the NIMAC sample OPF as Exemplar 9 to view a sample NIMAC OPF file in XML and in Word without history and comments, or to download the history and comments as a separate Word document.)
  • Opens new windowCoordinating with NIMAC and Designating Authorized Users
    This PowerPoint document explains who coordinates with the NIMAC, what they need to do, and how authorized users of the NIMAC Repository are designated.
  • Opens new windowNIMAC Coordination Agreement
    Authorized representatives of educational agencies that have chosen to coordinate with the NIMAC must submit this coordination agreement to the Repository in order to obtain filesets.
  • Opens new windowNIMAC Limitation-of-Use Agreement
    The NIMAC Limitation-of-Use Agreement is required of authorized users of the Repository.
  • Opens new windowAccessible Media Producers (AMPs) and the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC)
    This web page explains AMPs' role in the NIMAC in a FAQ format.
  • Opens new windowState Coordination Registration Process
    Provides instructions for SEA NIMAS Coordinator or other SEA representative to complete and submit the NIMAC Coordination Agreement.
  • Opens new windowAuthorized User Registration Process
    Provides instructions for an Authorized User selected by the SEA to register with the NIMAC using the Limitation of Use Agreement.

 

Developing NIMAS Filesets

  • Market Model Initiatives
    As K–12 educational publishers move forward with plans to implement a market model for providing specialized formats to students, a number of important points should be considered.
  • Content Development and Design
    Recommendations, standards, and guidelines; production and tools, including Braille production software and services; information about making Math and Science accessible; accessible PDF development; and scanning.
  • Authorized Entities: Development and Distribution of Specialized Formats
    Information about authorized entities, including a definition of the term and examples.
  • Content Conversion Services
    Information about content conversion companies, including definitions of services and examples.
  • NIMAS Technical Specification
    The technical specification pertaining to the NIMAS includes the baseline element list, the optional element list, and specifications regarding package files.
  • Opens new windowNIMAS Document Type Definition (DTD)
    The dtbook 2005-2 DTD is the NIMAS 1.1 DTD. This URL will take you directly to the DAISY/NISO Standard Z39.86-2005-2 DTD.
  • Opens new windowNIMAS/DAISY Document Type Definition (DTD) in HTML
    This URL will take you directly to a live version of the DAISY/NISO Standard Z39.86-2005-2 DTD in HTML prepared by Bruce Hubbard.
  • Creating NIMAS Files
    Practical guidelines for creating NIMAS-conformant XML files, including information on validating files and preparing images and package files. Specific information about NIMAS 1.1 required attributes have been added to this page. Updates have also been provided to the file validation section to highlight the NIMAC client validator which should be used by publishers and their contractors to test files prior to submission to the NIMAC. Guidance regarding MIME types is now provided.
  • NIMAS Files Best Practices
    This document provides specific, practical best practices for preparing NIMAS filesets based on the NIMAS Technical Assistance Center technical support and consensus of members of the NIMAS Technical Assitance and Development centers.
  • Math Resources
    Information regarding NIMAS files and Math content. Includes a Math & Images document providing an overview of the mark-up and treatment of mathematical content in NIMAS-conformant files and annotated links to additional information about accessible-format mathematics content.
  • Recently UpdatedExemplars
    Sample materials intended as resources for those creating and learning about NIMAS files.
  • DTB Comparison Chart
    A chart that compares the NIMAS 1.1, DAISY 2002, and DAISY 2005 DTBs.

 

Using NIMAS Filesets

  • NIMAS Conversion Tool
    The NIMAS Conversion Tool converts NIMAS-conformant XML filesets into leveled XML files and/or into leveled HTML files that can be opened and viewed in a browser. The conversion tool may be used to check the completeness and accuracy of the content (text and images) of NIMAS filesets. Leveled XML segments may be useful to Braille transcribers who prefer to work with segments smaller than a single file of a complete work. Note that results may not be completely predictable since levels used by a publisher or a contractor will determine the number and size of segments. A downloadable ZIP file includes basic documentation and a GNU license as well as the application. Source code for the Conversion Tool is also available in a separate ZIP file. Users without access to the NIMAC may test the conversion tool using files available on the NIMAS Exemplars page.
  • Other Conversion Tools
    This page contains information about and links to other conversion tools that work with NIMAS files.
  • Readers that Import NIMAS Files
    This page describes products that use and convert NIMAS filesets. These products open or import NIMAS filesets and either read them or export them as another format (some products change NIMAS source files to a different format before reading and some work with the files directly).

 

Policy and Research

  • Legislation Relating to Accessible Instructional Materials
    Resources that may be helpful for those seeking information about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA), the Chafee Amendment, and other instructional materials legislation.
  • Textbook Adoption
    This page lists resources for state textbook adoption policies, schedules for adoption, and national organizations, including the National Association of State Textbook Administrators.
  • Selected Background Papers and Research
    Resources such as papers by CAST, links concerning access to digital content, the development of DAISY, and multimedia research.
  • State DOE Web Sites Survey
    This survey covers U.S. states and territories and provides information on what states offer regarding NIMAS and NIMAS-related information and resources via their state DOE and associated web sites. The Survey will be updated on a monthly basis.
  • U.S. States and Territories Accessible Curriculum Survey
    A summary of U.S. state and territories laws regarding accessible materials for K–12 students with print disabilities. Last updated on March 1, 2006.
  • Guidance for Grant Applicants
    Guidance to grant applicants who are required to comply with the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS).

 

Other Tools

 

About the Resource Pages

CAST provides resources on the NIMAS Web site for informational purposes only. Inclusion on this site does not imply endorsement or quality assurance.

Content has been included on these NIMAS resource pages based on CAST's expertise in the field, along with extensive online research. You are encouraged to visit company web sites and to contact organizations directly to confirm details and make specific inquiries to ensure that products and services will meet your needs.

We make every effort to provide comprehensive resources and to ensure that information is accurate and up-to-date. Corrections, updates, or additions are welcome. Details should be sent to nimas@cast.org.

Last Updated :May 12, 2009