The work to extend, align, validate, and implement the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) represents two separate cooperative agreements between CAST and the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs—the NIMAS Development Center and the NIMAS Technical Assistance Center.

NIMAS Development Center activities include—

• Identifying new technologies and education research that will make the NIMAS a more effective standard for developing universally designed, multiple-output formats in a cost-effective, timely manner;
• Building and supporting the capacity of its partner, the NIMAS Technical Assistance Center, to implement the adoption of the NIMAS by states and other entities;
• Exploring free-market distribution models that could increase the quality, quantity, and timely delivery of accessible materials.

Principal Investigator: David Rose
Project Director: Skip Stahl
Project Officer: Michael Slade 

NIMAS Technical Assistance Center activities include—

• Planning and evaluating technical assistance to improve the delivery of accessible materials to students and teachers;
• Providing technical assistance to publishers, states, and other entities for a timely phase-in of the NIMAS;
• Working with stakeholders to ensure the coordinated and effective implementation of the NIMAS;
• Coordinating with the NIMAC to support the maintenance and delivery of NIMAS-conformant files;
• Disseminating information and resources about the benefits and availability of accessible digital materials.

Principal Investigator: David Rose
Project Director: Chuck Hitchcock
Project Officer: Michael Slade

NIMAS in IDEA

View the NIMAS references in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004.

Jan. 2008 NIMAS Meetings

Winter 2008 NIMAS meetings were held in Orlando, FL, on January 29–30, 2008. Visit the Committee News page for more details.