The Family Center on Technology and Disability

Ideas That Work

• What are NIMAS and NIMAC anyway? posted by Joy Zabala on Jul 20, 2009

  The NIMAS is the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard - a set of accessibility criteria and tags - that are used by publishers to create a single electronic source file of a print-based material (such as a textbook) that can be transformed into specialized formats of that material. The four formats are Braille, Large Print, Audio, and Digital (of course, ALL start out as a digital SOURCE file...the formats refer to STUDENT-READY versions of the material... what the student actually uses... the SAME CONTENT...the content in the print-based book, the same content in braille, the same content in large print, and so on.) The NIMAC is the National Accessible Instructional Materials Access Center is, basically, the "library" where publishers deposit source files marked up to the standard so that they can be downloaded, converted, and obtained by schools for students with print-related disabilities who are served under IDEA and eligible for that source under copyright law. We will talk more about eligibility later on, but let me say at this point, that there is a difference between NEEDING instructional materials in accessible formats and being eligible to receive those materials from any particular source. The NIMAC is an incredible source, but it is not the ONLY source.

  • Re:What are NIMAS and NIMAC anyway? posted by Annette Cerreta on Jul 20, 2009

    Boy, you are quick Joy! Here's my attempt at explaining the two terms- When IDEA was reauthorized in 2004, a provision was added that established the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) and the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Center (NIMAC). This was created to expedite the process of delivering accessible learning materials to students with print-related disabilities. Prior to this, there was no standard or standardized process of delivering instructional materials in accessible formats to students with disabilities in the U.S. NIMAS is an acronym for National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard, a technical standard used by publishers to produce source files that can be used to create specialized formats such as Braille , audio, e-text, or large print. NIMAS files are not “student ready” files. They must be converted into specialized formats for student use. Organizations such as Bookshare and RFBD (Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic have the authority to convert NIMAS files into student ready formats such as e-text and audio files). The NIMAC (National Instructional Materials Accessibility Center) is a repository (virtual library) for the NIMAS files. In short,The NIMAC receives the NIMAS files from the textbook publishers. This doesn't happen automatically. Schools must request that the publishers send the files to the NIMAC. From there, NIMAS files are converted into student ready formats before being distributed to the schools and students. That is a somewhat simplified version of the process, if you can believe that, but it conveys the general process flow. Maybe Joy can clarify and elaborate further on this part. Each state can decide whether to coordinate with the NIMAC. If the state chooses not to, the state is still responsible for providing accessible print materials to students who require them, they will just need to come up with another means of providing them. As Joy stated, the NIMAC is a wonderful resource, but it definitely isn't the only place to find digital instructional materials.

    • Re:What are NIMAS and NIMAC anyway? posted by KZaldivar on Jul 20, 2009

      Thank you for the information. I still have a question. I was looking at the list of states providing this service and noticed Florida is not in the list. What options do we have here in Florida? Also, I teach students with specific learning disabilities included in the general education classroom, and the greatest barrier they present is when reading content area (Science and Social Studies) textbooks because they have a reading difficulty. Are there any options for my students?

      • Re:What are NIMAS and NIMAC anyway? posted by Grace on Jul 20, 2009

        Yes, we also have many students who need content area read to them. In the past, I have contacted the publishers of the textbooks, and occasionally they have sent the text on CD. Then, I use it with a text reader (we use ReadPlease Plus). Not all textbooks will have this option for audio text, but most of the newer ones do. (The school district can then buy the audio version similar to buying another print copy.) Also, you can request the textbook from Bookshare; they will scan it and send it in audio form for use on the computer with their text reader downloaded. It's a free service.

        • Re:What are NIMAS and NIMAC anyway? posted by Betsy Burgess on Jul 21, 2009

          Hi Grace, Thanks for the post, and I just have two points of clarification. Bookshare CAN accept requests to produce student-ready textbooks from teachers at schools that have organizational memberships. However, the request process will depend upon the state. In CA, CO, KS, MA, MD, MO, MT, NH, NY, OR, TN, VT, and Guam, Bookshare has been designated as an Authorized User of the NIMAC, meaning that upon request from a teacher, Bookshare can go into the NIMAC and prepare a textbook. However, in states where Bookshare is not yet an Authorized User, teachers must first contact an organization that is an Authorized User and ask that the request be assigned to Bookshare.

      • Re:What are NIMAS and NIMAC anyway? posted by Joy Zabala on Jul 21, 2009

        Yes, indeed! EVERY state is required by special education statute to provide specialized formats in a timely manner to student who require them. Access to information contained in textbooks across the curriculum are the prime targets of this legislation. Florida does have a NIMAS coordinator. There is a list a http://nimas.cast.org that should provide you with the information you need to contact the correct person.