1. NIMAC: An Overview and Update Presented to CTEVH Nicole Gaines February 28, 2008

2. What well cover today … An overview of the NIMACits role, purpose, and how we work. How AMPS register with us and work in the NIMAC portal. A very brief update on NIMAC operations. Where to go for additional resources or further help.

3. True or False? 1.NIMAC files are student-ready and are distributed directly for use in the classroom. 2.Accessible Media Producers, such as transcribers, do not have direct access to the NIMAC. 3.Only visually impaired students can be served with materials produced from NIMAS files. 4.The NIMAS specification requires that publishers supply alt-text for all textbook images. 5.Anyone can search the NIMAC database.

4. Who are we? The NIMAC is the National Instructional Materials Access Center. Created by IDEA 2004, we are a central repository of electronic source files for accessible media production. These files can be used to produce student-ready specialized formats, such as Braille and audio, for students in K-12 with qualifying disabilities.

5. What is NIMACs relationship to APH? Although physically located at APH, NIMAC is a separate entity and exists outside of APHs regular business operations. For this reason, we have a separate web site and telephone numbers.

6. What does the NIMAC do? The NIMAC receives and catalogs publishers' electronic files of print instructional materials in the NIMAS format. We provide the searchable web interface. We work with states to register State Coordinators and Authorized Users. We contract with OverDrive, Inc., who provide the database software and off-site storage for the NIMAC.

7. How does the NIMAC get files? States and local education agencies direct publishers to send us files when they contract for new textbook purchases. NIMAC is not authorized to require files from publishers. The NIMAC is not retroactive. Files needed for books purchased before NIMAC was created may still need to be requested directly from the publisher.

8. Which file formats are in the NIMAC? The NIMAC contains only NIMAS format. No other file formats can be accepted. Requests for other digital formats, such as PDF, must go directly to the publisher. NIMAC does not distribute student-ready accessible versions. As such, we do not work directly with individual students, parents, teachers or schools.

9. What is a NIMAS file set? A NIMAS zip file contains: An XML file of the textual portion of the book A folder containing all of the images (in JPG, PNG or SVG format) A package file containing metadata and a list of image files included in the file set A PDF of the title page/copyright page of the print book

10. What does source file mean? NIMAS file sets are not a student ready format. A typical textbook may contain thousands of images. The NIMAS standard does not require alt text for images. While many devices can read an XML file, value-added work must be done to make a NIMAS file set a fully-accessible version for a print disabled student.

11. Which Students Are Eligible? IDEA 2004, PART D, SEC. 674. (e) (3)(A) BLIND OR OTHER PERSONS WITH PRINT DISABILITIESThe term 'blind or other persons with print disabilities' means children served under this Act and who may qualify in accordance with the Act entitled 'An Act to provide books for the adult blind', approved March 3, 1931 (2 U.S.C. 135a; 46 Stat. 1487) to receive books and other publications produced in specialized formats. NIMAC does not determine student eligibility. This task belongs to the state.

12. What types of materials does NIMAC contain? (3) (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.

13. What materials are not included? Excluded from NIMAC are: –Teachers editions –Material not published in a print edition –Advance copy file sets (printings that are not ready for use in the classroom) –Higher education materials

14. NIMAC: Working with States Whats a State Coordinator? A State Coordinator is a state-level representative who opts into the NIMAC on behalf of that state. The State Coordinator designates and manages the Authorized Users for the state.

15. NIMAC: Working with States What is an Authorized User? Each State Coordinator names a small number of Authorized Users such as IRCs and schools for the blind. These users can directly download files from the NIMAC, and have them converted into student- ready formats like Braille. Authorized Users can also assign files to AMPs who are registered with the NIMAC.

16. AMPS and the NIMAC AMP registration with NIMAC is voluntaryAMPs do not have to be designated by anyone. Any Authorized User can assign files to any registered AMP. AMPs only have access to assigned files. Authorized Users are also welcome to use AMPs who are not registered with NIMAC.

17. For downloading files, we recommend … 1.A high-speed internet connection 2.512 RAM (minimum) 3.1GHz processor (minimum) 4.Sufficient storage for large files

18. The AU and the AMP Just as in the past, business arrangements for work to be performed happen directly between the AMP and their customer. Any and all negotiations between the AU and AMP are outside of the NIMAC, including cost, timeline and other expectations.

19. Spell check: AUs not in dictionary. Do you mean Auks?

20. How do AMPs register? 1.Fill out the web form at the NIMAC web site. The system will automatically email you the Limitation of Use Agreement when you submit the online form. 2.Sign the LUA and mail it in. 3.NIMAC activates your account.

31. Once youve mailed in your LUA … NIMAC activates your account. You will receive two automated emails: one contains your user ID and the other your password. You are ready to go!

34. How does an AU assign a file to an AMP? 1.The Authorized User logs in to the NIMAC and does a search for the needed title. 2.At the search results screen, the AU clicks on the option, Assign title to accessible media producer. 3.An alphabetic list of all registered AMPs appears and the AU selects the desired AMP. 4.The AU then chooses the format they want produced. 5.The system sends an email to notify the AMP that the file is in the AMPs work queue.

50. Changing your password … As a matter of securityand also because the system-generated passwords are impossible to remember!we recommend that you change your password the first time you log on. Just choose Manage Your User Account and type the new password over the existing dots.

56. Download Options There are two download options available: The Full download includes the images folder in the zip file. The XML download does not include the images.

73. All Figures Correct as of November 18, 2007 NIMAC: Stats (2/25/08) Publishers: 56 States Coordinating with NIMAC: 44 Authorized Users: 69 Accessible Media Producers: 49 Files accepted into NIMAC: 4,403 Downloads: 311

74. Policy & Technical Issues Indemnification: Resolved! (Hooray!) What is core instructional material? NIMAS file sizes Learning to use NIMAS!

75. Getting Help Questions about NIMAC policy, how to use the AMP portal or registering with NIMAC? Call or email us! nimac@aph.org 877-526-4622

76. Getting Help Technical problems or errors arising when you are working in the NIMAC system? OverDrive NIMAC Support Team nimacsupport@privatereserve.com

77. Getting Help Questions about converting NIMAS into accessible formats? NIMAS Technical Assistance Center Chuck Hitchcock, Director chitchcock@cast.org 781-245-2212, x233 http://nimas.cast.org

78. Getting Help Best practices questions or feedback about XML coding? Contact the AU who assigned the file so that he or she can provide feedback to the publisher. For serious quality issues that may require file replacement, be sure to cc NIMAC on your communications.

79. Getting Help: NIMAC Publisher Contacts NIMAC is working with OverDrive to create a list of publisher contacts within the AU and AMP portals. These contacts will be the designated contacts for reporting issues with XML or other file set concerns.

80. Resources: NIMAS Conversion Tool CAST has created a tool that can break the XML in the NIMAS file set into smaller files. The tool can be found here: http://nimas.cast.org/about/resources/conv ersion_tool.html http://nimas.cast.org/about/resources/conv ersion_tool.html

81. Resources: Louis and AMP Louis will continue to list availability of the specialized formats: http://www.aph.org/louis.htm The Accessible Media Producers Database will continue to provide information on AMPs. http://www.aph.org/ampdb.htm

82. Resources: APH File Repository The APH File Repository will continue to house non-NIMAS publisher files and embosser-ready Braille files for Braille production only. It is separate and distinct from the NIMAC and its mission has not changed. For more information: http://www.aph.org/louis/reposinf.htm

83. Resources: Requesting non- NIMAS files The Association of American Publishers maintains a list of contacts for Braille- related questions here: www.publishers.org/SchoolDiv/issues/iss ues_01_Access_pages/issues_01_Acce ss_01.htm www.publishers.org/SchoolDiv/issues/iss ues_01_Access_pages/issues_01_Acce ss_01.htm The AAP also provides contacts for rights and permissions for publishers here: www.publishers.org/about/rpacurls.cfm www.publishers.org/about/rpacurls.cfm

84. Resources: Working in Your State NIMAS State Contacts can be found at this page: http://nimas.cast.org/about/resources/nimas_nima c_contacts.html California Dennis Kelleher CDE Sped Division Consultant California Department of Education Sacramento, CA (916) 327-0842 dkelleher@cde.ca.gov dkelleher@cde.ca.gov

85. Resources: NIMAC Outreach, Training & Support Web cast trainings Archived presentations and web casts Conference workshops FAQs and resources on web site Telephone and email support

86. How to Reach Us http://www.nimac.us (This PowerPoint will be available for download here!)http://www.nimac.us 502-899-2230 1-877-526-4622 (1-877-52-NIMAC) nimac@aph.org