NIMAC for New EOTs: Everything You Wanted to Know About NIMAC but Were Afraid to Ask! November 2013 Nicole Gaines

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. Files can be used to produce student-ready specialized formats, such as Braille, large print, audio, and DAISY text, for students in K-12 with qualifying disabilities.

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 database and user portals, system documentation and webinar trainings for users. We create user accounts for publishers, State Coordinators, Authorized Users, and Accessible Media Producers.

How do we get files? State and local education agencies direct publishers to submit NIMAS files to the NIMAC by including language to this effect in the purchase agreements and adoption contracts for print books. NIMAC is not authorized to require files from publishers, but we are happy to help users follow up with publishers regarding files users believe should be in the NIMAC.

What about “legacy” materials? Per IDEA 2004, NIMAS was not retroactive. Customers could begin requesting NIMAS for purchases in the summer of Materials already in use at that time are considered “legacy” because publishers were not required to convert them into NIMAS. We promote Louis as the best place to search for accessible formats of older materials. Louis Plus allows you to search NIMAC and Louis (and Bookshare) with a single search!

What does “source file” mean? NIMAS is intended to be used as the starting point for conversion into a fully-accessible format—files are not intended for use “as is” by students in the classroom. The NIMAS specification does not require alt text for images or image descriptions.

What does “source file” mean? The important work of making graphic content accessible to blind students happens at the point of conversion into accessible formats. Automated conversion into DAISY or other formats will not include this content.

What does it mean to “coordinate” with the NIMAC? IDEA gives states the option to either work through the NIMAC to obtain NIMAS source files, or work directly with publishers. States who coordinate agree to ask publishers to submit files to NIMAC in their new adoption contracts and purchase agreements. Currently all 50 States and the eligible U.S. territories have “opted into” the NIMAC.

SC? AU? AMP? Huh? Each state that opts into the NIMAC chooses a NIMAC State Coordinator (SC). This person in turn designates Authorized Users (AUs) for that State. Authorized Users can download any file from the system or assign files for direct download by a registered Accessible Media Producer (AMP). AMP registration is free and open to all who have the ability to convert NIMAS, but AMPs can only download files assigned by an AU.

Locating your NIMAC SC If you are needing to get plugged into NIMAS in your state, you can locate you NIMAC State Coordinator by visiting this web site: c_contactshttp://aim.cast.org/learn/policy/state/nimas_nima c_contacts Or just give us a call or send an and we’d be happy to help!

The “National” AMPs Since 2009, states have been able to designate “authorized entities” under Chafee as Authorized Users. Many states are centralizing their accessible materials conversions by working directly with Bookshare and Learning Ally (formerly RFB&D) as Authorized Users. APH, while considered the third “national AMP” did not seek AU status and does not serve in that capacity for any state.

NIMAC and APH While housed at APH, NIMAC exists outside of regular APH operations. APH has been a registered AMP with NIMAC since As of November 1, 2013, APH has been assigned over 1,000 NIMAS file sets! –492 for braille production –514 for large print production

NIMAC Numbers! November 2013 States/OAs: 57 AUs: 191 AMPs: 224 Publishers: 118 Files Available: 35,825 Unique Downloads: AUs: 10,042 Unique Downloads: AMPs: 7,434 Total Downloads: 17,476

Looking Forward Math ML is coming! NIMAS and “born digital” materials EPUB 3: The next NIMAS format?

MathML MathML is not yet a requirement of the NIMAS specification. On June 22, 2012, OSEP sent a letter to SEAs and LEAs strongly encouraging them to require MathML for NIMAS in contracts with publishers. NIMAC has not yet begun receiving MathML; however HMH has sent one sample file. AT and commercial hardware and software vendors are working on adding MathML support into their products.

MathML The National AIM Center at CAST offers this template for contract language for NIMAS (including MathML): By agreeing to deliver the materials marked with "NIMAS" on this contract or purchase order, the publisher agrees to prepare and submit, on or before ___/___/_____ a NIMAS file set to the NIMAC that complies with the terms and procedures set forth by the NIMAC. The publisher also agrees to mark up materials eligible for NIMAS submission that contain mathematical and scientific instructional content by using the MathML3 (refer to latest applicable version) module of the DAISY/NIMAS Structure Guidelines as posted and maintained at the DAISY Consortium web site ( Should the vendor be a distributor of the materials and not the publisher, the distributor agrees to immediately notify the publisher of its obligation to submit NIMAS file sets of the purchased products to the NIMAC. The files will be used for the production of alternate formats as permitted under the law for students with print disabilities. (Found at:

Digital Materials Digital textbook use is growing at a rate of 8% per year. NIMAC at this time can accept files only for “printed textbooks and related printed core materials.” Accessibility for “born digital” material is an open question: How will customers negotiate an accessible alternative from publishers? NIMAC is exploring with OSEP whether the definition above could include “digital” print materials.

EPUB 3 Commercial publishing is quickly moving toward EPUB 3 as the open ebook standard. APH participated in the Association of American Publishers’ EPUB 3 Implementation Project, which identified priorities and best practices for core accessibility features in EPUB 3. EPUB 3 has the potential to serve many students with print disabilities through the commercial market. However, a market solution is not expected for braille.

NIMAS to EPUB 3? The NIMAS Board, which is responsible for the direction of the NIMAS specification, must provide a recommendation to OSEP at the end of this year regarding the future of the NIMAS specification. The DAISY specification, of which NIMAS is a subset, has already converged with EPUB 3. While a decision has not been finalized, it appears likely that the NIMAS Board will recommend that NIMAS evolve into EPUB 3.

How to Reach Us ( NIMAC)