NIMAS,+AIM+Resources

Looking at a school challenge of implementation:

The **National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard or NIMAS** arrived in July of 2006. NIMAS is a technical standard used by publishers to produce source files (in XML) that can be used to develop a variety of specialized "print" formats so students with print disabilities can access the material. These files are stored at a repository called the NIMAC: [] The four alternate print types that can be made with these files are large print, audio, electronic (for use with text readers) and braille. In general the NIMAC houses text book files. Users of these files will need to know the date, state and ISBN numbers to locate the right text books. An authorized entity is allowed to do this conversion

Wisconsin's state authorized entity is **Wisconsin Accessible Media Producers or WAMP** Their web site is [] If a district needs one or more of these formats they may send textbooks to be converted to folks at WAMP using the forms at their website.

Districts are encouraged to request that a NIMAS compatible file of the new textbooks they are purchasing be placed at the NIMAC. Language for the PO to the publisher can look like this: > 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 fileset to the NIMAC that complies with the terms and procedures set forth by the NIMAC. 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 filesets of purchased products to the NIMAC. Files will be used for the production of alternate formats as permitted under the law for students with print disabilities. > This is page __of__ of this contract or purchase order.
 * AIM:**[]Accessible Instructional Materials: A leader in the NIMAS process has been a coalition called AIM. They have many resources on this topic of accessible print.
 * Special Note:**

Print disabilities are determined by the IEP team in WI. To guide that decision making here is the info from The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) NIMAS Regulations: ([]) refers to the Library of Congress regulations and identifies these individuals as: "(i) Blind persons whose visual acuity, as determined by competent authority, is 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting glasses, or whose widest diameter if visual field subtends an angular distance no greater than 20 degrees. (ii) Persons whose visual disability, with correction and regardless of optical measurement, is certified by competent authority as preventing the reading of standard printed material. (iii) Persons certified by competent authority as unable to read or unable to use standard printed material as a result of physical limitations. (iv) Persons certified by competent authority as having a reading disability resulting from organic dysfunction and of sufficient severity to prevent their reading printed material in a normal manner." To assist IEP team decision making on AIM/NIMAS qualifications for a student, use the
 * Qualifying for NIMAS:**
 * AIM Navigator:**[]

Recieved a large federal grant to provide alternate reading materials. They carry a large number of copyrighted reading materials used in content area classes like English and Social Studies. Districts have the option of joining this service for free. They will need to provide a list of qualifying students. To align with copyright laws materials must be downloaded by student, meaning if more than one student needs the material and qualify for it the district will need to download individual copies for each student. and provide a student list for the year.
 * Other Resources for NIMAS materials:**
 * Bookshare: [|www.bookshare.org]**
 * A bookshare app is on the way for iPad users! see below!!!

Accessible Book Collection: [|www.accessiblebookcollection.org]
 * Offers a service for providing NIMAS material for students. The district cost per year is minimal, approx $50 for a school and the book catalog is geared for younger students, epecially elementary age materials which are much harder to find at NIMAC and Bookshare.**

Challenges and Action Steps: 1. Not all students with print challenges qualify for NIMAS materials.
 * a.Districts need to begin building digital material libraries.**


 * b.Create teacher shared workspaces, web resource pages or digital drop boxes for teachers to put their class worksheets and materials in. Digital versions make access and conversion**
 * easier, so that student using a text reader or audio file can easily convert items to a more**
 * user friendly format.**


 * c. When new textbooks are adopted, purchase digital copies as part of the package. These copies**
 * can often be read by a text reader.**


 * d. Consider online curriculums and digital materials. When items are digital, it is much easier for**
 * students to convert them to accessible formats in situ or on the fly. They can download**
 * converted homework, directions, materials to be used with text readers and portable**
 * audio devices like IPADS and MP3's. As always, be aware of copyright. Developers of**
 * these materials are entitled to fair compensation, buy enough seats for online or enough**
 * digital copies for the students who need them.**


 * e. Consider the purchase of alternate formats of key materials. Digital and audio books like**
 * playaway are out there.**


 * f. Consider the purchase of text reader supported services such as One More Story,**
 * [] or Mighty Books, []**


 * g. E-text is already on the internet, in general materials found are classic works like Shakespeare**
 * or Mark Twain, not copyrighted materials. But if those books are being used in a class**
 * know that they are already digital. Project Gutenberg,**
 * [] is a good place to start looking.**


 * h. Want to try some alternate formats: Check with your local library for audio and playaway type**
 * books.**


 * 2.** Tracking NIMAS materials is time consuming/labor intensive
 * The reality of tracking all the materials a student will need in alternate format can be staggering.**
 * There is a lot of print in the school environment. It is not a one person job. Moving print to**
 * a digital format allows it to be adapted to such a wider range of "reader" needs.**


 * T** houghts on Qualifying students from Joy Zabala, AIM Consortium
 * 3/2/11**

The myth of "qualification": Many people think that there is some way that a student must "qualify" for accessible instructional materials. This is a myth in the same way that "qualifying" for assistive technology is a myth.

The reality of need: Both are related to NEED... so a re-framed question might be "Can the student use typical printed-based instructional materials in order to benefit from their instructional program and reach high levels of achievement?... If the answer to this question is "NO", then the question has two branches... "Would the identical content be useful to the student if presented in a different format?" or "Is modified content needed by this student?" You'll notice that there has been no mention of qualification at this point. The problem with talking about "qualification" too early is that it GREATLY increases the possibility that students who actually NEED and could benefit from accessible versions of the print-based instructional materials used by other students get passed over because they do not "qualify" (for accessible materials from a particular source or sources).

At this point, I am going to shift my focus a bit to those students for whom it has been determined to need the identical content presented in some other way.

Once NEED has been established, it is time to determine which presentation formats would be both useable by and beneficial for the student - braille? large print? audio? digital. (I do not mean to gloss over this step, as it can be quite complex, but it is not pertinent to this discussion about qualification). The reality of qualification: Once it has been determined that the student needs print-based materials used by other students in accessible formats and which of the formats are needed for which materials, it is time to think about the sources of materials that can be tapped for the particular student. THIS is the place where the "qualification" of the individual student is both appropriate and necessary. There are five "broad brush" sources of AIM, several which have "rules" - qualifications - that must be followed. Source: National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) **The library of NIMAS source files created and deposited by publishers** Qualification: **Student must be served under IDEA (have an IEP) AND be certified by a competent authority as having a print disability under copyright**

Source: Accessible Media Producers (AMPS) **(There are many but the big federally-funded ones are American Printing House for the Blind - funded by Congress - Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, and Bookshare - both funded by OSEP )** Qualification: **Two collections. General collection open to all qualified individuals: C** ** ertified by a competent authority as having a print disability under copyright (different AMPS interpret this statutory requirement in different ways.) NIMAC-Sourced Collection that can only be acquired by schools: Same as the NIMAC.

**Source: Materials available for purchase from commercial sources **(the market model)** Qualification: **No qualifications. Accessible materials purchased can be used with ANY student.** (see Pearson HTML Books for an examples) Important to keep in mind that if 100 students are to use the materials, then 100 copies must be purchased Also, it is important to ensure that any digital versions acquired are ACCESSIBLE. For sources of materials that are primarily supplemental trade books (not textbooks) other commercial sources might include all of the folks (e.g. Amazon, Barnes and Noble) who now sell digital versions of materials (which may or may NOT be accessible) and Audible.com for audio versions.

Source: Free (most likely web-based) Qualification: **No qualifications. This is a great source for items without copyrights and for books that are no longer under copyright and a terrific way to obtain materials for trials with different formats.**

Source: Do It Youself **(The old standby of all us AT people!)** Qualification: **It depends upon what the material IS a**  nd how it is copyrighted. This should be a LAST RESORT rather than a first resort.

New Bookshare app **Read2go** coming: Benetech®, the parent nonprofit for Bookshare®, announced Read2Go, a new accessible e-book application developed in partnership with Shinano Kenshi Co and voice empowered by Acapela voices. The very easy-to-use app for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch connects directly to Bookshare for immediate on-the-go reading. From within the app, individual users and schools supporting students can search, download, and read Bookshare books and periodicals and manage their books in a bookshelf. In addition, Read2Go reads DAISY 2.02 and 3.0 materials from some other sources. Based on reading preferences, users will have a wide range of options for font size, color and background color. Word-by-word highlighting with simultaneous text and speech enables multi-modal reading. The vocalization of the information will be made by Acapela text to speech which transforms in real time any written information into a natural easy-listening result. Further, Read2Go supports all levels of DAISY navigation that are included in the structure of the book. 'This new app furthers our Benetech Literacy goal of making printed content accessible to individuals with print disabilities however and wherever they want it. With Read2Go, we’re offering a mobile reading solution based on strong demand from our users,' said Betsy Beaumon, Vice President and General Manager of the Literacy Program at Benetech, the nonprofit organization that operates Bookshare. 'The accessibility built-in to iOS devices and their widespread and growing use highlight their potential to help close the gap for students and other individuals with print disabilities'. 'Accessibility and Assistive technologies have always been important to Acapela. We aim to answer specific user groups needs, from whom text to speech is essential to gain in autonomy and access information. That's why we are very proud to be the voice of Bookshare and Read2go ebook reader' said Lars-Erik Larsson, CEO of Acapela Group Read2Go will be available this quarter in the Apple app store and will sell for $19.99. Interested users who would like immediate notification when the app is available can provide contact information on a secure notify list. Additional features, such as study tools, images, and multiple languages, will become be available in the coming months. For access to Bookshare books on these devices, qualified individuals will need a Bookshare membership. **
 * Read2Go is a full-featured, accessible DAISY reader for the Apple device market. **