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NIMAS is Here—Are You Ready?
Beth Mineo Mollica and Dan Fendler
Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative
University of Delaware
New Provision in IDEA:Access to Instructional Materials
Requires state to assure that it will provide instructional materials to blind persons or other persons with print disabilities in a timely manner.
Students who…
Can’t see at all Have low vision Have visual perceptual difficulties Zone out when confronted with lengthy text
passages Have poor decoding and/or comprehension
skills Have other learning disabilities that impact
access to and use of print Can’t manipulate print materials (long-term or
temporary)
How do you meet the needs of these students at the present time?
Eliminating text-based barriers… Read to students Customize font size Offer magnification options Tools for delivering print in other formats
Text reading software Scanners and OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
MP3 files Digital Talking Book players (DAISY files)
Scanners and OCR
Purpose: convert print to digital format Most scanners come with OCR Software Fairly reliable technology Many low cost options Labor intensive Often requires much editing High speed scanning copiers available
Text Reading Software
Used when print is available in digital format Combines voice output with print Many products, varying in:
Features Flexibility Cost
MP3 Files
Conversion of digital text to MP3 format MP3 files work on low cost players
MP3 Players, Palm Pilots, Pocket PC’s Burned discs may work on home or car stereo Files play on most computers
MP3 technology ubiquitous Many low cost options Some no cost options
Digital Talking Book Players Portable Low cost Upgradeable Creates bookmarks Navigable Compatible with:
DAISY MP3 CD
What are you thinking
right now?
Current State of Materials Accessibility in Delaware
Only guaranteed for students who are blind or visually impaired
Publishers who do business with DE districts must: grant copyright permission for transcription into
Braille, large print, or audio
and provide DVI with electronic file in ASCII format to
facilitate translation into Braille
Problems With the Status Quo… Doesn’t comply with IDEA 2004 Limited to certain student populations Demands for multiple formats from all
over the country drives publishers crazy!
Introducing NIMAS
National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard
Established by the Secretary to be used in the preparation of electronic files suitable and used solely for efficient conversion into specialized formats (Section 674 (e)(3)(A))
Exclusive guidelines for provision of instructional materials in digital format
NIMAS separates CONTENT
from PRESENTATION
This allows content to be rendered appropriately in a variety of
formats!
Important NIMAS Provisions States must assure that they will provide
instructional materials to students with print disabilities in a timely manner Coordinate with National Instructional Materials
Accessibility Center (NIMAC) Purchase NIMAS-prepared files directly from
publisher and handle conversion locally Purchase accessible materials directly from
publisher Other possible scenarios (but they don’t make
much sense)
Special EducationAssistive TechnologyTextbook Procurement
Creation & Cataloging Distribution & Use
SEA
Student
Textbook
ContractIEP State
Regs ???
AuthorizedEntities
Publisher
LEA
IDEA 2004Copyright LawChafee Amendment
Braille, Audio Books,Digital Talking Books,Large print, etc.
Adopts NIMASOpts In - NIMAC
Opts In - NIMAC
NIMAC at APH
A CAST Prediction
NIMAS will help drive implementation of a Market Model Solution that supports all students with print disabilities.
Publisher
LEA
Student
AuthorizedEntities
National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) National repository of
NIMAS source files
Established through American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, KY
National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) Receive and maintain a catalog of
NIMAS-prepared print instructional materials from publishers, SEAs, and LEAs
Provide access to print instructional materials, free of charge, to qualified individuals
Develop, adopt, and publish procedures to protect against copyright infringement
Key Considerations
Goes into effect December 3, 2006!!!
Student eligibility Definition of “core materials” Definition of “timely” Materials accessibility expectation
applies to all students, regardless of whether they qualify under NIMAS provisions
Limited Target Population
Not applicable to all students challenged by print material at this time
Only those who are “blind and other physically handicapped”
Limited Target Population Children who:
Are blind have visual disabilities are unable to read or use standard printed
materials because of physical limitations have reading disabilities that result from
organic dysfunction [36 CFR § 701.10(b)].
A reading disability does not automatically qualify a student; the disability must be certified as having an organic basis.
Limited Target Population
Recent indications suggest that the feds are revisiting definition, and this will be a part of the final regulations.
Definition of Core Materials
Textbooks – YES Workbooks - ??? Supplemental reading
- ??? Likely to be up to SEA
and local districts to define what constitutes “core materials”
Definition of “Timely”
This is often an issue with IEP implementation
Recent Office of Civil Rights decision defines it as the same time other students get their materials
Things are really jumping… Publishers are changing the
way they do business
Creation of “conversion entities”
Vigorous discussion among national stakeholders
Things to do close to home… States and districts need to develop
their policies and procedures Learn about resources here and
elsewhere Discuss eligibility and definitions Consider how data on effectiveness of
production and delivery will be gathered
The clock is ticking…
Contact Information
Beth Mineo Mollica & Dan Fendler
Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative
(800) 870-DATI (in-state only)
www.dati.org
