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NIMAS Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I use NIMAS only with certain students? |
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This answer comes from Skip Stahl, Project Director, NIMAS Development Center...
The NIMAS file format is extremely flexible and could be used to create many different types of accessible versions of print materials. Under existing copyright restrictions, NIMAS files obtained from the NIMAC are intended only for creating these accessible versions for students who qualify under the copyright law as amended. If a publisher or curriculum materials developer is legally able to sell or otherwise distribute NIMAS files to states or other entities, there is nothing inherent in the technology used to create these files that would limit their use. Therefore, subject to contractual agreement that was copyright compliant, any student could use a NIMAS file, just like any student can use a MS Word or PDF file.
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I hear NIMAS files are not “student ready.” What does this mean? Do NIMAS files need to be converted to be used? If so, who converts these files? |
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Here is a twist… NIMAS is viewed as “not student ready.” This is a case where depending on the student’s needs, the technology used to read NIMAS files may not be able to read the files appropriately. For a student who is blind, this is true. That NIMAS file is a core file that will be converted to Braille. For the digital version, the question is, does your text reader have a built-in converter? If so, then the conversion happens on the fly. This is how Read:OutLoud works. If a NIMAS file set is available to these two technologies, files will be converted automatically. Read:OutLoud will look at the file set, identify all the critical information and display it for the user. It will even insert photos into the correct places. The ClassMate Reader does not support images but still functions in the same way, converting the file and using the information it needs. What this means is that you can start to ask publishers for NIMAS file sets (whether you purchase these or get them as part of your textbook purchase). Once you have these NIMAS file sets, students can benefit from Read:OutLoud and/or ClassMate Reader supports!
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Where do I get NIMAS file sets? |
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Here is where there is a difference based on student eligibility. SEA/LEAs can get their files for some students from NIMAC or organizations like Bookshare.org and RFB&D. Students who are dually qualified can only use these files. In other words, they must be qualified as a student with a disability under IDEA and also qualified for copyright exemption under the Chafee Amendment.
Every district will have students with IEPs who are reading below grade level and are required to access the general curriculum. However, they do not clearly qualify for copyright exemption under the Chafee Amendment. This will probably be a large portion of your students. Bookshare.org estimates that only 1-2 percent of LEA/SEA students qualify. Therefore the majority of these students will need to have a purchased NIMAS file set. Keep in mind, as you are working to get more and more NIMAS files available to your students, Read:OutLoud also supports other file formats (PDF, RTF, TXT and HTML, XML) that you already have available.
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