NIMAS Files

This month we will explore NIMAS files which stands for National Instructional Material Accessibility Standard. A NIMAS file is a source file and must be converted to another format by AIM-VA. Textbook adoption committees may require that publishers provide NIMAS files of student instructional materials as part of their adoption contracts or purchase agreements. AIM-VA can then request the NIMAS files to make them into an accessible format for eligible students.

NIMAS files are created by publishers to produce source files that may be used or converted to other specialized formats for students with print disabilities. These files are stored in a central repository called the NIMAC (National Instructional Materials Access Center) which can only be accessed by authorized users such as AIM-VA. NIMAS files can only be made available for text that is curriculum-based and is copyrighted in or after 2006. NIMAS files, as-is, are source files and in general, are not student-ready.

Virginia school divisions can request that texts/books be converted and made available in the NIMAC library by contacting the NIMAC. In doing this, book publishers will make NIMAS files available to AIM-VA for conversion into additional formats (HTML, DAISY, RTF and ePub).

Accessibility Features NIMAS

• If graphics are present, alternative text that can be read aloud may also be available.
• Electronic navigation through “Table of Contents”
• Requires special software to read

Teaching Strategies for use with NIMAS Files

Since NIMAS is a source file requiring it to be converted to another file type, you should look at the suggestions under the type of file discussed in previous months. For example, if you have the NIMAS file converted to an RTF file, look at the suggestions in the December blog.