NIMAS in IDEA 2004
Provisions related to access to instructional materials, NIMAS, and NIMAC. Includes background information and selected sections of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004 regulations.
Questions and Answers on NIMAS
Since publication of regulations pertinent to the NIMAS, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in the U.S. Department of Education (Department) has received requests for clarification of some of these regulations. This is one of a series of question and answer (Q&A) documents prepared by OSERS to address some of the most important issues raised by requests for clarification on a variety of high-interest topics.
NIMAS Technical Specification v1.1 (Annotated)
Annotations have been added to this post of the NIMAS Technical Specification to explain changes and corrections that have been made to the Standard since publication in the Federal Register. Changes represent clarification of or additional information about parts of the Specification or items that have been determined in practice as planned.
NIMAS Technical Specification Changes
The official version of the NIMAS specification was updated from 1.0 to 1.1 on July 19, 2006 and posted by OSEP at the Library of Congress. The difference between the NIMAS 1.0 DTD and the NIMAS 1.1 DTD is the same as the difference between the DAISY 2002 and DAISY 2005 DTDs. The document provided describes in detail the recommended corrections, deletions, and additions to the NIMAS.
NIMAS Regulations Comments and Discussion
In August, 2006 the U.S. Department of Education published Assistance to States for the Education of Children with Disabilities and Preschool Grants for Children with Disabilities; Final Rule (Part II, 34 CFR parts 300 and 301) in the Federal Register along with comments and discussion incorporated. Excerpts of 34 CFR parts 300 and 301 pertaining to the NIMAS and the NIMAC are provided in this document.
NIMAS Regulations Federal Register Content
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), issued final regulations for the NIMAS in August of 2006. These regulations are provided in this posting of Federal Register content.
OSEP NIMAS Regulations Summary
This is one in a series of documents, prepared by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in the U.S. Department of Education, that covers a variety of high-interest topics and brings together the regulatory requirements related to those topics to support constituents in preparing to implement the new regulations. This document addresses statutory and final regulatory requirements regarding NIMAS.
An Examination of the NIMAS and the NIMAC Provisions in IDEA 2004: A Brief for Families and Educators
This brief is intended to help families and educators understand the legal provisions that were included in IDEA 2004 to improve the quality and delivery of accessible instructional materials to students with disabilities.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the NIMAS and NIMAS-related topics.
The Right of Students with Disabilities Who Need Accessible Instructional Materials to Receive These Materials in a Timely Manner: A Brief for Families and Educators
The purpose of this brief is to help families and educators understand the right of all students with disabilities who need accessible instructional materials to receive them in a timely manner. This right is based on provisions in IDEA as well as in disability civil rights statutes Section 504 and Title II of ADA.
What is NIMAS?
This page explains the NIMAS briefly and provides details regarding the various steps involved in the whole NIMAS cycle, from states adopting NIMAS and agreeing to coordinate with the national repository (the NIMAC), the role of states and local districts, the role of AUs and AMPs, to delivery to students that qualify. A comprehensive workflow graphic is provided.
Who is Eligible for Specialized Formats Created from NIMAS Source Files?
Whether students require braille, audio, or digital text, the NIMAS technical standard is used to create specialized formats of instructional materials. Though accessible, student-ready versions of instructional materials may benefit many different types of learners, not all students qualify for specialized format materials created from NIMAS source files. This document describes eligibility for NIMAS-derived accessible instructional materials.
Understanding the NIMAS and NIMAC Provisions of IDEA: Analysis of the Term Reading Disability Resulting from Organic Dysfunction and its Relationship to the IDEA Category of Specific Learning Disability
This paper discusses the meaning of the term "reading disability resulting from organic dysfunction," one of the four disability categories that determine eligibility for instructional materials that have been developed from National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) files obtained through the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This disability category, which is specified in regulations that were originally issued by the Library of Congress (LOC) in 1974, also helps determine eligibility for the population of individuals with disabilities served under the 1996 Chafee Amendment to the U.S. Copyright Act.
Timeline and Overview of “An Act to provide books for the adult blind” (or “Pratt-Smoot Act”)
This document presents a timeline and overview of “An Act to provide books for the adult blind” (or “Pratt-Smoot Act”) from its passage in 1931 until the present day in order to delineate the various phases of its development.
Equal Access to Learning (OCR & DOJ)
Information, Q&A, and links to resources regarding equal access to learning opportunities by the authority of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR).
ADA Amendments Act Letter and FAQ
The Department of Education's (Department) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a Dear Colleague letter concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (Amendments Act). The letter and accompanying frequently asked questions document (FAQ) provide additional guidance on the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) in elementary and secondary schools, given the changes to those laws made by the Amendments Act.
AIM and Section 504
Section 504 re-affirms the responsibility of public schools to provide students with disabilities an opportunity to participate in academic and non-academic activities in a manner equivalent to the participation of their non-disabled peers. The school may provide this opportunity through the use of supplementary aids and services, commonly referred to as “accommodations” and “modifications,” based upon the individual student’s needs.
Copyright and Fair Use
While the Chafee Amendment to copyright law provides a special exemption for qualified individuals while protecting publishers, accessible media producers, and distributors who are serving students with print disabilities; other aspects of copyright law and fair use are of interest to those who are developing and delivering educational resources to learners. This copyright and fair use page provides links to a number of useful resources for those interested in learning more. A segment on digital rights management (DRM) is included at the end.
NIMAS and NIMAC: A Discussion of Legal Issues (10/4/10)
The National Center on Learning Disabilities (NCLD) hosts a document authored by Joanne Karger that provides a comprehensive overview of the legal issues associated with NIMAS and NIMAC.