AIM-VA Overview
What is AIM-VA?
VDOE, through George Mason University’s (GMU) “Accessible Instructional Materials – VA” library, is developing an alternative system of providing accessible educational media under standards set by NIMAS to not only students who meet the federal requirements for print disabilities, but also for children eligible for accessing educational media under individual IEPs, as required under Part B of IDEA and Virginia law. AIM-VA, in conjunction with partnering agencies, will provide required accessible educational materials to students with an IEP at no cost to Local Education Agencies in a timely fashion.
What text formats are available for order by the DRM?
- Accessible Portable Document Format (PDF)
A PDF that is optimized by adding "tags" to the file is considered an accessible PDF. Tags store information such as header locations, hyperlinks, and alternative text descriptions for graphics and substantially increase accessibility. Stationary or portable computer assistive technology interprets these tags and displays the information for navigational purposes on a variety of platforms, from screen readers to refreshable Braille output devices. - Braille
Braille is a hard copy system of touch reading for persons who are blind that employs embossed dots evenly arranged in quadrangular letter spaces or cells. In each cell, it is possible to place six dots, three high and two wide. By selecting one or several dots in characteristic position or combination, 63 different characters can be formed. - Braille Ready File (.brf)
Braille Ready File (.brf) is a specialized digital text format used to create Braille. - Digital Talking Book (DTB) - Daisy
A Digital Accessible Information System (Daisy) Talking Book (DTB) is a digital or human voice recording of the full electronic text with the capability to navigate and bookmark sections of the book. DTBs provide alternate text descriptions of graphics within the document and are synchronized with the text. - Digital Audio (MP3)
audio is a way to recreate analog sound waves in discreet, individual sound samples: the more samples that make up the digital rendition of the sound, the more accurate the recording. In addition, since the digital file is in effect made up of hundreds of little digital samples, the computer can use these divisions to support accurate navigation ("Go to page 153"), book marking, and other navigation features that are difficult if not impossible to achieve with analog files. - Large Print
Large print is defined as print for text passages that is larger than the commonly used print and font sizes from eight to twelve points in size. For most textbooks, large print font will be eighteen points. - Microsoft Word Document
A Microsoft Word Document is optimized by using solid black, sans serif font to enhance legibility, and unless font color is needed for instruction and active hyperlinks. The file is left justified for readability. - Recorded Audio
Recorded Audio Books are audio-only human voice recordings that require specialized hardware—desktop or portable "players"—or Audio Plus-compatible computer software for playback. - Rich Text Format (RTF)
Rich Text Format (RTF) is a document file of text and graphics developed for easy transfer of documents between applications, platforms (i.e., MS-DOS®, Windows, OS/2, Macintosh), and different output devices. RTF files have a file type of "RTF." Software programs such as eReader (CAST) and READ:Outloud (Don Johnston, Inc.) read RTF files for text-to-speech access. - NIMAS-VA format
NIMAS -VA format is a standard NIMAS (National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard) file that has been modified to include Virginia’s Copyright Statement. When the NIMAS-VA files are converted, this page is displayed before all other information within the original NIMAS file. This is to protect the original information and ensure that it is used only for those students who are eligible under the Copyright Act of 1931 as amended (Chafee Amendment).
In defining accessible electronic format, NIMAS emphasizes "structural integrity." An accessible electronic format is one that explicitly communicates a document's structure, including but not limited to headings, subheadings, and table structure. Document structure also allows for features such as alternate text for images, as well as form labels that can be explicitly associated with the fields they represent.
Who is eligible?
Children with print disabilities who need instructional materials in accessible formats, who meet the federal requirements for print disabilities as indicated in the Chafee Amendment.
Who are the partnering agencies?
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic Regional Unit of the Virginias and Carolinas (RFB&D)
AIM-VA will be working with RFB&D to develop a statewide membership system for LEAs. RFB&D, which has a long standing partnership with VDOE, will now become an Accessible Media Producer for all required digital audio books for AIM-VA. All LEAs will be given access to the RFB&D library of over 10,000 digital audio book titles through a new statewide membership system processed through the AIM-VA library. For more information on RFB&D visit their website www.rfbd.org/UNITS_VA_home.htm.
Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI)
DBVI is our lead state agency in the provision of services to students who are blind and visually impaired. They will serve as an accessible media producer for the development of Braille materials for students who qualify for their services. For more information on DBVI visit their website: http://www.vdbvi.org/
Virginia Correctional Enterprises (VCE)
AIM-VA will be referring large print requests to the VCE. VCE will serve as the printing resource that will provide large print formats for students with disabilities. For more information on the VCE: www.vadoc.state.va.us http://www.vcedigitalworks.com/vce/printservices.htm
AIM-VA, GMU (KIHd) Conversion Specialists
Digital Formats of accessible educational materials will be produced by George Mason University’s Conversion Specialists.
Bookshare.org
The Bookshare.org library provides access to over 36,050 books and 150 periodicals that are converted to Braille, large print or digital formats for text to speech audio. Bookshare.org is a web-based system supplying accessible books in digital formats designed for people with disabilities. These digital formats are the NISO/DAISY XML-based format for the next generation of talking books, and the BRF format for Braille devices and printers. Bookshare.org will become an AMP for accessible books. All LEAs will have access to the Bookshare.org library through the AIM-VA Library.
What is NIMAS?
NIMAS is a technical standard used by publishers to produce source files (in XML) that may be used to develop multiple specialized formats (such as Braille or audio books) for students with print disabilities.
The source files are prepared using Extensible Markup Language (XML) to mark up the structure of the original content and provide a means for presenting the content in a variety of ways and styles. For example, once a NIMAS fileset has been produced for printed materials, the XML and image source files may be used to create Braille, large print, HTML versions, DAISY talking books using human voice or text-to-speech, audio files derived from text-to-speech transformations, and more.
The separation of content from presentation is an important feature of the NIMAS approach. In most cases, a human will need to enhance the source files to provide additional features needed by diverse learners.
The various specialized formats created from NIMAS filesets may then be used to support a very diverse group of learners who qualify as students with print disabilities.To learn more about NIMAS please visit their website: http://nimas.cast.org/index.html
Who qualifies for specialized format instructional materials created from NIMAS source files?
(From: http://nimas.cast.org/about/resources/who_qualifies.html)
In a significant step forward for the rights of disabled students in the classroom, the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) (http://nimas.cast.org) offers blind or print disabled students the opportunity for timely access to instructional materials. Whether students require braille, audio, or digital text, NIMAS provides the standard from which these specialized formats can be created. 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. There does not seem to be any dispute that students who are blind or otherwise visually impaired qualify for these materials, but there continues to be confusion and debate regarding the definition of students who are "print disabled."
According to the NIMAS-related sections(http://nimas.cast.org/about/idea2004/index.html) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, State Education Agencies (SEAs) and/or Local Education Agencies (LEAs) "will provide instructional materials to blind persons or other persons with print disabilities in a timely manner" (Part B, Sec. 612(a)(23)(B) and Sec. 613(a)(6)(B)). Part D, Sec. 674(e)(3)(A) of the same act refers to the Library of Congress regulations (36 CFR 701.6(b)(1)) (http://www.loc.gov/nls/sec701.html) related to An Act to Provide Books for the Adult Blind (approved March 3, 1931, 2 U.S.C. 135a) (http://www.loc.gov/nls/act1931.html) to provide a definition for "blind or other persons with print disabilities."footnote 1
This act allowed the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) (http://www.loc.gov/nls/index.html), an agency of the Library of Congress, to provide alternate format books to eligible persons through the Talking Book program. This program was further strengthened by Public Law 104-197 in 1996 (a.k.a. the Chafee amendment — an exemption to copyright law as put forward by the U.S. Copyright Office, also an agent of the Library of Congress) (http://www.loc.gov/nls/reference/factsheets/copyright.html) allowing authorized entities, such as the NLS, to reproduce and distribute books in alternate formats to "blind or other persons with disabilities."
The NLS has attempted to address the issue of defining who qualifies for specialized format materials in the Frequently Asked Questions section of their website ( http://www.loc.gov/nls/faq.html). In order for students with print disabilities, including reading disabilities such as dyslexia, to qualify for the Talking Book program through the NLS, they must be certified as having a physically-based disability through a physician or doctor of osteopathy. In the NLS Factsheet on Talking Books and Reading Disabilities (http://www.loc.gov/nls/reference/factsheets/readingdisabilities.html), applicants for the program who seek documentation of a physically-based reading disability must establish that the disability is sufficiently severe, based in organic dysfunction, and that the person certifying them as reading disabled due to organic dysfunction must be a doctor of medicine or a doctor of osteopathy.
Footnotes:
1 - The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) NIMAS Regulations Summary (http://nimas.cast.org/about/regulations/osep_summary.html) 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."
What is the 1931 copyright law as amended (Chafee)?
Chafee Amendment
Library of Congress regulations (36 CFR 701.6(b)(1))
“Blind persons or other persons with Print disabilities” include:
(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
What is the NIMAC and what will it do?
Copied from: http://nimas.cast.org/about/faq/index.html#q
The NIMAC is a central national repository established at the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) that will contain NIMAS file sets. It will feature an automated system for allowing publishers to deposit NIMAS-conformant files within the repository. The files will be checked to confirm that they are valid NIMAS-conformant files, and the files will be cataloged in a web-based database. Those who have been authorized for access will have user identifications and passwords. These authorized users will be able to search the NIMAC database and download directly the file(s) they need to convert to accessible instructional materials for those students who are in elementary and secondary schools and have qualifying disabilities. To learn more about NIMAS please visit their website: http://nimas.cast.org/index.html
How will VA students get access to accessible instructional materials?
Before a school can request and receive materials from the AIM-VA, its superintendent must designate staff person(s) to be the Digital Rights Manager (DRM). The DRM is a local school level staff person deemed by the superintendent to be responsible for monitoring and documenting copyright compliance within the school. If you are a teacher or other user that does not serve as the DRM, you need to contact your superintendent and/or your DRM to submit your order for digital material.
The DRM is strongly encouraged to order materials electronically through the AIM-VA Online Database (http://129.174.57.212/AIMVA/index.htm) housed at George Mason Universities Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities. If online ordering is unavailable, the DRM may contact the library staff via telephone to make requests during traditional business hours. Please have the student’s testing identification number, texts, and formats desired, ready prior to contacting AIM-VA. Use of the student’s name in the ordering process is prohibited.
The AIM-VA staff receives the requests and mails the accessible formatted materials to the DRM who then tracks local use of copyrighted materials by authorized students with disabilities. The DRM meets with supervising teachers and related staff to make sure they understand and abide by copyright usage restrictions.
What happens when a student is finished using the accessible instructional materials?
At the end of the school year, the DRM collects all copyrighted materials and refers to the Retention and Return Policies for AIM-VA materials. Any lost or damaged materials must be reported to the AIM-VA.