Special Education and Support Services
NIMAS/NIMAC Information
(Updated February 2013)
The U.S. Congress adopted the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) as part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. NIMAS legislates that one standard is to be used in translating educational materials into an electronic format. The National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) provides a central depository for those materials from which states then designate Authorized Users (AUs) as contacts for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to be able to access materials for those students who may be blind or visually impaired or have a print disability.
Illinois follows statutory and regulatory requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) and Section 300.172 of the IDEA Regulations. There are currently no additional state statutes or regulations. The Illinois State Board of Education, Department of Special Education and Support Services is the administrator for adherence to the NIMAS. We are also responsible for determining the NIMAC users for the state. Any district/teacher that needs materials from the NIMAC for their students who are blind/visually impaired or have a print disability may contact one of the four state-approved Authorized Users listed below.
NIMAS Guidance Document
For Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired the Illinois Authorized User is:
The Illinois Instructional Materials Center is located at 1850 West Roosevelt, Chicago, Illinois 60608. They can be reached via phone at 312/997-3697 or via e-mail melanie.hennessy@chicagolighthouse.org.
The purpose of the Illinois Instructional Materials Center is to purchase and distribute on a statewide basis Braille and large-print books, adapted materials, and assistive technology equipment for students with visual disabilities. They serve elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students with visual impairments.
For Students Who Have a Print Disability the Illinois Authorized User is:
Infinitec is located at 7550 W 183rd Street, Tinley Park, IL 60477 and is affiliated with United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago. They can be reached via phone at 708-444-8460 ext 261 or it is preferable that you contact Steve Clements with your NIMAS request via e-mail at sclements@ucpnet.org.
Infinitec provides access to NIMAS files for K-12 students throughout the state. In addition, for members of the Infinitec AT coalition, Infinitec administers "InfiniTEXT", an online repository containing electronic versions of thousands of common textbooks and other instructional materials.
For Students Who Have a Print Disability or are Blind/Visually Impaired the Illinois Authorized Users are:
Learning Ally (formally known as Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D)is located at 20 Roszel Road, Princeton, NJ 08540. They can be reached via phone at 800-221-4792 or via email at nimas@learningally.org.
Learning Ally has a large repository of materials for students with visual and reading impairments by converting printed educational materials into recordings, computerized documents and other accessible formats (e.g., digital audio textbooks with navigation features) to enhance the ability of visually impaired children to keep up with their peers.
To access their services schools apply for membership and selected schools are able to choose from 100,000 titles or have a textbook converted into digitally recorded text. Resources provided include recorded textbooks, literature, recreational reading material, and state-of-the-art assistive technology. Elementary and secondary school students with visual and reading impairments are served by this program.
Bookshare is located at 480 South California Avenue, Suite 201, Palo Alto, CA 94306. They can be reached via phone at 650-644-3411 or via email at suzyh@benetech.org.
Bookshare® is an online library of digital books for people with print disabilities. It operates under an exception to U.S. copyright law which allows copyrighted digital books to be made available to people with qualifying disabilities. In addition, many publishers and authors have volunteered to provide Bookshare with access to their works. By requiring individuals to register as Members and provide a Proof of Disability, Bookshare ensures that only qualified individuals use the service. For more information, see http://www.bookshare.org.
Illinois Assistive Technology Center is located at 1 West Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 100, Springfield, IL 62701. Illinois residents may call toll free at 800-852-5110. They can be also reached via phone at 217-522-7985 or via email at lstrode@iltech.org.
NIMAS Resources
USDE Letter Regarding NIMAS (June, 2012)
“The purpose of this letter is to address the use of the most recent version of the Mathematical Markup Language (MathML) Structure Guidelines. The most recent version of the MathML guidelines is MathML3. These guidelines reflect the most effective method of providing accessible print instructional materials involving mathematical and scientific content to students who are blind or who have print disabilities, and do not conflict with the minimum requirements in the NIMAS.”
Questions regarding this information may be directed to Kelly Wojcik, Principal Consultant, at 217/782-5589 or kwojcik@isbe.net.
