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What is an Accessible Media Producer (AMP)?

AMPs are companies or agencies that create fully-accessible specialized, student-ready formats, such as braille, large print, audio, or digital book. An Authorized User (AU) of the NIMAC may contract with an AMP to produce the needed specialized format from a NIMAS file. All contractual arrangements between educational agencies and AMPs take place outside of the NIMAC.

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What's the difference between an AMP and a conversion house?

An AMP is an organization that takes a NIMAS file and converts it into a specialized format for an Authorized User, while conversion houses convert electronic files into NIMAS format for publishers to submit to the NIMAC. In other words, conversion houses create NIMAS source files, whereas AMPs take those source files and produce student-ready formats. While some organizations may provide the services of both an AMP and a conversion house, most are one or the other.

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Why do AMPs register with the NIMAC?

If an AMP is registered with the NIMAC and has arranged to produce a specialized format for an Authorized User, the AU can choose to assign the file to the AMP in the NIMAC portal, so that the AMP can directly download and begin working on the file. This option is provided for the convenience of the AU, who can eliminate the delay involved in downloading the file, burning it to CD or DVD and then mailing it or otherwise delivering it to their chosen AMP.

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Is there any cost involved in registering with the NIMAC?

No. Registering with the NIMAC is entirely voluntary and there is no fee.

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Does the NIMAC rank AMPs or provide other evaluations of their quality?

No. Authorized Users should use the same criteria as in the past to determine the AMP who best meets a given need. NIMAC does not guarantee, evaluate or endorse any AMP who registers. All arrangements between AU and AMP for producing student-ready formats occur outside the NIMAC.

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Do AMPs have access to all the files in the NIMAC repository?

No. An AMP can only download a file if it has been assigned to the AMP by an Authorized User.

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How do I register as an Accessible Media Producer?

Step One: Register Using the Online AMP Registration

1. Go to NIMAC web site: http://www.nimac.us/
2. Click Enter the NIMAC Repository: http://nimac.privatereserve.com/
3. Click Register as an Accessible Media Producer (AMP)
4. Complete the registration form.

Step Two: Submit Limitation of Use Agreement (LUA) to NIMAC

1. Upon submitting the online registration form, a Limitation of Use Agreement (LUA) will automatically be sent to the email address entered on the form. (The LUA also may be downloaded directly from NIMAC web site at: NIMAC Limitation of Use Agreement.)
2. Sign the agreement and mail a hard copy to NIMAC:
   
   National Instructional Materials Access Center
   1839 Frankfort Ave.
   Louisville, KY 40206-0085

Step Three: NIMAC Activates Account

1. Once the NIMAC has received the signed LUA and online registration form, the account will be activated.
2. The AMP will receive user ID and password information by email.

Step Four: Authorized Users (AUs) Assign Files to AMP for Download

1. AUs may download files directly or assign them to the work queue of an AMP.
2. When an AU assigns a file to your work queue, you will receive an automated email notifying you that files are awaiting download.

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I am an AMP but I don't yet know how to work with NIMAS files. How can I get sample NIMAS file sets for testing, so that my agency can learn how to work with the files?

The NIMAC is not able to release files or grant permission to use files for testing purposes. We recommend contacting publisher contacts who have been used in the past for requesting Braille files. Many of these same persons are now involved with NIMAS production. The Association of American Publishers maintains a list of contacts for Braille-related questions here: www.publishers.org/SchoolDiv/issues/issues_01_Access_pages/issues_01_Access_01.htm

The Association of American Publishers provides contact information for rights and permissions for publishers and for specific imprints here: www.publishers.org/about/rpacurls.cfm

APH also maintains a list at: http://www.aph.org/louis/braillepub.html

NIMAS exemplars can also be found at the web site for the NIMAS Technical Assistance Center at CAST: CAST NIMAS Exemplars

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I have questions about the NIMAS specification. Where can I get help?

Please direct these questions to the NIMAS Technical Assistance Center at CAST. The director of the center is Chuck Hitchcock, and his contact information is:

EMAIL: chitchcock@cast.org
TEL: 781-245-2212 x233

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What about issues of payment for work, timely delivery and quality?

As an AMP, any contractual relationship to perform work on behalf of an Authorized User is directly between you and the Authorized User. These relationships are outside the NIMAC and the NIMAC itself is not involved in any way in these negotiations.

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