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What are Authorized Users?

Authorized Users (AUs) of the NIMAC have direct access to the NIMAC to download NIMAS file sets or assign NIMAS file sets for download by Accessible Media Producers (AMPs) who are registered with the NIMAC.

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How do I become an Authorized User?

1. Authorized Users are designated by the NIMAC State Coordinator. The State Coordinator registers each AU using the NIMAC online system.
2. State Coordinators may name up to 5 (five) AUs. If additional accounts are needed, the coordinator may contact NIMAC at NIMAC@aph.org
3. When an AU is registered, the Limitation of Use Agreement (LUA) is automatically sent to the email address entered for that authorized user. All AUs must sign a NIMAC Limitation of Use Agreement in order to receive a user ID and password for downloading or assigning files.
4. Sign the LUA and mail a hard copy to the NIMAC:
   
   National Instructional Materials Access Center
   1839 Frankfort Ave.
   Louisville, KY 40206-0085
   
   
5. Once the LUA is received by NIMAC, we activate the account and the AU receives a user ID and password information in two automated emails.
6. The AU can then log in to the NIMAC, search and download files, or assign files to an Accessible Media Producer (AMP).

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How do AMPs access files through the NIMAC?

AMPs who have accounts with the NImAC only have access to NIMAC files which have been assigned to them by an Authorized User. When you search in the portal and find a file that you need, you may either download that file yourself, or you may choose the option to assign the file to a registered AMP. The AMP is notified by email that the file is waiting in its download queue, and the AMP can then log in directly and download the file.

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How much do NIMAC files cost?

There is no charge to download any file from NIMAC.

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How do I select between NIMAC AMPs?

Authorized Users should use the same criteria as in the past for selecting the most appropriate AMP for a given project. NIMAC is not involved in any way in the business arrangements between AMPs and AUs, and registration with the NIMAC does not constitute an endorsement of the AMP by the NIMAC. Before assigning files to an AMP, you will want to undertake any necessary business arrangements, such as determining cost, timeline, etc. For your convenience, complete AMP contact information is availble to Authorized Users within the AU portal of the NIMAC system.

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What if my favorite AMP is not registered with the NIMAC?

You may contact the AMP and invite them to register with NIMAC if you would like them to be able to download the files directly. Or, you are welcome to download the file yourself, burn it to CD or DVD and send it to the AMP. AMP accounts are provided free of charge as a convenience to those working with NIMAS. However, AUs are not limited to only those AMPs who are registered with NIMAC.

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Can NIMAS be downloaded and handed directly to students for use in the classroom?

NIMAS files are source files and are not student-ready. They require conversion into a fully-accessible format before distribution to students.

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What hardware and software requirements would you recommend to support the downloading of NIMAS files?

Complete NIMAS file sets (with images) can be up to several GB in size. Authorized Users who will be choosing to download files with images for their conversion process will need to have a high-speed internet connection. You will also want to check your browser settings to ensure that you are not blocked from downloading files. Many organizations, for security reasons, also block users from downloading files by placing restrictions on the network. You may want to check with your IT Department to make sure your network will allow NIMAS downloads. NIMAC 2.0 is Macintosh compatible.

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How do I learn how to convert NIMAS into student-ready formats?

If you are a braille transcriber, or do your own accessible media production in-house, the organization that provides training and outreach on using NIMAS is the National AIM Center at CAST: National AIM Center at CAST

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