Louisiana

The following goals have been identified for the AIM project in Louisiana (AIM-LA): 1) Develop data management and tracking systems for administering NIMAS files and instructional materials in accessible formats, 2) Develop and implement a plan for providing professional development designed to improve the capacity of LEAs to understand the legal requirements for AIM, identify students with print disabilities, determine which specialized formats and technology tools are appropriate for students with print disabilities, and acquire specialized formats and supporting tools to students with print disabilities, and 3) Improve LDE communications regarding accessible instructional materials and NIMAS by developing talking points and a core message for sharing with others. Information about the Louisiana AIM project, resources and professional development can be found at http://atanswers.com/aim/.

AIM State Project Director

Jackie Bobbett, Ph.D.
Division of Curriculum Standards
Louisiana Department of Education
P.O. Box 94064
Baton Rouge, LA
Voice: 877-453-2721
Fax: 225-342-0178
jackie.bobbett@la.gov

Textbook Acquisition

Louisiana is a textbook adoption state. For more information about textbook adoption in Louisiana refer to http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/curr/577.html.

Policy Positions & Documents

Bulletin 1794, State Textbook Adoption Policy and Procedure Manual. This bulletin identifies Louisiana's policy for textbook adoption and the provision of accessible instructional materials in specialized formats, including NIMAS.

Bulletin 1706, Regulations for Implementation of the Children with Exceptionalities Act. This bulletin, under Section 172 references accessible instructional materials.
See: http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/bese/1041.html

Current Laws

§301. Definitions
Blind Persons or other Persons with Print Disabilities1―children served under these regulations who may qualify to receive books and other publications produced in specialized formats in accordance with the Act entitled "An Act to Provide Books for the Adult Blind," approved March 3, 1931, 2 U.S.C. 135a (including footnote)

1The Library of Congress regulations (36 CFR 701.6(b)(1)) related to the Act to Provide Books for the Adult Blind (approved March 3, 1931, 2 U.S.C. 135a) provide that "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. Competent authority is defined in 36 CFR 701.6(b)(2) as follows: (i) In cases of blindness, visual disability, or physical limitations "competent authority" is defined to include doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, ophthalmologists, optometrists, registered nurses, therapists, professional staff of hospitals, institutions, and public or welfare agencies (e.g., social workers, case workers, counselors, rehabilitation teachers, and superintendents). (ii) In the case of a reading disability from organic dysfunction, competent authority is defined as doctors of medicine who may consult with colleagues in associated disciplines.

National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC)―the center established in section 674(e) of the Act, through the American Printing House for the Blind (APH), not later than one year after the date of enactment of IDEA. NIMAC's duties are:
1.    to receive and maintain a catalog of print instructional materials prepared in the NIMAS, as established by the secretary, made available to such center by the textbook publishing industry, state educational agencies (SEAs), and LEAs;
2.    to provide access to print instructional materials, including textbooks, in accessible media, free of charge, to blind or other persons with print disabilities in elementary schools and secondary schools, in accordance with such terms and procedures as the NIMAC may prescribe;
3.    to develop, adopt and publish procedures to protect against copyright infringement, with respect to the print instructional materials provided in Sections 612(a)(23) and 613(a) (6) of the Act.

National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS)―given that term in Section 674(e)(3)(B) of the Act (NIMAS means the standard established by the secretary to be used in the preparation of electronic files suitable and used solely for efficient conversion into specialized formats).

Print Instructional Materials―to be printed textbooks and related printed core materials that are written and published primarily for use in elementary school and secondary school instruction and are required by a SEA or LEA for use by students in the classroom.

Specialized Formats―that term in section 674(e)(3)(D) of the Act (Specialized format means Braille, audio, or digital text which is exclusively for use by blind or other persons with disabilities; and with respect to print instructional materials, includes large print formats when such materials are distributed exclusively for use by blind or other persons with disabilities).

Timely Manner―at the same time as non-disabled peers.

§303.    Textbook Approval
B.    The state shall adopt materials that meet the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standards (NIMAS). The state shall coordinate with the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) for preparation and storage of electronic files suitable and use solely for conversion into specialized formats.
C.    In carrying out this Section, the state to the maximum extent possible, shall work collaboratively with all agencies responsible for assistive technology programs.

§501.    Local Planning
A.    The state shall prescribe and adopt free school books and other materials of instruction for use in elementary and secondary schools.
B.    The LEA that chooses to coordinate with the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC), when purchasing print instructional materials must acquire those instructional materials in the same manner, and subject to the same conditions as the state under §303.
1.    If an LEA chooses not to coordinate with the NIMAC, the LEA must provide an assurance to the state that instructional materials will be provided to blind persons or other persons with print disabilities in a timely manner.
2.    The LEA has a responsibility to ensure that children with disabilities who need instructional materials in accessible formats but are not included under the definition of blind or other persons with print disabilities in 34 CFR 300.172(e)(1)(i) or who need materials that cannot be produced from NIMAS files, receive those instructional materials in a timely manner.
C.    The LEA shall ensure that children with disabilities who need instructional materials in accessible formats but are not included under the definition of blind or other persons with print disabilities in 34 CFR 300.172(e)(1)(i) or who need materials that cannot be produced from NIMAS files, receive those instructional materials in a timely manner.

§723.    Braille Accessibility  (R.S. 17:1985; SCR 15 of 1997; SCR 149 of 1997)
A.    SCR15 of the 1997 Regular Session requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (SBESE) to coordinate a statewide system of providing Braille books to visually-impaired students by tracking Braille books already available and supplying funds for those needed. In addition, SCR 149 of the 1997 Regular Session provides for access and use of technology by blind and visually impaired students.
B.    Publishers shall furnish, within 90 days of state adoption, to the National Instructional Materials Access Center electronic files containing contents of the print instruction materials using the NIMAS.

§2001. National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS)

National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS)
1. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS—THE BASELINE ELEMENT SET
A. The Baseline Element Set details the minimum requirement that must be delivered to fulfill the NIMAS. It is the responsibility of publishers to provide this NIMAS-conformant XML content file, a package file (OPF), a PDF-format copy of the title page (or whichever page(s) contain(s) ISBN and copyright information), and a full set of the content's images. All of the images included within a work must be provided in a folder and placeholders entered in the relevant XML document indicating their location (all images must be included). The preferred image type is SVG, next is either PNG or JPG format. Images should be rendered in the same size/proportion as their originals at 300 dpi. Images should be named with relative path filenames in XML files (example: <img id="staricon4" src="./images/U10C02/ staricon4.jpg" alt="star icon"/>). NIMAS-conformant content must be valid to the NIMAS 1.1 [see ANSI/NISO Z39.86 2005 or subsequent revisions]. In addition, files are required to use the tags from the Baseline Element Set when such tags are appropriate. Publishers are encouraged to augment the required Baseline Element Set with tags from the Optional Element Set (elements not included in the standard) as applicable. For the purposes of NIMAS, appropriate usage of elements, both baseline and optional, is defined by the DAISY Structure Guidelines. Files that do not follow these guidelines in the selection and application of tags are not conformant to this standard. Both optional elements and appropriate structure guidelines may be located within Z39.86-2002 and Z39.86-2005 available from http://www.daisy.org/z3986/. Use of the most current standard is recommended.

Coordinate with NIMAC?

Yes. NIMAC Authorized User(s): Jackie Bobbett, NIMAS State Coordinator; Janet Ford, Director Louisiana Instructional Materials Center (LIMC); Charlotte Ducote, Lead Assistive Technology Facilitator - Region VI/IV.

Definition of “Timely Manner”

LA Bulletin 1794, §301. Definitions
Timely Manner―at the same time as non-disabled peers

Parent Information & Advocacy Resources

Margaret Brolin
margaret.brolin@la.gov
Parent Involvement Coordinator
LA Department of Education
Voice: 225-219-0363
Fax: 225-219-4439
http://www.doe.state.la.us/lde/family/1638.html

Web Links

AIM Partners:

Louisiana Assistive Technology http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/eia/1538.html

Regional Assistive Technology Service Center http://atanswers.com/aim/

Louisiana Textbook Adoption http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/curr/577.html

Book Depository http://www.schoolbook-la.com/

Louisiana Instructional Materials Center http://www.lsvi.org/LIMC.htm

Louisiana Professional Development/Universal Design for Learning http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/pd/399.html