APH News: December 2016
Your monthly link to the latest information on the products, services, and training opportunities from the American Printing House for the Blind.
Exciting New APH Products Announced!
Read on to learn about these new products – now available!
Annual Meeting 2016 Photo Memory Album: Bold, Strong, Together!
Keynote speaker Denna Lambert (right) with her parents.
The 2016 Annual Meeting of Ex Officio Trustees and Special Guests entitled “Bold, Strong, Together” was a wonderful gathering in Louisville of nearly 400 attendees. For this 148th meeting, familiar colleagues and new friends gathered to learn, exchange ideas, and provide APH with welcome feedback. To relive the memories or get excited for Annual Meeting 2017, here is the full photo Memory Album!
NEW! TADPOLE Interactive Images eBook
Free-of-Charge, D-03620-AP and D-03620-ED
Related Products
TADPOLE Kit: Tools and Activities for the Development of Visual Skills
1-08155-00 — $404.00
Activities provide a framework for the development of visual and visual-perceptual skills, foundational self-care, and social skills.
TADPOLE Interactive Images may be useful to teachers with assessment and development of visual attending skills, size, and shape identification; and color and shape matching. The activities are built around natural everyday play, and life activities.
The images can assist in:
- Figure-ground discrimination
- Visual attention
- Visual memory
- Eye-hand coordination
- Visual association
- Object recognition
- Visual sequencing
- Simple cause and effect
This set was specifically designed for tablets and is meant to replace the previous TADPOLE Mini-Lite Box Overlays. The iBook® and EPUB® versions will also work on a standard desktop computer. The digital edition consists of:
- Part 1: twenty-four unique slides with audio direction and feedback for correct and incorrect answers.
- Part 2: same slides, but without any audio portion. These allow the teacher to use them for individualized instruction or assessment.
Recommended ages: 2 years and up.
APH’s Websites: We Want Your Feedback on Accessibility!
When accessing the web, are you a synthetic speech user, screen magnification user, or user of other accessible technologies? APH would like your feedback on the accessibility of our websites! If you have thoughts about the accessibility of the following: archive.aph.org, shop.aph.org, or showcase.aph.org, please email your comments to communications@aph.org. We know it’s a busy time of year, we appreciate your time!
Field Tests and Surveys
VIPS@Home: APH Needs Your Feedback!
In October of 2015, APH released the first two books of the VIPS@Home: Parent Empowerment Program: “Emergent Literacy” and “Power at Your Fingertips: Beginning Braille.” The final booklet in the series, “Special Education: Your Journey to a Successful IEP” followed in March of 2016.
If you are using any of the booklets in the VIPS@Home: Parent Empowerment Program, we would love to hear from you in order to find out how this product is meeting your needs. Please consider taking this short anonymous survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/vipsathomeproductfeedback
Much Anticipated Field Test Opportunity!
APH needs your help in the final phase of the braille adaptation of the Woodcock-Johnson® IV (WJ IV), comprised of three batteries (Tests of Achievement, Tests of Cognitive Abilities, and Tests of Oral Language). Tests that can be provided in an accessible format have been adapted for braille readers. The student materials are transcribed in UEB with Nemeth (contracted and uncontracted). Examiner materials include an Examiner Test Book for each battery, an Administration Guide and Resource Manual, test record forms, and scoring software (adapted for the braille edition).
Field testing is forecasted to begin in early 2017 and extend through late April. The number of prototypes will be limited. Consider joining in the field test by sharing with colleagues in your area. We want to gather data from as many students as possible in order to fully evaluate the prototype and provide a quality assessment.
If you would like to participate in this field test, please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WJIV. Complete the short informational survey and submit by December 27, 2016. In order to participate, you must have access to the publisher copy of the WJ IV materials and meet the qualifications level. These materials and qualifications levels are outlined on the HMH website. If you have any questions, please contact Carolyn Zierer at czierer@aph.org.
Your Feedback Is Welcome!
In November 2015, APH released the product Interactive U.S. Map with Talking Tactile Pen (Catalog#: 1-01150-00). If you have used this product with students or adults with visual impairments and blindness, we would love to hear from you in order to find out how this product is meeting your needs. Please consider taking this Product Feedback Survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GRLP9YX
Color-by-Texture: Tell Us What You Think
In August 2016, APH released the product Color-by-Texture Marking Mats (Catalog# 1-03332-00). If you have used this product with students with visual impairments and blindness, we would love to hear from you in order to find out how this product is meeting your needs, and if you have additional ideas for coloring page packets. Please consider taking this Product Feedback Survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G2G5PSS
“Elves” Make Room with a View Prototypes!
Santa may have his own crew, but APH’s “elves” were hard at work to build multiple copies of Room with a View: Map Reading Concepts and Skills for field test purposes. The talented helpers included Patrick White, Andrew Moulton, Adam Clark, Rod Dixon (for 3D models and 2D layouts), Rachel White (guidebook editor), Laura Greenwell (cover and logo design), Matthew Poppe (template and tutorial), and Anthony Jones (art design manager).
In late November, kits were collated and mailed to selected field evaluators across the country for direct use with students with visual impairments and blindness. Karen Poppe (project leader) will listen to students’ and teachers’ comments to make the product the best possible for eventual production and availability.
APH Fall Harvest Sale
Load up a world of savings on selected APH products with APH’s Fall Harvest Sale 2016, October 1—December 31. As always, first come, first served.
APH Welcomes New Ex Officio Trustee
- Kathy Segers, the Tennessee State Department of Education
Here’s a handy link to the full directory of current Ex Officio Trustees.
APH on the Road
APH Products Conference in New York State
APH Field Services Representative Kerry Isham and Field Services Director Janie Blome presented at the New York State School for the Blind APH Products Conference, which took place in Batavia, New York on October 24th. Sixty participants were in attendance.
The day-long presentation featured such products as: Address Earth; The Joy Player; Touch, Label and Learn Human Skeleton; Labeling, Marking and Organization; and the Venn Diagram Template Kit. This opportunity in upstate New York provided vision professionals an opportunity to better understand APH’s products and mission.
Treasure from the Migel Library
Internet Archive has digitized three APH-produced VHS tapes from the Migel Library, including “An Historic Evening with the Living Legends of the Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field’” from 2002. Tuck Tinsley and Phil Hatlen introduce Samuel Ashcroft, Natalie Barraga, Warren Bledsoe, Cleo Dolan, Eleanor E. Faye, Ruth Kaarlela, Alice Raftary, Stanley Suterko, Louis Vieceli, and Donald Wedewer. It is available for viewing at https://archive.org/details/LivingLegendsHallofFame. Also digitized were “Making Dreams Come True: Excerpts from Keynote Presentations, APH Annual Meeting 1999.” and “Playing the Crucial Role in Your Child’s Development.” With the 1997 introduction of the DVD format, VHS tapes are typically a minimum of 20 years old. Obsolescence of the format and chemical instability of the media have made loss of the information on VHS tapes an urgent concern.
APH is working with the Internet Archive to digitize portions of the M.C. Migel Library. Search the phrase “full text” to find these items at http://migel.aph.org. The digitized texts are available in a variety of formats, including DAISY, Kindle, EPUB, PDF, etc.
The APH Barr Library supports research initiatives at APH, while the Migel Library is one of the largest collections of nonmedical information related to blindness in the world. Although the collections do not circulate, arrangements can be made to use the materials on-site. In addition, an ongoing digitization effort means APH will continue to make materials available through the online catalog at http://migel.aph.org.
Contact Library staff: library@aph.org, 800-223-1839, ext. 705
Social Media Spotlight
Remember When…
Are you a history buff? Are you curious to know what products people who are blind and visually impaired used in the past? Get a glimpse into the history of blindness, APH, and sometimes history in general with Throwback Thursday objects from our fascinating Museum! We preview each object on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, and the full article appears on our “Fred’s Head from APH” blog.
Some of our recent #TBT objects include the Morrison “Perfection” Wire Stitching Machine, the APH Variable Speech Control Module, a tactile puzzle from England, and Morrison Heady’s “Talking Glove.” Take a virtual journey back in time each week through these fun artifacts.
"Like" APH at Our Facebook Page!
We invite you to visit our Facebook page and "Like" us! You can find APH at these social media sites: Twitter, Google+, YouTube, Flickr, Pinterest, and at our blog, Fred’s Head from APH.
APH offers a number of recreational books in braille (Quota funds can be used). Each of these titles was originally transcribed and produced by APH for the National Library Service which has graciously granted permission for this offering. As usual, these titles have been added to the APH Louis Database where you can find thousands of titles produced in accessible formats.
Note: all books are produced upon receipt of orders, therefore, please allow several weeks for delivery.
The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket
by John Boyne: T-N1998-90 — $87.00
The Brocket family adores being dull and normal. But after the birth of their third child, Barnaby, they are horrified to discover that he defies the law of gravity and floats. One day his mother lets him loose — and then his adventures begin. Grades 5-8. *(AR Quiz No. 156094, BL 6.2 Pts 9.0)
The Ability
by M. M. Vaughan: T-N2012-70 — $123.00
Chris and a few other twelve-year-olds are learning to make the most of their mental abilities at the Myers Holt Academy, a secret, government-run school. Meanwhile twins Ernst and Mortimer are honing their skills with someone who has more sinister motives. Grades 5-8. *(AR Quiz No. 158199, BL 13.0 Pts 6.0)
Admiral Nimitz: The Commander of the Pacific Ocean Theater
by Brayton Harris: T-N2011-60 — $196.50
Chronicles the life of five-star admiral Chester Nimitz (1885-1966), who took charge of America’s Pacific fleet after the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Traces Nimitz’s Texas childhood, years at the Naval Academy, and rise through the ranks to command two million men and one thousand ships.
Storm Front
by Jim Butcher: T-N2141-10 — $132.00
Harry Dresden, a wizard-for-hire specializing in paranormal investigations, helps the police probe the murders of mob enforcer Tommy and Tommy’s lover, Jennifer, an escort who worked for a powerful vampire. Clues indicate rogue sorcery, but there are no leads and no suspects. Some adult content.
Updraft
By Fran Wilde: T-N2143-50 — $150.00
Kirit breaks Tower Law on the eve of her wing test and is forced to live among the Singers, who enforce the city’s rules. As she trains with the Singers, she learns their secrets, including things she never knew about her own family. Some adult content.
*Accelerated Reader quiz number, book level, and point value. For more information on the Accelerated Reader program, see the January 2006 APH News or www.renlearn.com/ar/
Quick Tips Corner
Some of Our Favorite Quick Tips
We at Quick Tips HQ have been feeling sentimental these days. We’ve been thinking about how long Quick Tips have been offered by APH (over three years). In our reminiscing about these brief, informative videos, we decided to share a few of our favorites with you:
- How to Create a Line on a Collage Graphic – Here’s the Quick Tip that started it all! Short, sweet, and succinct!
- Touch ‘em All Baseball and Real-Life Experience – This is such an excellent explanation on how we can use APH products in tandem with actual, hands-on experiences.
- Web Chase – April and Ken are so fun in this “infomercial” for an original, APH board game!
- Touch, Label, & Learn Human Skeleton – This Quick Tip is almost as cool as the product itself! ALMOST…
These were just a few of OUR favorite Quick Tips. What are YOURS? Let us know at kisham@aph.org
APH Travel Calendar
NIP Events
January 12-13, 2017
NIP: Building Literacy with Building on Patterns
Baton Rouge, LA
Product Trainings
December 13, 2016
Kentucky Co-op Training
Ashland, KY
Exhibits/Presentations
January 19-21, 2017
ATIA 2017
Orlando, FL
February 15-17, 2017
Illinois AER Conference
Naperville, IL
March 8, 2017
Focus on Vision Impairment
Norwood, MA
March 9-12, 2017
CTEBVI 58th Annual Conference
San Francisco, CA
March 20-23, 2017
KAER 2017
Lexington, KY
March 29-April 1, 2017
American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference
Philadelphia, PA
Conferences
December 5-8, 2016
The SharePoint Technology Conference
Burlingame, CA
February 21-24, 2017
NASP Annual Convention
San Antonio, TX
February 27-March 4, 2017
CSUN 2017
San Diego, CA
March 1-4, 2017
SREE (Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness)
Washington, DC
March 8-11, 2017
ATP Innovations in Testing 2017
Scottsdale, AZ
March 14-18, 2017
SHAPE America 2017 Convention
Boston, MA
March 29-April 1, 2017
International Brain Injury Association World Congress
New Orleans, LA
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APH News Credits
President:
Dr. Craig Meador
cmeador@aph.org
Editor:
Dorinda Rife, Vice President, Educational Services and Product Development
drife@aph.org
Designer:
Malcolm Turner, APH Website Coordinator
webmaster@aph.org
Thanks to the following APH staff:
- Cindy Amback, Support Specialist, Field Services
- Janie Blome, Director, Field Services
- Scott Blome, Director, Communications
- Paul Ferrara, Social Media Coordinator, Communications
- Kerry Isham, Field Services Representative
- Justin Gardner, Special Collections Librarian, Resource Services
- Stephanie Lancaster, Graphic Designer, Communications
- Drew Lueken, Support Specialist, Communications
- Artina Paris-Jones, Assistant, Field Services
- Karen Poppe, Tactile Graphics Project Leader, Research
- Dawn Wilkinson, Early Childhood Project Leader, Research
- Carolyn Zierer, Test and Assessment Project Leader, Research
Visit APH on 
Read our blog: Fred’s Head from APH.
For additional recent APH News, click the following:
November Issue
October Issue
September Issue
Archive of all previous issues – archive.aph.org/news/archive/
The APH News is a monthly publication from the American Printing House for the Blind:
1839 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206
800/223-1839
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