APH News

Exciting New APH Products Announced!

Read on to learn about these new products – now available!

• APH Winter Wonderland Sale
• Get Organized with APH Products
• Life Science Tactile Graphics
• New Downloadable Product Manuals Added
• APH Braille Book Corner

Going To CSUN? Come Early for APH Training!

APH Technology Project Leader Larry Skutchan will be hosting a training event in San Diego, on March 16, 2011, at the Embassy Suites Hotel, directly across the street from the CSUN hotel. The training will be held prior to the opening day of exhibits for the California State University Northridge (CSUN) conference.

This hands-on event will feature a full day workshop, focused on a variety of APH technology products, with emphasis on the Book Port Plus and the Braille+ suite of products, and the Refreshabraille 18. We encourage teachers, students, adult consumers and others interested in this new technology to attend.

Registration for the event is $20. Registration information is available on the APH website. Space is limited so please register early!

If you would like further information regarding the content of the workshop, please contact Larry Skutchan, 800-223-1839, ext. 314 or email lskutchan@aph.org.

Art Competition Reaches Twentieth Year!

2011 is the 20th anniversary of the APH InSights Art Competition and Exhibition. Open to students in kindergarten – high school and to adults who are students or independent artists, this international juried competition has received thousands of entries over the past nineteen years. Please spread the word among your artistic students and friends that the rules and entry forms for this year will be available in February. Deadlines are March 21, 2011, for students, kindergarten through twelfth grade, and April 1 for adults. If you would like to have a copy emailed to you, contact Roberta Williams rwilliams@aph.org

New on the APH PE Website

Find out about using differentiated instruction in physical education!

Field Evaluators Needed

The Match-It Up Board facilitates interactive matching and sorting activities using teacher-constructed matching cards customized for their students’ specific learning needs. It consists of a durable plastic sheet that can be affixed to any hook VELCRO® brand receptive surface (such as APH’s ALL-IN-ONE Board). It features ten open "windows" or cutouts into which matching cards can be arranged. The student positions matching pairs of cards below and above a prominent print/tactile separation bar. The board can also be used for sequencing and calendar box activities. Accompanying the board is an assortment of mounting cards in a variety of colors and shapes that the instructor can use to design and build matching cards that encourage identification of shapes, discrimination of colors, braille word/letter recognition, number sequencing, etc.

APH is currently seeking field evaluators for the Match-It Up Board. Ideal field evaluators will be available to use the board with their students between February and May 2011 as well as complete an evaluation form. Please feel free to forward or circulate this request to teachers who might be ideal evaluators for this product. Teachers who have access to APH’s ALL-IN-ONE Board are especially ideal for this field test. Field test prototypes are limited. Evaluation sites will be selected based upon location, type of setting (e.g., residential, itinerant), and students’ grades, ages, and primary reading media. If you would like to be considered for participation, please contact Karen J. Poppe, Tactile Graphics Project Leader, at (502) 899-2322 or kpoppe@aph.org by January 15, 2011. Thank you.

Historic Reports Available Online at Migel Site!

"I’m so gleeful and grateful about our annual reports online at archive.org."

That was the reaction from Perkins School archivist Jan Seymour-Ford when she discovered that some of the first items digitized from the Migel Memorial Library at APH were her school’s annual reports. The school was established in 1829 as the New England Institution for the Education of the Blind in Boston. The earliest annual report, authored by Samuel Gridley Howe, dates to 1834. Currently, around ninety of the reports dating through 1923 are available in full text, both at the migel.aph.org main site and at www.archive.org. The documents were scanned in a collaborative project between APH, LYRASIS, and the Internet Archive. LYRASIS is the nation’s largest regional membership organization serving libraries and information professionals. The Migel Memorial Library holds more than 14,000 titles on a broad array of blindness related topics. You can contact Julia Myers (jmyers@aph.org) and Mike Hudson (mhudson@aph.org) at APH for more information.

Father of the Blues and Father of AFB

While working in the Migel Library recently, one of our librarians made an amazing find. A signed copy of Father of the Blues, the autobiography of W.C. Handy, inscribed to Mr. and Mrs. Migel! W. C. Handy (1873-1958) was a blues composer and musician, and is credited with giving blues its modern form. He wrote the songs "Memphis Blues" and "St. Louis Blues." Handy temporarily lost his sight after WWI, but partially regained it in the 1920s. A fall from a subway platform in October 1943 took what sight he had left. Just a few months after he lost all sight, he inscribed this book.

The inscription reads:
To
Major & Mrs. M.C. Migel
with sincere appreciation
W.C. Handy
May 29, 1944

We do not know the circumstances of the association between Migel and Handy. If you have any ideas, let us know!

Museum Traveling Exhibits to be in St. Louis, MO

The St. Louis Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired commemorates its 100th anniversary this year. To celebrate, the center will host three APH hands-on traveling exhibits in St. Louis. "In Touch With Knowledge," "Historic Braille Writers," and "War of the Dots" will be on display from January 28 to March 12, 2011 at Crestwood Court, 109 Crestwood Plaza Drive. An invitation-only VIP reception will kick-off this commemorative event. Contact the center at (314) 968-9000 for hours and additional information.

Micheal Hudson Receives APH President’s Award

Mike Hudson, Director of the APH Museum, received the prestigious President’s Award at the annual holiday gathering of company employees and retirees in December. This award is given periodically to an exemplary employee who meets high standards set by APH President Tuck Tinsley. When presenting the award to Hudson, Dr. Tinsley recognized him for his many accomplishments advancing the APH mission, including installation of the museum exhibit on the history of APH, implementation of Saturday museum hours and educational programs, and overseeing the transfer and installation of the AFB Migel Library. Congratulations, Mike, for this well deserved recognition of your commitment!

Glen and Betty Sanzenbacher

In 2001, Glen and Betty Sanzenbacher were first introduced to APH after Glen was diagnosed with wet macular degeneration. "Glen has coped with the loss of his sight better than I thought possible. Perhaps adversity brings out strength we didn’t know we had," says Betty. After signing up to receive free recorded versions of Newsweek® and Reader’s Digest® through APH, the Sanzenbachers, together with their children, decided to fund an APH Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA). Through a CGA, the Sanzenbachers are able to receive their wish of helping APH while enjoying a secure income for the rest of their lives. "Without guidance we would not have known APH existed. They have been so helpful and have enriched the quality of our lives. Because of this we wish to help others who have also lost their vision."

The IRA Charitable Gift Rollover Has Been Extended!

You have until January 31, 2011 to make a 2010 IRA rollover gift. Act now and contact your custodian to take advantage of this special 2010 gift opportunity, or consider making an IRA rollover gift for 2011. (You must be 70 1/2 or older.)

Contact development@aph.org or 888-295-2405 for more information.

2011 Nomination Process for the Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field

The Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations for 2011 induction consideration. If you are interested in learning more about the process for submitting a nominee to join the 44 inductees, please visit: sites.aph.org/hall/nominate. The nomination process will close March 31, 2011.

"The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the tradition of excellence manifested by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame and through the history of outstanding services provided to people who are blind or visually impaired."

"Like" APH at Our New Facebook Page, Now with More Features!

We invite you to visit our brand new Facebook page and "Like" us! The previous APH Facebook page has been removed. The new page has added features, such as better integration with Twitter and Flickr photo sharing! You can find APH at these social media sites: Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, and at our blog, Fred’s Head from APH.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Printing-House-for-the-Blind/122879984400686

APH Welcomes New Ex Officio Trustee

Anisio Correia, the Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta, Georgia, replacing Susan B. Green.

APH Travel Calendar

January

January 6-8, 2011
NIP Event-Math Strategies & Concepts for Students Who Are Blind;
Charleston, WV

January 26-29, 2011
ATIA 2011 Orlando;
Orlando, FL

February

February 21, 2011
Braille Plus Mobile Manager and FVLMA Product Training for TVIs;
Charlotte, NC

February 22-25, 2011
Celebrating Connections;
Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, WV

February 26-March 4, 2011
BANA Committee Meeting (Formats);
Watertown, MA

March

March 10-13, 2011
CTEVBI 52nd Annual Conference;
Oakland Marriott City Center in Oakland, CA

March 11-12, 2011
Josephine Taylor Leadership Institute;
Seattle, WA

March 16, 2011
Focus on Vision Impairment & Blindness;
Four Points by Sheraton in Norwood, MA

March 16-20, 2011
CSUN;
San Diego, CA

March 23-25, 2011
KAER 2011;
Carrolton, KY

March 29-April 2, 2011
National AAHPERD 2011;
San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA

April

April 9, 2011
University of Arizona—Las Vegas APH Overview & Product Training;
Las Vegas, NV

April 12, 2011
University of Arizona—Tucson APH Overview & Product Training;
Tucson, AZ

April 14-15, 2011
NBA Spring Conference 2011;
DoubleTree San Diego/Del Mar in San Diego, CA

April 14-16, 2011
AOTA 2011;
Philadelphia, PA

April 25-28, 2011
CEC 2011;
National Harbor, MD (close to DC)

April 27-29, 2011
Penn-Del AER Conference 2011;
Holiday Inn in Grantville, PA

April 29, 2011
FVLMA Product Training at North Dakota AER State Conference (not NIP);
TBA

April 30 , 2011
Perkins Early Childhood Conference for Families;
TBA

Winter Wonderland Sale

Load up a world of savings on selected APH products with APH’s Winter Wonderland Sale 2011, January 1—March 31. As always, first come, first served.

archive.aph.org/sale

Get Organized for the New Year!

Did you make a New Year’s resolution to be more organized for 2011? Let APH help with these accessible products:

• APH InSights Print/Braille Art Calendar 2011
• Braille DateBook 2011
• EZ Track Calendar, 2011: A Low Vision Appointment Book and Calendar
• EZ Track Address Book
• EZ Track Medical Record Keeper
• EZ Track Financial Record Keeper

NEW! Life Science Tactile Graphics

1-08840-00 — $228.00

Replacement Item

Life Science Tactile Graphics Teacher’s Guide, Large Print: 61-151-211 — $5.90

Related Products:

Basic Science Tactile Graphics: 1-08850-00 — $78.00

Life Science Tactile Graphics is a collection of vacuum-formed, full-color raised-line tactile graphics intended to supplement the figures and diagrams in life science textbooks. It depicts organisms, processes, concepts, and patterns which are typically covered in middle- and high school life science classes.

The drawings in Life Science Tactile Graphics employ several types of lines and textures as well as different heights. Braille labels are provided on the drawings, but you may easily add to or change the labels by creating self-adhesive braille labels of your own.

Teaching Suggestions Provided

Instructional hints and suggestions are given for each tactile drawing. The goal of the suggestions is to help make science learning real for students who are not using standard printed images. These graphics help demonstrate concepts in science just as print images do, but to be effective, they always depend on a foundation of tactile reading skills, students’ hands-on experiences, and verbal description you provide.

Includes

• 56 full-color tactile diagrams on durable vacuum-formed plastic
• Teacher’s guide in large print
• Sturdy three-ring storage binder

Note: The Life Science Tactile Graphics Teacher’s Guide is available as a free download in accessible formats of .brf and .txt from the APH website: archive.aph.org/manuals/

New Downloadable Product Manuals Added

Get the manual you need instantly! APH offers a selected list of product manuals available for free download (archive.aph.org/manuals/). You may print or emboss these as needed. We will continue to package hard copies of these manuals with their products and sell hard copy replacements.

Newly added manuals include

7-01140-00.pdf – US Puzzle Map, Print Edition
7-08837-sp.pdf – Tactile Connection, Spanish, Print Edition
7-08980-00.pdf – Sense of Science: Plants, Print Edition

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.

Bremen Town Musicians and Other Animal Tales from Grimm
by Doris Orgel: T-N1589-40 — $11.50
Six tales of wit and wisdom, some familiar and some less so, are delightfully retold in language that mixes modern sensibilities with once-upon-a-time flair. Lower Grades *(AR Quiz # 84982, BL 4.4, Pts. 1.0)

Tell Me Some More
by Crosby Newell Bonsall: T-N1284-40 — $10.00
When Andrew tells Tim there is a place where he can carry an elephant under his arm, hold a camel in his hand, and be taller than a tree, Tim wants to know where this wonderful place is. Grades K-3.

Tracker
by Gary Paulsen: T-N1656-30 — $20.50
Thirteen-year-old John Borne looks forward to hunting deer for food as time to spend with his grandfather. But this year his grandfather is dying of cancer and John will hunt alone. As he tracks a doe through the woods, John ponders taking life and comprehending death. Grades 5-8. *(AR Quiz #647, BL 5.3, Pts. 2.0)

Winning Chess Openings
by Bill Robertie: T-N1386-90 — $34.50
Explains the twenty-five essential chess openings from the standard King’s Pawn to the counterattacking half-open defenses. Discusses each approach and the thought processes involved from "both white’s and black’s perspectives, and the possibilities of moves and their strengths (and weaknesses) fully played out."

Bald Eagle Returning Wildlife
by John E. Becker: T-N1563-90 — $14.00
Discusses the near extinction, return, and future of bald eagles.

*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/