APH News: May 2016

Exciting New APH Products Announced!

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

• APH Spring Fever Sale
• NEW! JAWS and MAGic Student Edition
• NEW! Building on Patterns: Primary Braille Literacy Program: Second Grade: Posttest Materials – UEB
• NEW! Test Ready: Language Arts Book 8
• NEW! ReadWrite mini
• REVISED: 90# White Fanfold Tractor-Feed Braille Transcribing Paper, 8 1/2 x 11 inch, 3-hole and 19-hole punch
• NEW SIZE! Braillable Labels, Pin-Fed Label Sheets, 7 x 2.4 inches
• APH Braille Book Corner

New Video!

Children at the Wisconsin Preschool Family Conference enjoy The Joy Player. Watch The Joy Player with Dad.

Global News Update!

Congratulations to tactile book publisher, Les Doigts Qui Rêvent! In 2016 the International Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the largest of its kind in the world, established a new award category: books about a character with a disability or books accessible to children with a disability. LDQR’s book La Chasse á l’Ours was one of five books awarded in this category and the only awarded book in an accessible format.

In his own words, LDQR founder and director Philippe Claudet explains: “There are very few places in the world where tactile illustrated books accessible for partially sighted and blind children are considered simply as books and not as “special books for the blind.” Our tactile books are designed to be shareable . . . following the basic principles of inclusion, which means that they shall be visually aesthetic as picture books for sighted AND/BUT tactually efficient. This award is an historical date: finally, books for children with disabilities belong to youth literature. . . Through this award all organizations working for children with visual impairments across the world are awarded.”

Since its inception in 1994, LDQR, located in Talant, France, has published a wide range of collage style tactile books. APH has contracted with LDQR to translate and distribute titles for US students (Little Breath of Wind, Chameleon, and an upcoming new book, Little Paths).

For more information about the Bolognaragazzi Award/disability: http://bookfair.bolognafiere.it/en/the-fair/bologna-childrens-book-fair-awards/bolognaragazzi-award-for-disability/3560.html

To view the book, La Chasse á l’Ours: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phz0yF-K1G0

As they say in France, “Chapeau!” or in Bologna—“Congratulazioni!”

Spring is for Virtual Redecorating!

Check out the fresh spring look to APH’s informational Physical Education, Recreation, and Health web pages!

Browse through videos, sport camps, stories, and so much more.

New Feature! Common Core Through Recreational Physical Activities and Poetry

Treasures From the APH Libraries

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.

From the Migel Library: Watson, Edward. The Blind Musician and His Training. London: National Institute for the Blind, 1922.

This brief pamphlet was distributed as a solicitation for London’s National Institute for the Blind. The Institute prided itself on being an epicenter for musicians who were blind. Free recitals and concerts were held weekly with the Institute’s organ and piano. Braille music notation had recently been revised and standardized by the organization. The Institute’s Music Publications Director had released the first print music-primer on braille music in 1902, and had just published Key to Revised Braille Music Notation. The pamphlet’s illustrations, however, might be the real treasure. “The Blind Proof Reader” (right) shows a photograph of a man named John Ford at work proofreading braille. Another photograph shows Director of Music H.C. Warrilow playing the Institute’s organ in a balcony. An additional illustration shows three workers “preparing braille music plates.” Several hand-written addendums add a personal touch to the pamphlet, which has been digitized for Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/blindmusicianhis00edwa

From the Barr Library: Withagen, Ans, et al. In Touch: Helping Your Blind Child Discover the World. Huizen: Royal Dutch Visio, 2010.

The authors describe the tactual development of blind children and highlight the importance of touch as their main source of perception. A valuable resource for parents and professionals alike, this book is divided into three sections that offer a broad range of perspectives on the sense of touch. The first and second parts provide background information about touch and include guidance on how to stimulate a child’s tactual development through the use of specific materials and activities. Finally, the third section shares the personal narratives that depict the family situations of parents with blind children. These interviews impart firsthand advice on introducing new situations and concepts to children, as well as discussing modifications they made to their home environments.

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.

Contact Library staff: library@aph.org, 800-223-1839, ext. 705

Quick Tips – The Best Warm-Weather Activity!

Hey, Quick Tips fans! We at Quick Tips HQ hope that you’re enjoying the wonderful spring weather. Isn’t it great to be able to take part in, and watch the plethora of outside activities that come with this change of season? Whether it be jogging, swimming, baseball, skateboarding, tennis, hiking, kayaking, or something else, there is just nothing that compares with recreational physical activity in the sun!

Well…except Quick Tips. Quick Tips EASILY compare to these things. Just like the above-named activities, Quick Tips:

• get your endorphins going, and in so doing make you happy!*
• are good for your physical health by lowering blood pressure and decreasing bad cholesterol.*
• help increase your problem-solving and teamwork skills!*
• help increase muscle mass.*
• enable you to reach a zen-like state of consciousness.*

(*None of these things are actually true, but aren’t Quick Tips AWESOME?!?)

So, as the weather warms up, and the Quick Tips and outdoor fun come calling, dip your feet into the brief, educational, APH-centric pool that is Quick Tips!

• Orientation & Mobility for Wheelchair Users with Visual Impairment or Blindness – Find out all you need to know about O&M for wheelchair users who have blindness or visual impairment with this online publication!
• The Impressor – Make your business cards accessible with this handy embosser! The Impressor.
• Time for Art – Check out this book featuring loads of art projects specifically designed for individuals with blindness or visual impairments!
• The Shafer Reading Stand – The Shafer Reading Stand is great for holding your large print volumes!
• Joy Player File Extensions – Keep the joy alive by uploading your Joy Player files with the right extensions!

And as always, feel free to email kisham@aph.org with any warm, sunny Quick Tip ideas!

We want to hear from you! Is There a Need for Tactile Overlays?

The Early Childhood Project Leader at APH would like to hear your opinion on the use of clear tactile overlays with the iPad for young children as a means of providing a fun introduction to tactile graphics and concepts. This is simply to determine if there is a need for more of these types of applications. Please consider taking this very brief survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/tactileoverlaysforipad

If you have questions, you may contact the Early Childhood Project Leader via email at:
dwilkinson@aph.org

APH Needs Your Feedback!

In September of 2015, we were very excited to release PAIVI 2nd Edition. If you are using the new revised PAIVI 2nd Edition, we would love to hear from you in order to find out how this product is meeting your needs. Please consider taking this anonymous short six question survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PAIVIFeedback

APH Thanks the Redmon Trust

Inclusion of Tactile Graphics Image Library in Louis Plus

We are excited to announce that items in APH’s Tactile Graphic Image Library (TGIL) are now searchable in Louis Plus, which also locates accessible instructional materials in the following databases: Louis, NIMAC, and Bookshare.

A link to Louis Plus can be found to the right of the search bar on the Louis Home Page at http://louis.aph.org/. Once the user arrives at Louis Plus, the most precise method of retrieving images from the TGIL is to enter “tactile graphic image library” along with keywords that might identify the desired image (i.e. palm tree). TGIL contains over 1,200 tactile graphic image templates that can be downloaded free of charge, requiring only that the user first registers an account on the website at http://archive.aph.org/tgil/.

Other useful functions of Louis Plus search results include: going to the NIMAC record to download a NIMAS file or assign it to an Accessible Media Producer, going to the full Louis record to see all available formats, or going to the Bookshare record and downloading a file. Please call Resource Services for further assistance at extension 705, or email resource@aph.org.

A Big Thank You

We wish to thank the states of Vermont, California, Tennessee and Illinois for their participation in the Spring 2016 Unforgettable APH Star Video Contest.

The winners and their videos will be featured in the June issue of this newsletter, so stay tuned.

Best of luck to all who participated!

New Look for NIMAC

The NIMAC website has a new look! NIMAC is pleased to announce that we went live on 4/20/2016 with a completely redesigned website. Our URL remains the same, www.nimac.us, but we have a new look. Working with InGrid Design, we streamlined the site to make it easier to use and (we hope!) more pleasant to visit. We’re currently also in the process of adding new content, including more short video trainings for users. Come and visit us when you have a chance!

REVIEW THE PRELIMINARY AGENDA! “Tailoring the Reading Experience” Library Conference in Louisville, August, 2016

APH is proud to co-sponsor the conference "Tailoring the Reading Experience to Meet Individual Needs," August 11-12, 2016, in Louisville, Kentucky. This is a satellite meeting of the prestigious World Library and Information Congress 2016 (WLIC) sponsored by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). The Louisville satellite conference will immediately precede the full WLIC conference, which is being held in Columbus, Ohio.

Two Great Keynote Speakers!

Carolyn P. Phillips is nationally recognized in the field of assistive technology and disabilities. Phillips serves as Director and Principal Investigator of Tools for Life, Georgia’s Assistive Technology (AT) Act Program at Georgia Tech | AMAC.

Kevin Carey is Chair, Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) Group. The multifaceted Carey is a journalist, playwright, poet, broadcaster, and business innovator.

Find out more about this exciting conference and REGISTER TODAY for Tailoring the Reading Experience!

Social Media Spotlight

Are you following APH on Twitter?

We post information about new APH products, sale items, our interesting Throwback Thursday artifacts from our one-of-a-kind museum, and APH happenings on our Twitter page. We also highlight various types of resources which benefit the blind and visually impaired community. Find us on Twitter @aphfortheblind

"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 Welcomes New Ex Officio Trustees

Nancy Mothersele, the Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind in Connecticut.

John Filek, the Vision Loss Resources in Minnesota.

APH Spring Fever Sale

Load up a world of savings on selected APH products with APH’s Spring Fever Sale 2016, April 1—June 30. As always, first come, first served.

archive.aph.org/sale/

NEW! JAWS and MAGic Student Edition

D-11000-ED — $300.00

Freedom Scientific and the American Printing House for the Blind have partnered to make a “JAWS® and MAGic® Student Edition” available to K-12 students in the U.S. using Federal Quota funds! These special software subscriptions are sold exclusively by APH and allow students to install full versions of JAWS and/or MAGic on ANY computer they access (up to three machines). This allows students to have 24 hour, 365 day-a-year access to their computers at both school and home!

About the JAWS and MAGic Student Edition

What Is JAWS?

JAWS (Job Access With Speech) is the world’s most popular screen reader software providing access to Windows® computers. JAWS offers both speech AND braille output for the most popular computer applications on your PC!

What is MAGic?

MAGic Screen Magnification Software is a magnification AND screen reading program for computer users who are low vision. MAGic can help students work more efficiently with business applications, documents, email, and navigating the internet.

What Is Included in the Student Edition of JAWS and MAGic?

• JAWS and MAGic software, containing all the features and benefits of the full programs (one subscription purchase gives the student access to both programs)
• Access to latest versions with all updates
• Ability to install on any computers the student accesses at school or home (up to three machines)
• Tandem function available for remote help by teachers or support staff
• Access to Freedom Scientific phone support, training materials, and webinars

Terms and How to Order

Installation and Licensing Terms, Student Edition

• 12-month period begins from the date of the first device authorization
• Subscription includes three authorizations and resets on request
• A countdown in the software lets the user know the days remaining in the annual subscription
• New serial number will be issued for each yearly subscription and each serial number will have a one-year life from the date the first key is installed on a device. Three keys will be available to each student so they can install software on computers at school and home.
• Subscriptions are registered in the student’s name each year, and the subscription travels with the student if he or she changes schools
• After four years of annual subscriptions registered to the student:
  • Full Home Edition License will be issued free of charge to student
  • No cost to school or parent for the Home Edition
  • Technical support directly from Freedom Scientific included
  • Service Maintenance Agreement (SMA) included to cover the student for the remainder of their K-12 education

After the Student Graduates from Grade 12

• Student can contact Freedom Scientific to enter the SMA program for their existing Home Edition license
• Current cost for the Home Edition SMA is $120 for two years
• Note: the Home Edition SMA beyond the student’s K-12 years is not available with Federal Quota funds

General Purchasing Information

• JAWS and MAGic Student Edition is distributed only through the American Printing House for the Blind in the United States and Canada
• Federal Quota funds can be used in the U.S. to purchase from APH for eligible students in K-12
• Software can be purchased for students with non-Quota funds from APH, if desired
• JAWS and MAGic Student Edition subscriptions are an exceptional value at only $300 per student per year

Purchasing Instructions, Student Edition

Ordering: Ex Officio Trustees can submit a signed Quota order to APH by fax or mail. The order can be for one or more JAWS/MAGic Student Edition one-year subscriptions. Please provide APH with a contact person’s email address and telephone number on your Federal Quota order. Note: JAWS/MAGic cannot be ordered directly via shop.aph.org.

Receiving: APH will then email you a Serial Number and Authorization Code for each JAWS/MAGic Student subscription that you order. You will also receive a hard copy confirmation of each Serial Number and Authorization Code printed on the invoice that APH mails to you.

Distribution: EOTs are responsible for distributing the Serial Numbers and Authorization Codes to those teachers or others in their states who have ordered JAWS/MAGic Student subscriptions on Quota.

Renewals: EOTs are responsible for ordering annual renewals when needed by each student. A countdown built into the software lets the user know the days remaining in the annual subscription.

How to Install: The email you receive will also contain links to the Freedom Scientific website. These links allow you to download JAWS, MAGic, or both for each student. For more information on installation and support please see http://tech.aph.org/jfw/

Purchasing from APH Using Non-Quota Funds: You may purchase JAWS/MAGic Student Edition subscriptions using non-Quota funds, as long as the student is working at a 12th grade level or under. For example, you may purchase by calling APH and using a credit card.

NEW! Building on Patterns: Primary Braille Literacy Program: Second Grade: Posttest Materials – UEB

Note: We are excited to announce that with the release of this posttest, Building on Patterns—UEB is now complete!

Teacher’s Posttest Manual:
Print: 8-78572-00 — $15.00
Braille: 6-78572-00 — $32.00

Posttest Consumables Pack (teacher’s forms in print & braille, student’s forms in braille): 8-78575-00 — $35.00

Unlike the Unit Check-ups, included in the student’s textbooks, the posttest is a separate item that assesses the concepts and skills covered throughout that whole level of the program. A set of consumable forms are provided in braille for use by the student and in print and braille for use by the teacher in a separate package. The teacher’s manuals, available in both print and braille editions (sold separately), give complete instructions for administering and scoring the tests and analyzing the results. An answer key is provided in the back for quick checking. Results can be recorded in an accompanying graph showing target scores for each subtest. This sheet makes it easy to see areas where the student excels as well as areas where remediation may be needed. Both the unit tests and the posttest assess the following critical areas of literacy development:

• Phonemic awareness & phonics
• New reading word recognition
• Dolch word recognition
• Braille symbol recognition
• Reading & comprehension
• Reading & fluency
• Spelling
• Passage miscue assessment for speed & accuracy
• Language: grammar
• Braillewriting

NEW! Test Ready: Language Arts

Book 8, Teacher Guide:
Large Print: 7-00545-00 — $20.00
Braille: 5-00545-00 — $20.00

Book 8, Student Book:
Large Print: 7-00546-00 — $35.00
Braille: 5-00546-00 — $46.00

This test prep series offers practice for today’s standards-based assessments for grade levels 3 through 8. Test Ready®: Language Arts provides preparation and review, in as little as two weeks before testing day. It also provides a program of instruction and remediation.

Students practice in three areas:

• Spelling-cloze items and spotting misspelled words
• Language-mechanics, expression, and use of resources
• Rubic-scored writing-narrative, expository, or descriptive passages

Test Ready: Language Arts is a review program that provides practice in test-taking skills in reading comprehension and open-ended writing tasks.

Accessible Formats

The APH Teacher Guides and Student Books are available in several accessible formats, so that the entire class can work on language arts together in a multi-media approach. The large print and braille editions include a CD with an .html file and a Digital Talking Book (DTB) file with built-in player.

The large print student edition includes a specially formatted large print answer document. However, it is recommended that each student have a book in his or her preferred reading medium, and should feel free to mark answers in the test books. Used this way, the student books become consumable items.

Note: Copies of regular print Teacher Guides and Student Books are available from the publisher at: Curriculum Associates, Inc., 153 Rangeway Road, North Billerica, MA 01862-0901, 800-225-0248, Fax: 800-366-1158, www.curriculumassociates.com

NEW! ReadWrite mini

1-03207-00 — $103.00

Related Products

ReadWrite Stand: 1-03206-00 — $103.00

Like the larger ReadWrite, this "mini" stand can be used by students and adults with visual impairments for both reading and writing tasks.

The ReadWrite mini measures 10 x 11 1/2 inches and can be positioned in four distinct angles – 5º (at rest), 15º, 30º, and 45º. It weighs approx. 1 1/2 lbs. and has a built-in handle for convenient portability. Its solid, sturdy surface accommodates both reading and writing tasks. It features a low-profile clip that secures reading/writing materials (e.g., worksheets) to the stand during use. An LED book light is provided that can be positioned by the user along the upper edge of the reading stand.

This bright red reading/writing stand has a metal device mounted on the back that accommodates three additional angles apart from the resting angle of five degrees.

Recommended ages: 5 years and up.

WARNING: Adult supervision is required for adjusting the brackets for child use. DO NOT place fingers underneath the spring-loaded hinges of the uppermost bracket.

REVISED: 90# White Fanfold Tractor-Feed Braille Transcribing Paper, 8 1/2 x 11 inch, 3-hole and 19-hole punch

1-04138-01 — $24.50

This low dust paper is designed to be used with computer-driven braille embossing devices. It has a smooth surface. Tractor-feed holes may be torn off. 90# paper, 500 sheets. The 100# version previously sold by APH is no longer available.

NEW SIZE! Braillable Labels, Pin-Fed Label Sheets, 7 x 2.4 inches

1-08895-00 — $23.00

These clear, blank self-adhesive labels can be brailled and used to label items around the home, school, and office, such as: household appliances; canned goods; greeting cards; books; CDs; folders. Pin-Fed Label Sheets offer more room for brailling and can be cut to the desired size. A printed SimBraille® sheet is included with each package to assist in determining size and placement.

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.

Just Grace and the Trouble with Cupcakes
by Charise Mericle Harper: TN2111-90 — $52.00
Count on third-grader Grace to cook up a creative compromise just in time to save the day at the cupcake-themed school fair. Grades K-3. *(AR Quiz No. 158936, BL 4.3, Pts. 3.0)

Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure
by William Goldman: T-N2097-30 — $167.50
Presents the timeless love story between a farm boy named Westley and the beautiful Princess Buttercup, along with the author’s comments on life and art as he attempts to edit the children’s classic. Grades 9-12.

Misfit Economy: Lessons in Creativity from Pirates, Hackers, Gangsters and Other Informal Entrepreneurs
by Alexa Clay T-N2123-60 — $105.00
Examination and case studies of entrepreneurial philosophies and practices using non-traditional, and sometimes illegal, approaches. Analyzes the mindset of a misfit, potentially successful strategies optimizing misfit tendencies, and the role of misfits in the economies of the twenty-first century.

Very Good Lives
by : J.K. Rowling: T-N2118-50 — $17.00
In 2008, J.K. Rowling delivered a deeply affecting commencement speech at Harvard University. Now published for the first time, this book presents J.K. Rowling’s words of wisdom for anyone at a turning point in life. How can we embrace failure? And how can we use our imagination to better both ourselves and others? Drawing from stories of her own post-graduate years, the world famous author addresses some of life’s most important questions with acuity and emotional force.

Starship Troopers
by Robert A. Heinlein: T-N2110-20 — $125.00
With Earth embroiled in a vast interplanetary war with the "Bugs," a young recruit in the Federal Reserves relates his experiences training in boot camp and as a junior officer in the Terran Mobile Infantry. 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/

APH Travel Calendar

May

May 1-3, 2016
Visual Aid Volunteers of Florida VAVF Conference
Orlando FL

May 4, 2016
Cal State LA CIP Event
California State University LA

May 7, 2016
IAOMS Lighting & Low Vision Presentation
Hines, IL

May 10-11, 2016
LifeScience Technologies Product Meetings
Kansas City, KS

May 13-14, 2016
KAEPS Annual Spring Meeting
Louisville, KY

May 21-26, 2016
International Council on English Braille (ICEB) Sixth General Assembly
Baltimore, MD

May 23-25, 2016
Transforming Braille Group Meeting
Baltimore, MD

June

June 14-15, 2016
KATS Network Assistive Technology Conference
Frankfort, KY

June 20-22, 2016
CCSSO/NCSA Conference 2016
Philadelphia, PA

June 23-25, 2016
VidCon
Anaheim, CA

June 30-July 2, 2016
Visions 2016
Baltimore, MD

June 30 – July 5, 2016
NFB 2016
Orlando, FL

July

July 1, 2016
Dominican College Training
Orangeburg, NY

July 1-6, 2016
ACB 2016 Conference & Convention
Minneapolis, MN

July 8-9, 2016
American Conference on Pediatric Cortical Visual Impairment
Omaha, NE

July 11-16, 2016
AHEAD
Indianapolis, IN

July 18-24, 2016
AER International 2016
Jacksonville, FL