APH News

Exciting New APH Products Announced!

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

• APH Fall Harvest Sale
• Wilson Reading System Large Print Kit
• History in the Making: The Story of the American Printing House for the Blind: 1858-2008, Braille Edition
• HANDS ON Kit and Black Large Work-Play Tray Again Available
• APH Braille Book Corner

APH’s 141st Annual Meeting, "Keys to Success," Shares Values!

At the Annual Meeting this year, we witnessed the "Keys to Success" in action. The six core values that guide Muhammad Ali’s life touch us all.

Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Giving, Respect, Spirituality

The Ali Center was the perfect venue to begin our days together. Tuck Tinsley set the perfect tone for the meeting and then introduced Carl Augusto who inspired the "standing room only" crowd with his powerful personal and professional journey. Samir Azer touched us with his remarks upon receiving the Zickel Award for Product Development and Phil Hatlen challenged and encouraged us as he accepted APH’s highest honor, the Wings of Freedom.

It was a rich few days, filled with product demonstrators, Trustee facilitators, Advisory Committee Recommenders, Hall of Famers, University Researchers, interactive participators, related meeting attenders, and even a student YouTube product tutor; all of whom were warmly received as they reminded us of those core values. It was a very powerful and affirming Annual Meeting indeed!

Annual Meeting Photo Album

Here are additional memories of our very special celebration. (Click on additional memories for an Annual Meeting photo album.)

National Prison Braille Network Gathers at 9th Annual Prison Braille Forum

On October 13th, APH Public Affairs staff hosted the first day-long Prison Braille Forum since this annual gathering began in 2000 as a half-day meeting. Held in conjunction with the APH Annual Meeting, this Forum welcomed 40 vision and corrections professionals from 15 states. The two oldest programs (Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund and Volunteers of Vacaville, California) were represented–each having over 45 years of experience producing braille. The "most recently established" program hasn’t actually been launched yet–vision and corrections professionals from North Carolina who are preparing to open a braille production facility came to the Forum to learn from the "pros" as they select a prison and design a program.

Jane Thompson, Director of the APH Accessible Textbooks Department, reported that during the last fiscal year APH in-house and contract transcribers produced 120 textbooks in braille–30 of which were produced in prison braille programs. She indicated that the percentage of braille textbooks produced in prisons grows each year, and will probably hit the 50% mark in the near future.

During the Forum, two critical issues that most prison braille programs continue to face were discussed: a lack of professional training opportunities for transcribers in prisons to learn and advance transcription skills, and the inability of qualified transcribers leaving prison to continue transcribing braille as a career on the outside–primarily because they lack financial resources.

In response to these needs, APH reported the initiation of a new program called Building Bridges with Braille. Through this program, which APH will implement in partnership with the National Braille Association (NBA), professional transcribers on the outside will be hired to provide training in prisons across the country, and individuals in prisons who are highly qualified braille transcribers will be mentored and assisted with the purchase of equipment and supplies as they transition back into society and build careers as transcribers. Building Bridges with Braille will be implemented as soon as funds for the initiative have been secured.

There are currently 35 prison braille programs operating across the U.S., with over 800 men and women producing braille. Current data for each program was gathered and published recently by APH in the 2009 edition of the Directory of Prison Braille Programs.

Another publication, Guidelines for Starting and Operating Prison Braille Programs, was completed recently in response to continual requests for advice on establishing and managing braille production facilities in correctional settings. Both of these publications are available at APH, free of charge. To order copies, contact Rebecca Snider at rsnider@aph.org. The National Prison Braille Network will launch a new website in early 2010. These documents and many more will be available for download via this webpage.

The National Prison Braille Network is coordinated by Nancy Lacewell, APH Director of Government and Community Affairs. For more information on prison braille programs, the annual Forum, or the National Prison Braille Network, contact Nancy by email at nlacewell@aph.org or at telephone extension 339.

Migel Library Transition

As our regular readers know, the American Foundation for the Blind transferred its Migel Memorial Library to APH in August. We are going through the more than 40,000 volumes now, and enjoying every discovery. Although the collection will not be available to the public until next summer, we’ll be sharing a few highlights as we work our way towards the opening. This month, we are looking at the oldest item we have found so far, a 16 page pamphlet from 1834. Although the New England Institution for the Education of the Blind was founded in 1829, it did not start classes until 1832, or publish its first report until 1834. By this time, the brilliant Samuel Gridley Howe had assumed leadership of the nation’s first school for blind children. It would not operate under its more familiar name, the Perkins Institution, until the 1840s. Check out the APH newsletter each month for more revelations about the Migel Library. You can contact Julia Myers (jmyers@aph.org) and Mike Hudson (mhudson@aph.org) for more information.

We welcome Constance Ard as the new librarian for the APH AFB Migel Library. Constance is Chair of the Kentucky Virtual Library Advisory Council (KYVLAC). Her background includes research, information management consultancy, and digitization project management. Constance will be working to make the Migel Library accessible to those visiting APH and will be developing a plan to make web-based access to the collection easier.

Tactile Stickers Galore! Do You Want More?

In recent months, APH has received teacher requests for additional tactile stickers similar to those available in the existing Feel n’ Peel Sticker packages. Current packages include braille alphabet stickers, literary braille number stickers, point symbol stickers, reward statement stickers, smiley face stickers, tactile stars, and color name stickers. Assorted packages are available. If you would like to see additional types of stickers produced by APH, please send Karen Poppe an email describing the types of stickers that you feel are still needed. Send all ideas to kpoppe@aph.org Thank you.

Look for APH at the 9th Biennial Getting in Touch with Literacy Conference in California

Are you heading west for the November 12-15 literacy conference? I understand registration is still open and reasonable rooms are still available! For more information, visit: http://www.gettingintouchwithliteracy.com/

APH is a proud sponsor of this event, co-founded by our own Janie Blome, along with Cay Holbrook. While at the conference, we hope you’ll stop by our booth and say hello. We’ll be showing many of our products, including the FVLMA, Word Playhouse, Braille+, Querty Docking Station, Refreshabraille 18, the All-In-One Board, and many others!

Hope to see you there!

Reaching For the Stars In South Carolina

A lucky group of service coordinators, family members and others were on hand to "Reach for the Stars" in Columbia, South Carolina October 23-24, when APH hosted a National Instructional Partnerships (NIP) event in partnership with EOT Elizabeth McKown, Director of Outreach Vision Services for the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind. Diane Haines, author of the APH product Reach for the Stars, was on hand to provide training in the use of maps to gather information about children that can be useful in the development of IFSPs and IEPs for children. Friday’s sessions with the professionals provided an opportunity for attendees to learn how to guide families through the mapping process and Saturday’s session for families provided hands-on opportunities for families to use the materials and to share with each other. Thanks again to the 11 wonderful families who gave up their Saturday to be with us and to provide such amazing support for each other!

National Instructional Partnerships (NIP) events are designed to highlight the use of APH products across the areas of the core curriculum and the expanded core curriculum. If you are interested in hosting such an event in your area, please contact Janie Blome, jblome@aph.org, or call 800-223-1839, ext. 367.

Guidelines Needed: Appropriate Assessment of English Language Learners

Some years ago, Dr. Carol Allman, a consultant for Accessible Tests, drafted a document for APH titled Making Tests Accessible for Students with Visual Impairments: A Guide for Test Publishers, Test Developers, and State Assessment Personnel. This document has been and continues to be extremely valuable as a training tool. Since the original document was released, it has been revised and updated to include information and guidelines regarding alternate assessments, uses of color for signage, graphics, text, tests and Power Point presentations, position papers on use of extended time and accommodations, and more. During this fiscal year, Accessible Tests staff has a goal of adding information and guidelines regarding appropriate assessment of English language learners who are also blind or visually impaired. If you would be interested in drafting some guidelines for inclusion in the fifth edition of Making Tests Accessible, please contact Debbie Willis at dwillis@aph.org or call 502/899-2311 or 800/223-1839, ext. 311.

Louis! More than a quarter million accessible books and still growing!

The Louis Database now contains information on approximately 250,324 titles in accessible formats, including braille, large print, sound recording and electronic files. Louis is still growing!

More changes are in store for Louis, so check Louis frequently for additional new books and for exciting new changes at http://Louis.aph.org

NIMAC Exceeds 19,000 Files!

The National Instructional Materials Access Center now holds more than 19,125 NIMAS files available for conversion into accessible instructional materials! Most important, nearly 3,000 of these NIMAS files have been downloaded to be transformed into accessible textbooks!

For more information on NIMAC go to http://www.nimac.us

Hall of Fame for Blindness Field Defines Its Space

New exhibits in the Hall of Fame provide the definition needed to explain the mission of the venue as well as those honored there.

A great new entry foyer display includes a huge logo and panels explaining the Hall, the mission, and how to nominate. In the Hall, in addition to kiosks with bas relief plaques of all inductees and an artifacts case, you will now see an Inductee Wall with pictures and information on each honoree. Across the Hall is the Wall of Tribute, now with a bold header, which holds 150 stones in its wooden columns, along with a panel that explains how you can honor someone special in your life with a beautifully etched stone. If you choose to come by elevator, a welcoming sign will greet you as you disembark. Come to APH and celebrate your Hall of Fame and those you have honored there!

2009 Hall of Fame Induction

Bas Relief Plaques of the 2009 Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field Inductees, Euclid Herie and Dean Tuttle, are now installed in the Hall of Fame.

Soon the 2009 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, beautifully hosted by Jane Erin, will appear on the website as well.

Biographies of these legends can be found on the Hall of Fame website. Dr. Erin’s induction remarks are also posted on the biography sites.

APHers Walk for a Good Cause in Georgia

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and two APH employees decided to take steps (a lot of steps) to help that cause. Malcolm and Monica Turner participated in their second Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in Atlanta, GA on October 23-25, walking 60 miles in 3 days. Together they raised over $4700 to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund. Over 2200 people participated in the walk, raising a total of over $5.6 million dollars.

APH InSights 2009 Award winners

We are pleased to announce the names of the winners in this year’s competition. From the 323 entries, the three judges selected eighty-three works for display in the exhibit at the annual meeting. From these "show pieces," first, second, and third awards were selected in each of the nine categories and another few works were singled out for honorable mention. Many of the entrants entered through their schools or agencies; several of the adult artists have their own studios and work independently. We know there are lots of other aspiring artists out there who want to enter next year. The deadlines are April 1 for students, and April 15 for adults. Rules and entry forms will be posted on the website by late February, Contact Roberta Williams rwilliams@aph.org

Thanks to everyone who entered for making this a great competition. Congratulations to those whose work was selected for the display and to these award winners: for more information.

• Alvin Toledo from St. Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairments, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, First Place in the category for Preschool/Kindergarten
• Daniella Fraioli from Parsons Elementary School, Harrison, New York, Second Place in the category for Preschool/Kindergarten
• Bianca McEvoy from Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, Oyster Bay, New York, Third Place in the category for Preschool/Kindergarten
• Edward Majeski from Saint Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairments, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, First Place in the category for First, Second, Third Grades
• Brooke Lehrer from Electa Quinney Elementary, Kaukauna, Wisconsin, Second Place in the category for First, Second, Third Grades
• Brittney Crespo from Saint Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairments, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Third Place in the category for First, Second, Third Grades
• Isabel Perry from St. Mary Magdalene School, Apex, North Carolina, First Place in the category for Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Grades
• Elizabeth Romero from Stellar Elementary School, Thornton, Colorado, Second Place in the category for Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Grades
• Erick Rosso from New York Institute for Special Education, Bronx, New York, Third Place in the category for Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Grades
• John Evans from Ardsley Middle School, Ardsley, New York, First Place in the category for Seventh, Eighth, Ninth Grades
• Anthony Ferraro from HW Mountz School, Spring Lake, New Jersey, Spring Lake, New Jersey, won Second Place in the category for Seventh, Eighth, Ninth Grades
• Taylor Flood from Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Montpelier, Vermont, Third Place in the category for Seventh, Eighth, Ninth Grades
• Heather Morrison from Saint Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairments, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Honorable Mention in the category for Seventh, Eighth, Ninth Grades
• Dustin Rish from Cedar Springs Middle School, Cedar Springs Michigan, Honorable Mention in the category for Seventh, Eighth, Ninth Grades
• Kyle Street from Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Indianapolis, Indiana, Honorable Mention in the category for Seventh, Eighth, Ninth Grades
• Nick Vanderwall from Mason County Central High, Scottville, Michigan, First Place in the category for Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth Grades
• Hannah Wedel from Halstead High School, Halstead, Kansas, Second Place in the category for Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth Grades
• John Anderson from Overbrook School for the Blind, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Third Place in the category for Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth Grades
• Remington Howell from Governor Morehead School for the Blind, Raleigh, North Carolina, Honorable Mention in the category for Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth Grades
• Brittany Montgomery from Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Indianapolis, Indiana, Honorable Mention in the category for Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth Grades
• Zane Rimpler from Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Indianapolis, Indiana, Honorable Mention in the category for Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth Grades
• Jacob Lynch from Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Indianapolis, Indiana, First Place in the category for Ungraded
• A group of six students from Lavelle School for the Blind, Bronx, New York, Second Place in the category for Ungraded
• Catherine Campbell from Sullivan County BOCES, Liberty, New York, Third Place in the category for Ungraded
• Joelle Philippo from Lavelle School for the Blind, Bronx, New York Honorable Mention in the category for Ungraded
• Lawrence Lancaster, an independent artist from Los Angeles, California, First Place in the category for Craft
• Nancy Blizzard from Clovernook Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, Second Place in the category for Craft
• Shirley Blackmore from Clovernook Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, Third Place in the category for Craft
• Chapelle Letman an independent artist from Cleveland, Ohio, First Place in the category for Sculpture
• Mari Newman, an independent artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Second Place in the category for Sculpture
• Terry Strader from Clovernook Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, Third Place in the category for Sculpture
• Russell Schermer an independent artist from Chico, California, Honorable Mention in the category for Sculpture
• Margie Stocker from Clovernook Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, Honorable Mention in the category for Sculpture
• David Kontra an independent artist from Norwood, Missouri, First Place in the category for Two-Dimensional Art
• Frank Valliere an independent artist from Gorham, Maine, Second Place in the category for Two-Dimensional Art
• Michael Williams an independent artist from Memphis, Tennessee, won Third Place in the category for Two-Dimensional Art
• Keith Field from an independent artist from Seattle, Washington, Honorable Mention in the category for Two-Dimensional Art
• Tim O’Brien from an independent artist from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Honorable Mention in the category for Two-Dimensional Art

APH Welcomes New Ex Officio Trustees

Karen Ross, the Carroll Center for the Blind, replacing Rachel Rosenbaum.

Brent Pitt, the Texas Education Agency, replacing Dottie Goodman.

APH Travel Calendar

November

November 4-5, 2009
NIP Event–FVLMA with LaRhea Sanford;
UT

November 5, 2009
NFB of Colorado Resource Fair;
Denver, CO

November 6, 2009
AER Ohio–Pulling Together 2009 Statewide Business Meeting;
Worthington, OH

November 6-7, 2009
Kentucky Council for the Blind Event 2009;
KSB in Louisville, KY

November 12-14, 2009
MACRT-ASERT;
Milwaukee, WI

November 12-15, 2009
Getting In Touch With Literacy Conference 2009;
Costa Mesa, CA

November 18-20, 2009
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) 2009;
Nashville, TN

November 22-24, 2009
Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children/Exceptional Children’s Conference;
Louisville, KY

December

December 3, 2009
North Carolina Assistive Technology Expo;
North Raleigh, NC

December 4-5, 2009
NIP Event–Administering/Scoring the WJ III for Braille Readers;
Phoenix, AZ

January

January 27-30, 2010
ATIA 2010;
Orlando, FL

February

February 24-26, 2009
Celebrating Connections;
Charleston, WV

February 24-27, 2009
89th Annual EDA Convention (Eastern District Association of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance or AAHPERD);
Rye, NY

Help Wanted!

Want to live in beautiful Louisville, Kentucky and work with the best people in the world? Check out the following links to a couple of exciting APH job opportunities.

Research Department
Model & Pattern Maker II

Communications Department
Website Associate

Fall Harvest Sale

Load up a world of savings on selected APH products with APH’s Fall Harvest Sale 2009, October 1 – December 31. As always, first come, first served. sites.aph.org/products/harvest.html

NEW! Wilson Reading System Large Print Kit

Student Reader One and Workbooks 1A and 1B: 8-79501-SK1 — $30.00
Student Reader Two and Workbooks 2A and 2B: 8-79501-SK2 — $30.00
Student Reader Three and Workbooks 3A and 3B: 8-79501-SK3 — $30.00

Replacement Items

• Student Reader One: 8-79502-00 — $10.00
  • Student Workbook 1A: 8-79502-WA — $7.25
  • Student Workbook 1B: 8-79502-WB — $6.50
• Student Reader Two: 8-79503-00 — $10.00
  • Student Workbook 2A: 8-79503-WA — $7.25
  • Student Workbook 2B: 8-79503-WB — $6.50
• Student Reader Three: 8-79504-00 — $10.00
  • Student Workbook 3A: 8-79504-WA — $7.25
  • Student Workbook 3B: 8-79504-WB — $6.50

Related Products–Wilson Reading System Braille Readers

• Student Reader One: 6-79502-00 — $17.00
• Student Reader Two: 6-79503-00 — $17.00
• Student Reader Three: 6-79504-00 — $17.00

The Wilson Reading System® is a complete curriculum for teaching decoding and encoding (spelling), beginning with phoneme segmentation. Unlike other programs that overwhelm the student with rules, the language system of English is presented in a systematic and cumulative manner so that it is manageable. WRS provides an organized, sequential system with extensive controlled text to help teachers implement a multi-sensory structured language program.

This System specifically addresses the learning style of students with a language-based learning disability; however, it is beneficial to any student lacking basic reading and spelling skills.

The Wilson Reading System is authored by Barbara A. Wilson and published by Wilson Language Training Corporation. Permission has been granted to APH to publish the braille and large print versions. For more information and professional development opportunities on the use of the program, please visit: http://www.wilsonlanguage.com

Wilson Reading System is a registered trademark of Wilson Language Training Corporation. Wilson Language Training Corporation has given APH permission to publish braille and large print editions of the Wilson Reading System in an effort to help serve the blind and visually impaired community.

Recommended grades: 2 and up.

Note: Braille Workbooks, Print/Braille Word Cards, Syllable Cards, Sound Cards, and Magnetic Tiles will be available in the future.

History in the Making: The Story of the American Printing House for the Blind: 1858-2008

New! Braille Edition: W-HIST-APH-BRL — $39.95
Regular Print Edition: W-HISTORY-APH — $39.95

Not available with Quota funds.

This beautiful history book by former APH Museum director Carol Tobe was commissioned to celebrate the company’s 150th anniversary in 2008. This keepsake book is offered in regular print and in braille:

• Regular Print Edition: Packed with rare details about the origins of APH, this book features rich photography, reproductions of tactile pages embossed from vintage printing plates, and an accessible audio book version on CD read by APH narrator Jack Fox. This 180-page hardbound book was designed by nationally known graphic artist Julius Friedman and features color photography by Geoffrey Carr.
• Braille Edition: Two hardbound braille volumes with color covers contain the text of the regular print edition, including the pages embossed from vintage APH printing plates. Pages are bound with metal rings and a cloth page marking strip is bound into each volume. The CD containing the audio book version, narrated by Jack Fox, is included.

Additional Shipping Charge

All shipments will incur actual UPS shipping rates based on the destination.

HANDS ON Kit and Black Large Work-Play Tray Again Available

Two more APH products have, like the phoenix, risen from the ashes of our vendor fire! These products are again available for order:

HANDS ON Kit: Functional Activities for Visually Impaired Preschoolers

1-03260-00 — $235.00

Helps children develop skills such as concentration, hand and visual coordination, ability to complete a cycle of activity, and socialization skills. Also helps develop a sense of order and a positive self-image.

Includes a guidebook and six specially designed plastic work trays. The guidebook details numerous activities using the trays and commonly available materials. The work progresses from jobs such as pouring beans to more complicated tasks such as preparing snacks.

Recommended Ages: 3 to 6

Work-Play Tray: Large Black

1-03761-00 — $21.00

Durable trays hold objects that might roll out of reach. Trays provide enclosed work space for sorting, matching, classifying, counting. The Large Work-Play Tray measures 21.25 x 13.25 inches. Small Work-Play Trays are also available. The large yellow tray will be available in the future.

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 approximately 8 weeks for delivery.

Leonardo’s Horse
by Jean Fritz: T-N1754-70 — $9.00
Explains American Charles Dent’s efforts to complete the unrealized dream of Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) to cast a twenty-four-foot statue of a horse in bronze. Discusses the difficulties Leonardo faced five hundred years ago and Dent’s use of modern casting and reinforcing techniques. Nonfiction, Grades 3-6. *(AR Quiz #54098, BL 4.6, Pts. 0.5)

Digging to America
by Anne Tyler: T-N1658-30 — $75.50
A chance encounter between two families, the Donaldsons and the Iranian-born Yasdans, at the Baltimore airport prompts an examination about what it means to be an American. The American Donaldsons and the Iranian American Yazdans–meet at the airport when their adopted daughters arrive from Korea. Yazdan matriarch Maryam, who emigrated from Iran, feels increasingly alienated as she observes the younger generations’ interactions during their annual arrival-day anniversaries. Fiction, Upper Grades. *(AR Quiz #107849, BL 5.8, Pts. 13.0)

Make It Now, Bake It Later!
by Ann and Scott Goodfellow: T-N1662-50 — $71.00
Updated version of a 1958 cookbook – offers old favorites and new dishes adapted for modern tastes. Recipes list ingredients needed at the outset and those needed to finish the dish later, ways to store the unfinished dish, and final steps before serving. Includes appetizers, main dishes, and desserts.

Tigers in Red Weather: A Quest for the Last Wild Tigers
by Ruth Padel: T-N1714-30 — $182.00
British poet describes the plight of tigers as she travels to their habitats in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Russia, Korea, China, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia. Padel discusses tiger lore and history, the work of scientists and conservators in the field, and the reasons for the near extinction of tigers.

The Book of the Dead: A Pendergast Mystery
by Douglas J. Preston: T-N1665-20 — $134.50
FBI agent Aloysius Pendergast, from Dance of Death, languishes in prison for murders committed by his psychotic brother, Diogenes. Meanwhile, New York’s natural history museum unseals an Egyptian tomb, precipitating more killings. Aloysius escapes to confront his brother in a deadly showdown. Strong language and some violence. Adult Readers.

*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/