APH News

Exciting New APH Products Announced!

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

• APH Fall Harvest Sale
• REVISED! FOCUS in Mathematics Kit
• Test Ready: Plus Mathematics Book Three
• Braille DateBook 2011
• APH Braille Book Corner

142nd Annual Meeting Takes Attendees Across America

Jim Gibbons

Although many of those attending might claim to have walked across America while navigating the corridors of the Galt House, this year’s Annual Meeting offered many opportunities for the record crowd to learn about products, offer their input, celebrate the accomplishments of our award winners, and network with each other and APH staff.

Highlights included the opening key note address by Goodwill Industries CEO Jim Gibbons, the Migel Medal presentation to Dr. Tuck Tinsley, APH awards presentations to the Lucky Touch Fortune Cookie Company and Drs. LaRhea Sanford and Rebecca Burnett, and the Information Fair at Tuck’s Diner! Sixteen new Ex Officio Trustees attended the New EOT Breakfast, and six APH scholars were on hand to learn about APH!

The wide variety of product training and product input sessions included products for technology, reading, tangible symbols, math, and more.The Product Showcase included new APH products for all to see and explore.

The 142nd Annual Meeting turned out to be the second largest gathering in APH history with 438 registrants (The 150th Celebration in 2008 being the largest).

We thank those who were able to participate and hope that the rest of you can be with us in 2011! It is such a great way to learn about APH products, often from the creators, as well as a chance to provide us with important input on products still in development.

Please mark the 143rd Annual Meeting on your calendar now!
October 13-15, 2011, Galt House Hotel, Louisville, Kentucky

Annual Meeting 2010 Photo Album

Here are additional memories of our very special celebration: Annual Meeting photo album.

APH Museum Celebrates Orientation and Mobility with New Exhibit

The orientation and mobility community gathered for a special celebration at the APH Museum on Saturday, October 16th. The occasion was the rededication of the AER O&M Division Warren Bledsoe Archives at APH. The collection, originally opened at the Maryland School for the Blind in 1988, moved to APH in 2007. The archive holds both the professional papers of pioneer Warren Bledsoe, and the organizational archives of the AER O&M Division. O&M specialists from around the country, many already in Louisville for the APH Annual Meeting, were treated to remarks from APH President Tuck Tinsley, Hall-of-Famer Rick Welsh, and current Division Chair Marjorie Wood. Museum Director Mike Hudson led a behind-the-scenes tour of both the archives and a new permanent exhibit on O&M in the APH Museum.

Featured in the exhibit are videos, photographs, and artifacts from the Bledsoe Archives, including an excellent long cane collection, and possibly the best grouping of historic electronic travel aids anywhere. Another featured artifact is a dog harness used by the first dog guide team in the U.S., Morris Frank and his German shepherd, Buddy. Loaned by the Seeing Eye, Inc., the harness was professionally treated by an objects conservator to prepare it for this special showing. Among the many special guests were family members of Warren Bledsoe and Stan Suterko, as well as living legends Phil Hatlen, Rod Kossick, and Carl Augusto. To use any of the resources in the Bledsoe Archives or to learn more about the history of orientation & mobility, contact Anne Rich at APH at (502)899-2364 or arich@aph.org.

Sign Up to Participate in the ISAVE Interactive Webcast

APH will be hosting a live webcast on the use of the Individualized Systematic Assessment of Visual Efficiency kit, ISAVE. The presentation will take place on January 28, 2011, from 12:30 to 4:30 ET.

To participate and take advantage of all the webcast interactive features such as video, voice chat and text chat, you will need a computer running Windows, broadband internet access, computer microphone and speakers, as well as administrative rights to install a plug-in and receive video. We also recommend that you have an ISAVE kit to actively participate in the training from your own school, home or office.

To sign up and receive login info, please contact Maria Delgado at mdelgado@aph.org. After you sign up, an equipment test will be scheduled to make sure your equipment meets all the requirements. The deadline to sign up for the live webcast is January 20, 2011.

The webcast will be archived for those individuals who are unable to participate in the live presentation.

Field Evaluators Needed!
Expanded Beginner’s Abacus (Product Revision)

The Beginner’s Abacus, the ever-popular classroom staple, is undergoing a make-over and APH is seeking field evaluators! The Expanded Beginner’s Abacus will look a lot like the Beginner’s Abacus except that it will have one more rod–the hundreds column–added. It will consist of the same black rectangular frame but will have 3 rods, each with 9 white beads for computation. We’re looking for teachers who have used the Beginner’s Abacus to teach math skills to their students in the past, or for those who are new to teaching math to their students.

Evaluators will be provided with an Expanded Beginner’s Abacus and an Instruction booklet.

The evaluation period will begin in early Jan, 2011 and run approximately 3 months. If you would like to be considered for participation, please contact Sandi Baker at sbaker@aph.org.

Please feel free to forward or circulate this request to teachers who might be helpful to this evaluation. Thank you!

Have you administered the Braille adaptation of The Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement?
We need your assistance!

The Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement (Woodcock, McGrew, & Mather, 2001) is a reliable and comprehensive test for identifying learning achievement of children when information about learning strengths and difficulties is needed. Recently APH published the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement: Braille Adaptation. Teachers now have the opportunity to use an assessment tool that offers appropriate test items for students who read braille.

The publication of the braille adaptation also offers a rare opportunity for us to gather information about the academic achievement of braille readers. APH is collaborating with Dr. Jane Erin of the University of Arizona to gather and analyze the scores of blind students who have taken the WJ-III Braille Adaptation to discover learning patterns of blind students who have been tested. The investigation will also target areas in which students who are braille readers tend to be more successful or have more difficulty.

If you are an instructional materials center coordinator or a professional who is administering the test, we need your assistance in gathering anonymous copies of students’ scores for the study. A letter is being mailed to everyone who has purchased the WJ-III Braille to request the Test Record and the Score Report from each student who has taken the test. A sample of the forms needed is included with the letter so you will know what to send.

Instructional materials center coordinators: Please make sure a copy of the letter reaches everyone who has administered your copy (s) of the WJ-III Braille.

Teachers and test administrators: If you do not receive a copy of the letter requesting the test scores, please email Project Leader Barbara Henderson at bhenderson@aph.org. She will make sure that you get a copy of the letter and the samples of the needed materials.

Thank you for helping to provide the information that will help us to better understand our students’ learning.

2010 Hall of Fame Induction

Bas Relief Plaques of the 2010 Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field Inductees, Morris Frank and M. C. Migel, are now installed in the Hall of Fame.

Soon a video of the 2010 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, again beautifully hosted by Jane Erin, will appear on the website as well.

Biographies of these legends (Morris Frank, M.C. Migel) can be found on the Hall of Fame website.

BANA Board Adopts Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics!

The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) held its fall 2010 meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on October 29 – November 1. CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind), a BANA member organization, hosted the meeting, which followed the 2010 CNIB Conference titled "Now I Know My ABCs: Access, Braille, Communication." All events were held at the CNIB Centre in Toronto.

BANA began its meeting with its customary OPEN FORUM, which was held on Friday, October 29, the final day of the CNIB Conference. The forum was quite well attended by transcribers, educators, and consumers from all across Canada. Participants generated a lively discussion on a range of topics and shared their opinions and expertise with members of the BANA Board.

The BANA Board addressed a very full agenda on Saturday and Sunday, and took action on various committee recommendations. Observers included a gallery of "locals" as well as Bonnie and Warren Read, who traveled several thousand miles from Saskatchewan to attend. On Monday, November 1, the BANA Board, with leadership from Rosemary Kavanagh of ERK Consulting, spent an active day galvanizing the Board’s strategic planning efforts that have been underway over the last series of meetings. With Rosemary’s assertive guidance, BANA identified and agreed upon its strategic imperatives and established a core team to map out action plans to address them.

Perhaps the most exciting action on the agenda was BANA’s approval and adoption of the long-anticipated Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics! This unique document has been developed through a joint project sponsored by BANA and the Canadian Braille Authority (CBA) and will now go through production processes to make it available for purchase. BANA also approved several other clarifications to current braille codes and guidelines. The specifics of these decisions will be broadcast through press releases, email announcements, and postings on BANA’s website at www.brailleauthority.org.

If you would like to stay up-to-date with BANA activities and rulings, sign up for BANA-Announce, a one-way email list that disseminates official BANA information. To join this list, send a blank email message to bana-announce-subscribe@brailleauthority.org and follow the directions in the confirmation email that will be sent in response.

BANA will hold its next meeting on April 1 – 4, 2011, at Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Cincinnati. Visitors and observers are encouraged to attend the Open Forum as well as board deliberations. Stay tuned for more information!

NFB Braille Certification Training Program for NLS

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute is nearing the end of their fourth year of working under contract with the Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), to administer the courses leading to certification for braille transcribers and proofreaders. During the past four years, approximately 900 students have successfully completed the Braille Certification Courses and earned their certification from the Library of Congress. In addition, NFB revised the manual for the literary transcribing course, added a new Associate Music Transcriber certification, and updated other requirements and processes to keep the courses running efficiently and to maintain the high standards of the Library of Congress certification. Further updates are ongoing as we continue to strive to increase the quality and quantity of braille produced in this country.

Vermont Veterans Visited

On September 28th, Field Representatives Maria Delgado and Cathy Johnson conducted a full day hands-on training for blinded veterans in White River Junction, VT. This year APH acquired a contract with the Veterans Administration to become a vendor, and this was the first training of its kind.

The audience consisted of our host, Lisa Ehrlich, VISC Coordinator, and near 30 blinded veterans who were delighted to interact with APH products.

Some of the most popular products among participants were the technology products like the Book Port Plus, the Braille Plus, the Mini-Guide USA, Money Talks, and the Zeitgeist. Popular Low Vision products included the Compact Plus Video Magnifier, the EZ-Track series and the Address Earth Atlas.

APH Field Services "On the Road" in New Hampshire

From left to right, Maria Delgado, Field Services Representative, Rita Stanton, Coordinator, New Hampshire IMRC, Cathy Johnson, Field Services Representative,
and Evelyn Kelso, APH EOT

Cathy Johnson and Maria Delgado were in Concord, New Hampshire September 29 and 30 hosted by Rita Stanton, Coordinator of the Information Materials Resource Center (IMRC) that is housed at ATECH Vision and Hearing Services. Over 40 professionals, parents, and administrators attended during the two days. Attendees were provided an overview of the Functional Vision and Learning Media Assessment Kit and an APH Product Showcase. With a focus on newer products, the Product Showcase included 30 Love, All-In-One-Board, Child-Guided Strategies: The Van Dijk Approach to Assessment, Early Braille Tradebooks, Flip Over Concept Books, Word PlayHouse, MathBuilders and Geometro, Revised Developmental Guidelines, Jump Rope to Fitness Kit, the Sensory Learning Kit video, the latest edition of SQUID, and several others. Technology devices, software applications, and APH web features where also highlighted. Participants especially enjoyed an activity where they were able to explore the products, then share features and ways for use with their students.

Comments from attendees:

"The APH workshops generated a greater awareness of APH items/tools and different ways they can be used which resulted in an increase in loan requests on those items reviewed."

"Since the workshops, all 5 of our FVLMA kits are currently out on loan by TVI’s doing student assessments."

"I never thought I would have so much fun and learn so much"

News From the Migel Library

A world traveler has a new home in the Migel Memorial Library at APH. Staff in the Migel have been working on adding new books and periodicals to the library since its transfer to APH from the American Foundation for the Blind in 2009. One of their most recent finds was written in 1834 by James Holman, A Voyage Around the World Including Travels in Africa, Asia, Australasia, America.

James Holman, featured in Jason Roberts’ excellent 2006 biography A Sense of the World, was a British naval officer who lost his sight, but never his sense of adventure. By age 48, he had traveled around the world and published several best sellers about his experiences. His second book, Voyage, now becomes the oldest book in the Migel written by a person who was blind or visually impaired.

"We’re committed to not only housing the Migel Library at APH," said Vice President Gary Mudd, "but continuing Robert Irwin’s original vision of a comprehensive collection. Holman’s life story breaks our stereotypes of blind people in the early nineteenth century."

To take a world voyage yourself, you don’t have to follow in James Holman’s footsteps. You can access the Migel Library catalog listings yourself from the comfort of your own computer at migel.aph.org. By typing "full text" into the search box, you can sample scans of books from the Migel Library in a variety of accessible formats. You can find scans of all four of James Holman’s books at Google.com by searching for his name in their books section.

APH Research Department Welcomes New Staff Members

Sandi Baker

Jeremy Ockerman

Sandi Baker was recently named Core Curriculum Project Leader in the Research Department, succeeding Jeanette Wicker who continues as an APH Core Curriculum Consultant. Sandi has worked at APH as a Field Services Representative for over a decade. Sandi is a strong asset to the company, particularly as it relates to curriculum, knowledge of APH products, and issues relating to students who are deaf-blind.

Jeremy Ockerman recently joined the APH Research Department as our new Administrative Coordinator, specifically working as a Grant Support Specialist. Jeremy is a graduate of the University of Louisville. His wife Julie teaches special education students in the Jefferson County Public Schools.

APH Welcomes Jane Erin as Executive in Residence!

For the fall and spring semester, APH welcomes Dr. Jane Erin of the University of Arizona. Dr. Erin is on sabbatical from the U of A and APH is most fortunate that she has included APH in her sabbatical plans. Among several topics, Dr. Erin will work with staff on issues relating to the Wilson Reading Program, the new braille edition of the Woodcock-Johnson III, and the initial revision work relating to Dr. Barraga’s Program to Develop Visual Efficiency. Dr. Erin has already joined us in August and September for the first webinar on the Wilson Reading Program field test training which was held in APH’s Historic Studio One. And in October she met with project leaders and other staff prior to participating in the APH Annual Meeting.

Accessible Magazines from APH!

APH is proud to offer accessible editions of Reader’s Digest®, Newsweek®, and Weekly Reader® to eligible readers who are blind or visually impaired. Subscriptions to Reader’s Digest and Newsweek are free!

If someone you know might be interested in learning more about these subscriptions or would like to subscribe, please call us toll free at 1-800-223-1839 [menu option 3] or send an email to magazines@aph.org.

Coming soon! Be on the lookout next month for downloadable versions of Reader’s Digest and Newsweek on our website.

APH InSights 2010 Award Winners

We are pleased to announce the names of the winners in this year’s competition. From nearly 400 entries, three judges selected 84 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. This year, for the first time, we received entries from Mexico.

All forty-one award winners were honored a banquet held at the annual meeting. Fifteen of them attended the meeting and received their awards in person. We are excited that next year is the twentieth year for the project. Nearly 9,000 entries have been received in the past 19 years. We know there are lots of other aspiring artists out there who want to share their work, so we hope we can keep it going for another twenty.

Deadlines for next year’s entries are tentatively set at March 21, 2011, for students, kindergarten through twelfth grade, and April 1 for adults. Updated rules and entry forms will be posted on the web site in February. If you would like to have a copy emailed to you, contact Roberta Williams rwilliams@aph.org

Thanks to everyone who entered for making this a great competition. Congratulations to 84 artists whose work was selected for the display and to these award winners:

• Madison Hinkebein, from Mill Creek Elementary in Columbia, Missouri, won First Place in the category for Preschool/Kindergarten
• Kaytlyn Floyd, from Oglethorpe County Primary School in Lexington, Georgia, won Second Place in the category for Preschool/Kindergarten
• Gaetono Williams, from Watkins Glen Central School in Watkins Glen, New York, won Third Place in the category for Preschool/Kindergarten
• Bianca McEvoy, from Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School in Oyster Bay, New York, won First Place in the category for First, Second, Third Grades
• Antonio Hardy, from Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Indianapolis, Indiana, won Second Place in the category for First, Second, Third Grades
• Shaheem Westbrook, from Saint Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairments in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, won Third Place in the category for First, Second, Third Grades
• Amelia Lillie, from Brown School in Louisville, Kentucky, won First Place in the category for Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Grades
• Chris Avila, from Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Indianapolis, Indiana, won Second Place in the category for Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Grades
• Kevin Frayser, from Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Indianapolis, Indiana, won Third Place in the category for Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Grades
• Daneisha Clowney, from Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Indianapolis, Indiana, won Honorable Mention in the category for Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Grades
• Michael Delehanty Jr., from Whitehall Elementary School in Whitehall, Pennsylvania, won Honorable Mention in the category for Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Grades
• Brooke Lehrer, from Electa Quinney Elementary in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, won Honorable Mention in the category for Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Grades
• Nasim Poole, from Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, won First Place in the category for Seventh, Eighth, Ninth Grades
• Katelyn Claflin, from The Washington State School for the Blind in Vancouver, Washington, won Second Place in the category for Seventh, Eighth, Ninth Grades
• Nathan Barney, from Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Indianapolis, Indiana, won Third Place in the category for Seventh, Eighth, Ninth Grades
• Anastasia Riddle, from The Washington State School for the Blind in Vancouver, Washington, won Honorable Mention in the category for Seventh, Eighth, Ninth Grades
• Kathleen Garland, from Life Academy in Roanoke, Virginia, won Honorable Mention in the category for Seventh, Eighth, Ninth Grades
• Raydon Johnson, from Mitchell High School in Mitchell, South Dakota, won First Place in the category for Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth Grades
• Brian Miller, from Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, won Second Place in the category for Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth Grades
• Ridley Lassiter, from Overbrook School for the Blind International Program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, won Third Place in the category for Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth Grades
• Matthew Koch, from Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, won Honorable Mention in the category for Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth Grades
• Jill Novak, from Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, won Honorable Mention in the category for Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth Grades
• Travis Erdmann, from California School for the Blind in Fremont, California, won First Place in the category for Ungraded
• Jacob Lynch, from Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Indianapolis, Indiana, won Second Place in the category for Ungraded
• Samantha Covington, from California School for the Blind in Fremont, California, won Third Place in the category for Ungraded
• A group of nine students from Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind in Nebraska City, Nebraska, won Honorable Mention in the category for Ungraded
• Paul Daye, an independent artist from Jersey City, New Jersey, won First Place in the category for Craft
• Wanda Owens, from Clovernook Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, won Second Place in the category for Craft
• Dean Tuttle, an independent artist, from Greeley, Colorado, won Third Place in the category for Craft
• Norma Kahn, from Clovernook in Cincinnati, Ohio, won Honorable Mention in the category for Craft
• Chappelle Letman an independent artist, from Cleveland, Ohio, won First Place in the category for Sculpture
• Jane Strohmeier, from Clovernook Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, won Second Place in the category for Sculpture
• Sharon Bazzle, from Clovernook Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, won Third Place in the category for Sculpture
• Steve Stahl, from Clovernook Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, won Honorable Mention in the category for Sculpture
• Terry Strater, from Clovernook Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, won Honorable Mention in the category for Sculpture
• Tara Innmon, an independent artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota, won First Place in the category for Two-Dimensional Art
• Michael Williams, an independent artist from Memphis, Tennessee, won Second Place in the category for Two-Dimensional Art
• Frank Valliere, an independent artist from Gorham, Maine, won Third Place in the category for Two-Dimensional Art
• Samuel Dietze, an independent artist from Altoona, Pennsylvania, won Honorable Mention in the category for Two-Dimensional Art
• Jose Ramos Morales from Ojos Que Sienten, A.C. in Mexico City, Mexico, won Honorable Mention in the category for Two-Dimensional Art
• Keith Field, an independent artist from Seattle, Washington, won Honorable Mention in the category for Two-Dimensional Art

NLCSD Doctoral Fellowship

Applications for the second and final cohort of the National Leadership Consortium in Sensory Disabilities (NLCSD) are now being accepted. This is a four-year doctoral fellowship for students in participating consortium universities. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, the consortium consists of twenty-five universities with doctoral programs that have an emphasis in one or more of the three sensory impairment areas: blind/visually impaired, deaf/hard of hearing, and deafblindness. Applications will be accepted until December 31, 2010. The cohort will begin their studies in the fall of 2011. More information about the application process can be obtained on the NLCSD Website.

The NFB is deeply concerned that we have strong leaders in order to continue our work to improve the education of blind children and the programs to train teachers to work with those children. We encourage those interested in providing leadership in this area to consider applying.

Bentley University and National Braille Press Need Your Help with Online Survey

Bentley University student teams are working with the National Braille Press to conduct research into the use of assistive technologies by visually impaired and blind individuals. The survey consists of thirteen questions. We would like to invite you to participate in the survey. We value your opinion and thank you for your help with our research.

The survey can be found at the following URL: https://bentley.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3fs0pdBxChLuMSg

Lions Clubs International to Award $5,000!

Lions Clubs International is offering an essay contest for students who are considered visually impaired and who will be 11, 12 or 13 years of age on November 15, 2010. One grand prize winner will receive an award of $5,000. If able to travel, Lions Clubs International will provide accommodations and round-trip travel expenses to Seattle, Washington, for the winner and one parent to accept the award at the Lions International Convention, June 29 to July 3, 2011.

The theme for the essay is "Power of Peace." Each essay must be submitted with a completed entry form. Essays must be no longer than 500 words in length, submitted in English, typewritten in black ink and double-spaced.

A Lions Club must sponsor participants! If students in your school/organization would like to participate, it will be necessary for you to contact your local Lions Club. You can find information about the nearest club on the Lions Clubs International Web site at www.lionsclubs.org. You will see a link to "Find a Club," or you can simply keyword search "find a club" in the search box. Once again, please note that a school/organization cannot submit entries directly, but must work with its local Lions Club.

If you have questions, or need help in getting in touch with a local Lions Club, please contact Kristopher Kempski, Public Relations Specialist, Lions Clubs International at: 630/468-6835, or e-mail: Kristopher.Kempski@lionsclubs.org.

Award-Winning Teacher Writes for Fred’s Head, You Can Too!

Kristie Smith-Armand

APH was excited to learn about teacher Kristie Smith-Armand’s enthusiasm for our products and that she wanted to write about her experiences for our "Fred’s Head from APH" blog.

Kristie Smith-Armand has been an educator for twenty-eight years, and the last nine years she has taught children who are visually impaired. She has received several teaching honors, including Teacher of the Year 1996 and Apple Corp Teacher 2005 in Mesquite, Texas. Smith-Armand has written several books that teach others about children who have visual impairments. We are pleased that she currently has seven articles published in Fred’s Head. This is her latest submission:
http://www.fredshead.info/2010/10/world-maps-by-aph-help-children-who-are.html

You can join Kristie as a contributor to Fred’s Head! Share your experiences with APH products or with other aspects of the field of blindness. Articles don’t need to be long, but are not limited in length. Contact Michael McCarty, APH’s Social Media Coordinator for more information or to submit your tip/article. Call 502-899-2396 or email fredshead@aph.org. Visit Fred’s Head on the web at http://www.fredshead.info or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/fredshead.

"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 Trustees

Collene Kroenke, The Idaho Commission for the Blind, replacing Mike Haener.

Erika Arbogast, The Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh, replacing James Baumgartner.

Christopher Anderson, The Guam Department of Education, replacing May Camacho.

Dorothe Mumford, The Division for the Visually Impaired in Delaware and the State Department of Education in Delaware, replacing Robert Goodhart.

APH Travel Calendar

November

November 7-9, 2010
MAHPERD (Maine AHPERD);
Samoset Resort, Rockport, ME

November 10-12, 2010
MACRT ASERT Professional Development Conference;
Daytona Beach, FL

November 11-12, 2010
VTAHPERD (Vermont AHPERD);
Killington Grand Hotel, Killington, VT

November 14-16, 2010
KAHPERD (Kentucky AHPERD);
Embassy Suites, Lexington, KY

November 18-19, 2010
North Carolina Assistive Technology Expo 2010 (NC AT Expo 2010);
Raleigh, NC

December

December 1-4, 2010
TAHPERD’S 87th Annual Convention (Texas AHPERD);
Galveston, Texas

December 4-8, 2010
National Staff Development Council’s (NSDC’s) 42nd Annual Conference;
Hyatt Regency, Atlanta, GA

December 10, 2010
ISAVE Training;
Escondido, CA

January

January, 2011
ATIA 2011 Orlando;
Orlando, FL

January 24-26, 2011
NIMAS Meetings;
Orlando, FL

February

February 18, 2010
Braille Plus Mobile Manager and FVLMA Product Training for TVIs;
Charlotte, NC

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

Fall Harvest Sale

Load up a world of savings on selected APH products with APH’s Fall Harvest Sale 2010, October 1—December 31. As always, first come, first served.

sites.aph.org/sale

REVISED! FOCUS in Mathematics Kit

Print Kit (includes Teacher’s Guide in print): 1-08280-01 — $530.00
Braille Kit (includes Teacher’s Guide in braille): 1-08281-01 — $530.00

Replacement Items

FOCUS in Mathematics Manual, Second Edition:

• Print: 7-08280-01 — $45.00
• Braille: 5-08281-01 — $45.00

An activity-based program that emphasizes the fundamental operations, properties, and structures of math.

APH’s classic FOCUS in Mathematics Kit has been extensively redesigned. Intended for students in pre-k through first grade, objectives are aligned to National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Curriculum Focal Points. Materials include hundreds of manipulative items, designed to be easily handled and offer tactile and visual contrast. Teacher materials include a Teacher’s Guide, reusable student worksheets, and printable assessment checklists included on the CD.

Units

• Numbers and Operations
• Geometry
• Algebra
• Measurement
• Data Analysis

Includes

• Teacher’s guide in print and braille
• CD-ROM with files of guide (does not include activity sheets)
• Reusable student activity sheets
• Storage container
• Hundreds of manipulatives

Recommended ages: 4 years and up.

NEW! Test Ready: Plus Mathematics

Book 3, Teacher Guide:
Large Print: 7-00505-00 — $18.00
Braille: 5-00505-00 — $18.00

Book 3, Student Book:
Large Print: 7-00506-00 — $35.00
Braille (2 volumes): 5-00506-00 — $46.00

Related Products

Test Ready: Plus Mathematics Book 7, Teacher Guide:
Large Print with CD-ROM: 7-00513-00 — $18.00
Braille with CD-ROM: 5-00513-00 — $18.00

Test Ready: Plus Mathematics Book 7, Student Book:
Large Print with CD-ROM: 7-00514-00 — $35.00
Braille with CD-ROM: 5-00514-00 — $35.00

This test prep series offers practice for today’s standards-based assessments for grade levels 3 through 12.

Test Ready: Plus Mathematics provides preparation and review, in as little as two weeks before testing day. It also provides a program of instruction and remediation.

Students practice problem solving for:

• Data preparation
• Geometry
• Numeration
• Number theory
• Measurement
• Pre-algebra/algebra

Objectives for each of the above key concepts have been aligned with the Principles and Standards for School Mathematics from the National Council for Teachers and Mathematics (NCTM). These lessons make use of routine, non-routine, and open-ended problems, with writing activities that require students to explain their solutions.

Accessible Formats

The APH Teacher Guides and Student Books are available in several accessible formats, so that the entire class can work on math together in a multi-media approach. The large print and braille editions include a CD-ROM with an HTML file and a digital talking book 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 has 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: Test Ready: Plus Mathematics grades 4-6, 8, and Advanced (High School) available soon.

NEW! Braille DateBook 2011

1-07899-11 — $66.00

An attractive planner-organizer designed specifically for braille users!

Consists of:

• Rugged binder with slate pocket, stylus pocket, and a hook/loop fastener.
• Tabbed plastic calendar pages for organizing brailled filler paper.
• 250 sheets of 4×6 blank filler paper for brailling appointments or other information.
• Blank plastic tabs to use in creating sections for addresses, class assignments, medical information, etc.
• Saddle-Shaped Stylus
• Pamphlet in print and braille with suggestions on setting up your DateBook.

Age Range: 11 and Up

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.

Teen, Inc.
by Stefan Petrucha: T-N1774-50 — $44.00
Fourteen-year-old Jaiden Beale, who is being raised by the corporation responsible for his parents’ deaths, is allowed to attend public school for the first time. After learning that the company is polluting the local water supply, Jaiden and his friends investigate. Fiction, Junior and Senior High readers. *(AR Quiz #117804, BL 6.5, Pts. 8.0)

Joan: The Mysterious Life Of the Heretic Who Became a Saint
by Donald Spoto: T-N1756-60 — $55.50
Theologian presents an account of the life of Joan of Arc (c. 1412-1431), accused heretic and canonized saint. Quoting from translated trial records, the author examines Joan’s actions, words, and faith in the context of fifteenth-century France. Posits Joan’s relevance as a "prophetic witness" for the twenty-first century. Biography.

Endless Things: A Part of Egypt
by John Crowley: T-N1774-30 — $92.00
Pierce Moffett goes to Europe to search for the mythical realm of Egypt. Guided by the writings of late novelist Fellowes Kraft, Pierce finds traces of the mysteries of Egypt interwoven into the histories of philosopher-martyr Giordano Bruno and others. Sequel to Daemonomania. Fantasy Fiction.

Dream When You’re Feeling Blue
by Elizabeth Berg: T-N1771-80 — $62.00
Chicago, 1940s. Kitty and Louise Heaney see their boyfriends off to fight in World War II, while their younger sister Tish has fun dancing and flirting at USO events. Letters to and from loved ones reveal events at home and on the battlefront. Mature content and some strong language. Fiction, Adult readers.

White Lies
by Jayne Ann Krentz: T-N1775-20 — $75.00
Clare Lancaster, a psychic, meets her biological father and begins working for his family’s company. Suspected of killing her brother-in-law, Clare searches for the truth while she falls for Jake Salter, a mind reader from the Arcane Society. Some mature content, violence, and strong language. Fiction, 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/