APH News: November 2015

Exciting New APH Products Announced!

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

• APH Fall Harvest Sale
• New Downloadable Manuals Available
• NEW! UEB-Compliant Building on Patterns: First Grade: Unit 6, and 7
• NEW! VIPS@Home: Parent Empowerment Program
• APH Braille Book Corner

The Curtain Closes on the 147th Annual Meeting

Jim Deremeik (left), Hall of Fame Board, and Craig Meador (right), APH Vice President, present APH President Tuck Tinsley with a Hall of Fame Wall of Tribute stone to thank him for his support of the Hall and service to the field.

Award-winning APH InSights artist Wanda Owens poses with Tuck Tinsley prior to the art awards ceremony at the Friday night banquet.

The 2015 Annual Meeting of Ex Officio Trustees and Special Guests entitled, "Setting the Stage," was a wonderful multi-day "show" that "entertained" and educated nearly 400 attendees. The festivities began during the opening session, where keynote speaker, Dr. Chuck Wall, encouraged us all to practice acts of kindness in everyday life. The meeting was also an opportunity to recognize several leaders in the field who are exiting the stage during this year. Carl Augusto, President of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), was presented with APH’s highest honor, the Wings of Freedom Award. A reception to honor APH President Tuck Tinsley, who will be retiring soon, followed the opening session.

The following days were action-packed as attendees had numerous opportunities to participate in sessions focused on new APH products, learn about ongoing research and field testing, have input into product design, and hear an update from blindness organizations during a general session. Friday evening we honored winning artists during the APH InSights Art Award Ceremony, which featured artwork created by students and adults. This was followed by the induction ceremony for the fields Hall of Fame, which recognized the educational efforts of this year’s inductees, Alan Koenig and Sir Francis Campbell.

Plans for the 148th Annual Meeting have begun and we have locked down the dates of October 6th – 8th, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Louisville. We hope to see you there!

Note: Look for the full APH Annual Meeting photo memory album that will be published with the December APH News, along with video and audio sessions from the meeting!

APH Scholars pose with their sponsoring Ex Officio Trustees. APH Scholars are first-time Annual Meeting attendees who are nominated by their local Ex Officio Trustee, and chosen for participation by the Educational Services Advisory Committee (ESAC).

The descendants of Hall of Fame inductee Sir Frances Campbell pose with his Hall inductee bas-relief plaque. Pictured in the center is APH’s Mary Nelle McLennan, who researched much of Campbell’s biography.

Carl Augusto Receives APH’s Highest Honor, the Wings of Freedom

Carl Augusto (left), President of AFB, receives APH’s highest honor from APH President Tuck Tinsley III.

Carl Augusto’s tenure as President of the American Foundation for the Blind, since May 1991, has been guided by his mission to focus the agency’s efforts on addressing the critical issues facing those who are blind, as well as those facing the blindness field. From 1985 until his AFB appointment, Carl served as Executive Director of the Cincinnati Association for the Blind (CAB), a multiservice private agency, where he expanded service programs to encompass assistive technology training and early childhood intervention. From 1975 to 1985, he held several staff and management positions with the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC) in New York City.

Carl has proven to be a true friend to APH throughout his career, serving as a major partner for the past 25 plus years, always attending and often participating as a presenter at APH Annual Meetings. In 2014, AFB co-sponsored the fifth university personnel meeting hosted at APH, called “Meeting of the Minds,” with Carl personally leading the AFB portion of the three-day event. Presently, APH is collaborating with Carl and staff on a joint product project led by Dr. Diane Wormsley.

APH continues to benefit significantly from our collaborations with Carl R. Augusto. It is, therefore, our pleasure and honor to acknowledge this career-long partnership by presenting him with our most prestigious honor, The Wings of Freedom.

About the Wings of Freedom Award

The Wings of Freedom Award is the highest honor presented by the American Printing House for the Blind. The award is not annual, but is given periodically, only as deserved. The Wings Award was established in 1991 to recognize and honor individuals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in the areas of education or rehabilitation of persons who are blind or visually impaired.

15th Annual National Prison Braille Forum Focuses on Transition Success

Jayma Hawkins, Jason Wilson, and Jan Carroll attended the 15th annual National Prison Braille Forum and spoke about BTAP.

Jason Wilson (left) spoke about his experience with the Braille Transcriber Apprentice Program (BTAP). Pictured with Jason (left to right) are Jayma Hawkins, Becky Snider, Nancy Lacewell, and Gary Mudd.

The 2015 National Prison Braille Forum held in Louisville on October 7 focused on braille transcribers successfully transitioning from prison following release.

APH hosted the 15th annual National Prison Braille Forum on October 7 in Louisville. Sixty-two participants from 20 states attended. Many enjoyed a "welcome to Louisville" reception on the evening of October 6, as well as a tour of KCI Braille Services at the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women on the morning of October 8.

The theme for the day-long Forum conference this year was "Transition Success." Much discussion focused on the specific needs of transcribers leaving prison as they work to establish successful braille transcription careers on the outside. In addition to obtaining required equipment and supplies to produce braille, most of these individuals need assistance with daily living needs, such as housing, clothing, food, and transportation. Most also need help building both personal and professional networks of people who understand their challenges and support their reentry efforts. Some prison braille programs provide assistance to transcribers following their release, but most are either prohibited from contacting former inmates by their state corrections system or do not have the resources needed to help.

APH launched a pilot initiative in FY2015 called the Braille Transcriber Apprentice Program (BTAP) to help offenders establish transcription careers upon their release, starting with an apprenticeship at APH in Louisville. Staff reported on the first year of BTAP, during which two apprentices were brought to APH. The first, Jose Tapia from Indiana, apprenticed for three months before he decided to leave the program to be with his family at a very difficult time. To our knowledge, he is not currently producing braille. The second apprentice, Jason Wilson, spent four months in BTAP before he was hired as a full-time employee at APH.

Bob Walling, from Texas, received an APH InSights Art calendar and an APH t-shirt for participating in all 15 National Prison Braille Forums.

Gary Mudd announced that the APH Board of Trustees agreed to provide the financial support needed for BTAP to bring up to four apprentices to APH in FY2016. The National Prison Braille Network was notified and sent updated application forms following the Forum. For more information or to request an application for the BTAP initiative, contact Nancy Lacewell at nlacewell@aph.org, 502-899-2339 or Becky Snider at rsnider@aph.org, 502-899-2356.

Typhlo & Tactus Tactile Book Contest U.S. 2015 Winner Announced

APH was the U.S. national contact for the international biennial competition which was created to encourage improvement of the quality and quantity of tactile books for young children with visual impairments.

The book selected to represent the United States at the international competition was created by Lori Gellhaus from South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Her tactile book, Sammy the Sardine, follows the adventures of a small fish as he swims along, dodging a shark and finding a new friend.

The biennial tactile book competition is conducted by Typhlo & Tactus (T&T), an organization comprised of Western and Eastern European nations that exists to improve the quality and quantity of tactile books available to young children with visual impairments in member countries. As a part of T&T’s efforts, the organization has conducted a biennial tactile book competition each year, beginning in 2000. At first, the competition was open only to European T&T members, but in 2011, it was opened to a worldwide audience.

A panel of six judges met at APH in September and selected a book to send overseas for final adjudication by an international panel of children and adults with visual impairments, as well as professionals in the field. A single winning entry will be chosen, along with ten shortlisted books. Selected books may be featured at the T&T website, and appear in posters and promotional materials used by T&T.

The next opportunity to enter is 2017, so start preparing now!

BANA Held Its Third UEB Transition Forum in Louisville and Will Hold Fall Meeting November 5–7, 2015

On October 7, 2015, Braille Authority of North America (BANA) held its third UEB Transition Forum, bringing together delegates from more than 25 agencies and organizations from the braille community. The forum was held in Louisville, Kentucky, preceding the 147th APH Annual Meeting. The centerpiece of the day was a guest panel that addressed the incorporation of UEB into assessment development by the nation’s various assessment consortia. The agenda also included updates and progress reports from forum delegates and the BANA Board.

The BANA Board, which meets face-to-face semiannually, will hold its 2015 fall meeting November 5–7 in Crystal Lake, Illinois. This meeting will be hosted by Horizons for the Blind, a BANA member organization. Meetings will take place at the Horizons site, which is located at Suite A-103, 125 Erick Street, Crystal Lake 60014.

Items on the Board’s agenda include the implementation of Unified English Braille (UEB) as well as detailed updates on BANA’s numerous ongoing projects. The Board will review formal reports from all of BANA’s technical committees such as music, braille formats, math, and tactile graphics, and its general committees and task forces, such as the UEB Transition Task Force and the BANA Publications Committee. BANA will take action on recommendations when appropriate.

As always, interested parties are invited to observe the BANA Board meetings. If you are interested in observing the BANA meeting, please contact BANA Chair Jennifer Dunnam at 612-767-5658 or by email at chair@brailleauthority.org.

APH Executive in Residence Dr. Martin Monson Completes Literature Review of Transition

During his Executive in Residence at APH, Dr. Martin Monson reviewed the research available on transition and postsecondary education experiences of young adults with visual impairments. Dr. Monson completed a literature review on this topic, which is now available on the APH Website.

Literature Review of Transition to College or University for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Many Generous Donors Support the Braille Tales Book Program

Ever since she was a newborn, reading has been a huge part of Madeline’s life. Her mother, Meagan, credits APH with helping build a braille book library for Madeline that continues to grow. Madeline is now looking for braille on all her books. This is an important first step towards braille literacy. “It is so sweet to see my daughter connecting that the bumps have meaning,” Meagan wrote. “Thanks will never be enough!”

Madeline is enrolled in Braille Tales, an early reading program for preschoolers who are blind and visually impaired. Through our partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, the Braille Tales print/braille book program is able to deliver a new, age-appropriate print/braille book every other month to the homes of enrolled children who are potential braille users. The carefully selected print/braille books support oral language development, enthusiasm for reading, and awareness of print and braille.

Children under the age of six who have a visual impairment OR have a parent/guardian with a visual impairment qualify for the book program. If you know families who meet these criteria, please visit our website at sites.aph.org/dolly-partons-imagination-library/apply/.

This program serves over 850 children now and we are working with our donors to serve more than a 1,000 by the spring of 2016. APH thanks the following donors for their support of the Braille Tales program and their impact on children across the country who are visually impaired or blind:

• American Legion ($31,000)
• PNC Foundation ($20,000)
• Lift a Life Foundation ($10,000)
• David Vickter Foundation ($10,000)
• WHAS Crusade for Children ($7,876)
• Delta Gamma Foundation ($6,000)
• Fred B. & Opal S. Woosley Foundation ($5,000)
• Henry L. Guenther Foundation ($2,000)
• John H. Schnatter Family Foundation ($1,000)
• The Woman’s Club of Louisville ($1,000)
• Elizabeth H. and Stanley E. Evans ($200)

Kentucky Arts Council’s Gift to APH InSights Art Competition

Award-winning Imagination Station sculpture by Kaytlyn Floyd, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.

APH would like to thank the Kentucky Arts Council for their gift of $1,000 to assist with funding for the APH InSights Art Competition and Exhibition. The goal for this grant is to increase participation among Kentucky artists in the APH InSights Competition though July of 2016. For almost 25 years, this international annual competition has provided a forum for artwork produced by artists of all ages who are legally blind. APH InSights reflects our mission to "promote the independence of blind persons" by encouraging individuals to create original art and offer their unique perspectives to the arts community.

Contact Roberta Williams by email with questions: rwilliams@aph.org.

Our Generous Partners Helped Make the Orion TI-30XS Calculator Possible

The Orion TI-30XS MultiView Talking Scientific Calculator levels the educational playing field for students who are visually impaired. APH, Texas Instruments (TI) (NASDAQ: TXN), and Orbit Research launched the Orion TI-30XS MultiView in September. It is currently the only available fully-accessible multi-line scientific calculator, created for students who are visually impaired. Based on the popular TI-30XS Multiview™ scientific calculator, the Orion TI-30XS represents a breakthrough in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education for students with vision impairment.

American Printing House for the Blind’s participation in the collaboration that made this calculator accessible was possible because of generous gifts from:

• Jessie Ball duPont Fund ($200,000)
• James Graham Brown Foundation ($170,000)
• Genentech Foundation ($75,000)

Earth Science Tactile Graphics Field Test

APH needs TVIs to evaluate a collection of images designed for the production of Earth Science Tactile Graphics for middle school and high school students with visual impairments. The final product will be a set of full color tactile images with labels in print and braille.

The collection includes 41 images. For the field test, four of the images have been made into tactile graphics, and the rest are presented as print graphics only. We ask that you evaluate all the print images for content and augment appropriate lessons with the tactile graphics which your students can assess as well.

We plan to send out field test materials and a link to the online survey form before the holidays in December 2015. If you have students with whom you can participate in this field test evaluation during January and February 2016, please email the following information to Rachel White at rwhite@aph.org:

• Your full name
• Your professional title
• School or Agency name
• School or Agency mailing address including city, state, and zip code
• Email address
• Best phone number to reach you
• Number of your students who are able to participate
• Reading medium of participating students

Thank you, and if you have any questions, please contact

Rosanne Hoffmann
STEM Project Leader
rhoffmann@aph.org
APH
502-899-2292

Survey for Web Based Talking Typer

Attention TVIs, rehabilitation specialists, and parents:

APH is developing a cross-platform web-based version of Talking Typer. To help insure the product meets your needs, please take the following brief survey and let us know what features are important to you. We value and appreciate your input. Thank you.

Product Feedback Survey

The Quick & Easy ECC: Hatlen Center Guide (Catalog No. 1-08204-00) was introduced by the American Printing House for the Blind approximately a year ago. We are currently seeking feedback on the finished product from actual users of the product. This is not a field test opportunity. If you currently use this product, please feel encouraged to complete and submit a Product Feedback Survey.

Thank you for your feedback. Please contact Karen Poppe at kpoppe@aph.org if any questions arise regarding the Product Feedback Survey.

TVIs Needed to Field Test and Expert Review a Prototype of the Health Education for Students With Visual Impairments Teacher’s Manual

APH is looking for TVIs with students who can field test a draft Teacher’s Manual that details ways to adapt current health education curricula for students with visual impairments. The prototype includes 25 short videos (for teachers only) and a 125-page manual (including references and resource materials). TVIs are expected to view all videos, read the manual in its entirety, and complete an online evaluation form after implementing the suggested adaptations and activities with their students.

APH is also looking for professionals in the field of vision impairment to serve as expert reviewers. We ask that you complete an online evaluation after reading the manual in its entirety and viewing all the videos.

The Teacher’s Manual includes chapters on the following topics:

• Diet & Nutrition
• Personal Health
• Sex Education
• Communicable & Noncommunicable Diseases and Prevention
• Injury Prevention & Safety

We plan to send out prototype materials in January 2016 and would like evaluations to be complete by the end of May 2016. If you are able to field test or expert review this prototype, please email the following information to Monica Vaught-Compton at mvaught@aph.org:

• Field Tester or Expert Reviewer
• Your full name
• Your professional title
• School or Agency name
• School or Agency mailing address including city, state, and zip code
• Preferred reading medium (print, large print, braille, or electronic)
• Email address
• Best phone number to reach you
• Number of your students who are able to participate (if you can field test)

Thank you, and if you have any questions, please contact

Monica Vaught-Compton
Project Consultant
APH
mvaught@aph.org

Seeking Field Evaluators for Tactile Algebra Tiles

APH is seeking field evaluators for Tactile Algebra Tiles. Algebra tiles is a well-known mathematical tool that provides students with concrete models for abstract algebraic concepts and procedures. The tiles can represent both variables and constants and can be used by students in elementary through high school for adding, subtracting, and multiplying integers, simplifying expressions, solving linear and quadratic equations, and for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and factoring polynomials. The tiles provide the student with an alternative to abstract manipulation by giving them a graphical way to solve algebraic problems. In this way, the tool helps meet the students’ diverse needs in algebra study. The Tactile Algebra Tiles is an accessible version of algebra tiles, specifically designed for students with blindness and low vision.

Field evaluators will be asked to use Tactile Algebra Tiles with multiple math students with blindness or low vision. Evaluators will then complete and return a product evaluation form at the end of the testing period. Field test sites will be selected based upon geographic location, number of available students, and type of instructional setting. The field test will begin in January and be completed by the end of April 2016.

If you are interested in serving as a field evaluator, please provide the following information:

• your name, title, school/agency, and type of setting (e.g., residential, itinerant);
• your previous experience with algebra tiles (e.g., have you ever used algebra tiles to teach or learn any math concepts);
• number of available students with ages, grade levels, and primary reading media indicated (please note that elementary, middle, and high school students who are studying basic calculations, linear or quadratic equations, or polynomials are preferred);
• your preferred medium for reading evaluation materials and completing the evaluation form (regular print/large print/braille/electronic); and
• your complete contact information (phone number, mailing address, and e-mail address).

Please send this information to Li Zhou, Core Curriculum Project Leader, at lzhou@aph.org by December 31, 2015. You may also contact Li at 800-223-1839, ext. 424. Thank you!

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: Henry, Anthony S. Visible Speech Formula for Braille. Joint Unified Braille Committee, 1954.

This work appears to be a manuscript that was withdrawn from submission to the Joint Unified Braille Committee in 1954. Henry proposed a coding method for braille that would blend the prevailing braille alphabet with phonetic formulas. He stated that the while the previous 25 years had been the most productive to date in regards to the uniformity and standardization of braille, every improvement attempted had returned to the original braille alphabet. His work using braille to create a phonetic index of language lead him to believe that horizontal symmetry could improve braille without having to change the alphabet. The manuscript includes hand drawn and colored braille codes illustrating his idea, and can be viewed at Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/visiblespeechfor00byan

From the Barr Library: Davis, Lennard J. Enabling Acts: The Hidden Story of How the Americans with Disabilities Act Gave the Largest US Minority Its Rights. Boston: Beacon Press, 2015.

Released for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), this book imparts an unprecedented look at how a group of liberal hippies from Berkley formed a coalition with conservative Republicans to establish the most comprehensive piece of civil rights legislation ever passed in our country. For disability scholar Lennard J. Davis, this narrative has a very personal connection, as both of his parents were deaf and alone in the world. To illustrate the experiences that led to the passing of the ADA, Enabling Acts draws on a broad base of sources including conversations with activists, memoirs, legislative reports, and White House testimonies. Although the ADA is not without its flaws, the author concludes that, “for people with disabilities the ordinary has now become possible.”

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

Give Thanks for APH Quick Tips!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which begs the age-old, annual question: What are YOU thankful for? Speaking for myself, I’m thankful for APH Quick Tips. Why – you might ask? Because APH Quick Tips are the best thing to happen to Vision professionals and consumers since braille! Okay, pardon me for getting all hyperbolic – maybe they’re not THAT great. But Quick Tips ARE great and I’ll tell you why: They’re brief. They’re weekly. They’re informative. They’re often fun, and they’re ALWAYS full of APH-centered information!

And, just to show you why I’m so thankful, here are the past several APH Quick Tips:

• Joy Player – Use the Joy Player as a stand-alone accessible music device for individuals with blindness/visual impairments, or as a part of the Sensory Learning Kit!
• Feel ‘n Peel Basic Math Symbols – Find out all about Feel ‘n Peel Nemeth and UEB Basic Math Stickers in this Quick Tip!
• Labeling, Marking and Organization – Check out APH’s book about labeling and organizing strategies for individuals with blindness and visual impairments in this Quick Tip!
• File Repository – Discover the File Repository by watching this Quick Tip!
• Basic Tactile Anatomy Atlas – Brush up on human anatomy with this tactile anatomy atlas!

Oh, and besides APH Quick Tips, I’m also thankful for all the folks who watch and “like” Quick Tips on the APH Facebook page at: facebook.com/AmericanPrintingHouse. Yes! “Like” us on Facebook to keep up with APH AND Quick Tips!

If you prefer to do your Quick Tip-watching on our web page, point your browser to archive.aph.org/quick-tips every week to watch the newest Quick Tip! And, if you’ve got any ideas for Quick Tips, send an email to kisham@aph.org.

Social Media Spotlight

We’ve started a new board on Pinterest devoted to UEB!

We’ll be pinning our UEB-compliant products, as well as information from around the blindness field on the transition to UEB. Check it out and start pinning!

"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 Travel Calendar

November

November 4-6, 2015
AER – Vision Loss in Older Adults and Veterans: Leveraging our Collective Wisdom

November 5-7, 2015
BANA Board Meeting, Fall 2015

November 9, 2015
Stocking Stuffers Live Webcast

November 18-21, 2015
Getting in Touch with Literacy Conference

November 20, 2015
Independence Science: Learning a New Direction (ISLAND) Conference

November 22, 2015
Kentucky Exceptional Children’s Conference

December

December 7-11, 2015
Legislative Visits on Capitol Hill

December 11, 2015
VRATE Conference 2015

January

January 21, 2016
APH Presentation Philantropic Educational Organization for Women

APH Fall Harvest Sale

Load up a world of savings on selected APH products with APH’s Fall Harvest Sale 2015, October 1—December 31. As always, first come, first served.

archive.aph.org/sale

New Downloadable Manuals Available

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

Newly added manuals include:

• Building on Patterns UEB Teacher Supplements
• 30-Love Tennis Guidelines

NEW! UEB-Compliant Building on Patterns: First Grade: Unit 6, and 7 –PLUS– Updated Posttest Teacher’s Manual, Braille Edition

BOP Teacher’s Posttest Manual – UEB: Print: 8-78562-00 — $28.00
NEW! Braille: 6-78562-00 — $28

Note: Each First Grade student kit listed below includes Lesson Monitoring Sheets, Assessment Check-up Forms, Student Textbooks, and Worksheets Pack.

BOP First Grade, Unit 6, More Animal Tales

Student Kit – UEB: 6-78560-U6 — $139.00

Teacher’s Edition:

Print: 8-78461-U6 — $65.00
Braille: 6-78461-U6 — $75.00

Building on Patterns First Grade Unit 6 UEB Teacher Supplement

Important! Use the information in this free-of-charge supplement to mark up your teacher’s editions: (.docx) (.brf coming soon!)

*Note: The supplements do not cover the Reference Volumes.

Optional Item

BOP First Grade: Unit 6 Animal Shapes and Pages Set
6-78467-00 — $39.00

Replacement Items, First Grade, Unit 6

Student Textbook – UEB: 6-78563-U6 — $24.00

Worksheets Pack – UEB: 6-78564-U6 — $24.00

BOP First Grade, Unit 7, Think About It!

Student Kit – UEB: 6-78560-U7 — $139.00

Teacher’s Edition:

Print: 8-78461-U7 — $65.00
Braille: 6-78461-U7 — $75.00

Building on Patterns First Grade Unit 7 UEB Teacher Supplement

Important! Use the information in this free-of-charge supplement to mark up your teacher’s editions: (.docx) (.brf coming soon!)

*Note: The supplements do not cover the Reference Volumes.

Replacement Items, First Grade, Unit 7

Student Textbook – UEB: 6-78563-U7 — $24.00

Worksheets Pack – UEB: 6-78564-U7 — $24.00

Related Items

BOP Kindergarten:
Student Kit (Teacher’s Materials in braille): 6-78550-00 — $199.00

BOP First Grade, Unit 1, Not Far From Home:
Student Kit – UEB: 6-78560-U1 — $139.00

BOP First Grade, Unit 2, Going and Doing:
Student Kit – UEB: 6-78560-U2 — $139.00

BOP First Grade, Unit 3, Animal Tales:
Student Kit – UEB: 6-78560-U3 — $139.00

BOP First Grade, Unit 4, At School:
Student Kit – UEB: 6-78560-U4 — $139.00

BOP First Grade, Unit 5, This and That:
Student Kit – UEB: 6-78560-U5 — $139.00

Building on Patterns – UEB

APH is now offering UEB-compliant Building on Patterns (BOP) so teachers can continue to use the current Building on Patterns program while teaching Unified English Braille (UEB)! The student materials have been re-transcribed in UEB as needed and teacher supplements have been created inform the teacher about UEB changes.

Note: You do NOT need to buy new Teacher Editions. Just download the free-of-charge supplements and use them to mark up your existing Teacher’s Editions: archive.aph.org/manuals/#alpha-b

We are also now packaging all the materials needed for a student in a “Student Kit.”

• Kindergarten Student Kit includes: Posttest Consumables, Textbook Assessment Check-up Forms, set of 7 Student Textbooks, and Color Me Book.
• First Grade Student Kits include: Student Textbook, Worksheets Pack – UEB, Lesson Monitoring Sheets in print and braille, an Assessment Check-Up in print and braille.

The print and braille teacher’s editions and other posttest materials are sold separately.

Future BOP Releases: BOP Second Grade materials will be released by early 2016.

Note: The English Braille American Edition versions of BOP Kindergarten and First Grade are no longer available for sale.

About Building on Patterns

Building on Patterns (BOP) is a complete primary literacy program designed to teach beginning braille users all language arts — reading, writing, and spelling.

The Building on Patterns series addresses phonemic awareness (ability to hear and interpret sounds in speech), phonics (the association of written symbols with the sounds they represent), comprehension, fluency, and oral vocabulary, all of which have been identified as important for reading instruction.

This program also addresses specific skill areas needed by the child who is blind, such as language development, sound discrimination, tactual discrimination, and concept development. Braille contractions are introduced from the beginning along with sound and letter associations. Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) Skills such as using tactile graphics and technology are also included.

BOP Kindergarten lessons include a selection to be read to the student, questions to discuss, and an activity for the child to complete. Textbooks are consumable. First Grade lessons require students to read selections themselves with emphasis on decoding skills, comprehension, and fluency. Creative writing, related to the reading selections, is included with each lesson. Spelling is based upon phonics skills. Worksheet packs, lesson monitoring sheets, and unit assessment packs are consumables and are available separately.

Recommended ages: 6 to 7 years and up.

Prerequisite: Building on Patterns: Kindergarten or equivalent skills.

Reference Volume for BOP First Grade Level — Included with Unit 1 Teacher’s Edition (and also available separately)! The Reference Volume is packed full of features to help a teacher understand the program and teach a young braille reader.

Posttest Assessment for BOP First Grade Level — updated for UEB

Unlike the Unit Check-ups, included in the child’s textbooks, the posttest is an important, separate item that assesses the concepts and skills covered throughout the First Grade Level of BOP. A set of consumable forms is provided in braille for the student and in print and braille for the teacher. 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. Results can be recorded tactually on an accompanying line graph showing target scores for each subtest. This sheet makes it easy to see areas where the child is excelling as well as areas where remediation may be needed.

NEW! VIPS@Home: Parent Empowerment Program

Emergent Literacy: 8-00076-00 — $19.00

Power At Your Fingertips: 8-00075-00 — $19.00

VIPS@Home is a three-model program developed from a partnership between APH and Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS).

Because visual impairment is a low-incidence disability, a family with a young child who is blind may have never known anyone who is blind or visually impaired. VIPS@Home: Parent Empowerment Program addresses these needs by offering courses for parents that can be studied in the home, making it possible to get information to families at their convenience. These materials offer opportunities for connecting with professionals and other parents for support.

Course Descriptions (Each course includes a Large Print Course Book and CD-ROM with accessible files including a .brf in Unified English Braille (UEB) and a presentation tool)

Emergent Literacy

This course helps parents become comfortable reading to their child with a visual impairment as they learn how to make story time come alive. Parents learn how to make a story box, adapt books, and create books of their own.

Power at Your Fingertips

This course provides a concise and family-friendly introduction to braille. Parents can begin to experience the joy of learning braille without the frustration of enormous textbooks. Parents will learn how to bring braille literacy into their everyday routines and discover numerous resources for child-ready braille materials.

COMING SOON! Special Education: Your Journey to a Successful IEP

This course helps demystify conferences and paperwork, and puts parents at ease during the school years ahead.

Recommended ages: Birth to 5 years.

Note: VIPS@Home IS available with Quota funds!

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.

Maze Runner
by James Dashner: T-N2072-60 — $138.00
Sixteen-year-old Thomas wakes up with no memory in the middle of a maze and realizes he must work with the community in which he finds himself if he is to escape *(AR Quiz No. 133240, BL 5.3 Pts 15.0)

Jason and the Argonauts
by Apollonius of Rhodes, translated by Aaron Poochigan: T-N2069-10 — $185.50
Translation in verse of Ancient Greek poem detailing the voyage of the hero Jason and his crew, the Argonauts — including Heracles and Orpheus, as they search for the Golden Fleece at the directive of King Pelias. They encounter treachery of all kinds, both from mortal and immortal foes.

The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies
by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee: T-N2058-60 — $167.50
This book takes a look into the future of business, work, and the economy in a digital world. In recent years, computers have learned to diagnose diseases, drive cars, and win at Jeopardy! In this book the authors reveal the technological forces driving this reinvention of the economy and chart a path toward future prosperity.

The Life Intended
by Kristen Harmel: T-N2073-50 — $137.50
After her husband’s sudden death ten years ago, Kate Waithman readies herself to walk down the aisle again. When she begins dreaming about her late husband, however, she wonders if she’s ready to move on or if he is trying to tell her something important. Some adult content.

A Spool of Blue Thread
by Anne Tyler: T-N2072-40 — $159.00
From Red Whitshank’s parents, newly arrived in Baltimore in the 1920s, to Abby and Red who fell in love in 1959, to their own grandchildren who carry the Whitshank legacy boisterously into the twenty-first century, here are four generations’ lives unfolding in and around their sprawling, lovingly-worn Baltimore house.

*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/