APH News

Exciting New APH Products Announced!

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

• APH Fall Harvest Sale
• Teach Me To See Video
• Building on Patterns: Second Grade, Unit 1
• Building on Patterns: First Grade, Unit 6: Animal Shapes and Pages Set
• All-In-One Board: Student Model (Magnetic, VELCRO® brand, Dry Erase)
• REVISED! The Wilson Digital Voice Recorder, Version 3
• Braille DateBook 2012
• TREKS: The Game of Compass Directions
• NEW SIZE! PermaBraille Sheets, 5.75 x 3.75, 6-Hole Punched
• APH Braille Book Corner

The Products Are Nearing The Starting Gate…

And it won’t be long until the gates open and we are running strong in Louisville for the 143rd Annual Meeting of Ex Officio Trustees and Special Guests.

You can meet with our expert trainers to learn more about products like the Braille Plus 18, Building on Patterns 2, Sense of Science Astronomy, APH Talking PC Maps, and more. Want to influence the next stable of winning products? Join us to provide input on products to improve motor skills for children with visual impairments, the development of products for adults with multiple disabilities, the Boehm-3 Preschool assessment, the DNA-RNA kit, and other exciting projects.

In the Winner’s Circle you’ll find our honored award recipients Ralph Brewer, Leslie Ligon, Dr. Lynne Jaffe, and Dr. Richard Woodcock, founder of the Woodcock–Muñoz Foundation. While they won’t be receiving a garland made of red roses, you will still want to be here to celebrate their outstanding achievements!

If you have any extra roses, you might toss them to these APH Ex Officio Trustees who are serving as session facilitators: Bill Daugherty (TX), Teresa Lacy (AL), Patrick Clancy (IA), Todd Reeves (PA), Christian Yates (HI), and Marie Piquion-Leach (NC).

Find out more at the APH Annual Meeting webpage!

Questions regarding Annual Meeting? Please contact Janie Blome, jblome@aph.org, or call 800-223-1839, ext. 367.

Migel Library Discard Book Sale – Friday, October 14th

2:30 to 4:00 pm at the APH Annual Meeting Information Fair

The Migel Library, obtained in 2009 from the American Foundation for the Blind, included a great variety of duplicate copies. APH transferred thousands of duplicates to other libraries including the Hayes Library in Watertown, MA and the Jacobus tenBroek Library in Baltimore. Now – those remaining duplicates must go to clear space for new additions.

APH is holding a book sale at the Annual Meeting in Louisville in October to raise money to support the Migel at APH. More than 2,000 used books and bound journals on non-medical aspects of blindness will be offered for sale. Prices will be $2 for most titles, with a few rare books priced individually. All books are sorted by author and vary in condition. Don’t miss titles by Georgie Lee Abel, Natalie Barraga, Mary K. Bauman, Charles Buell, Gabriel Farrell, Eleanor Faye, Merle Frampton, Kate Gruber, Robert Irwin, Helen Keller, Berthold Lowenfeld, Rick Welsh, and many, many others. For information prior to the sale, contact Mike Hudson at mhudson@aph.org.

Watch the Unforgettable APH Star Videos Now!

You can now watch the videos submitted to the first Unforgettable APH Star contest.

Meet the ‘Color Changers’ and the ‘Summer Campers’. And don’t forget to submit a video for our winter 2012 video contest; the deadline for entries is February, 13, 2012.

Watch the videos now: sites.aph.org/contest

Dr. Guadalupe Mejia, O.D. visits APH

Under the leadership of Guadalupe Mejia, O.D. , the Low Vision Clinic at the Kentucky Lions Eye Center, which is a part of the University of Louisville Medical complex, was recently created and is now open.

The clinic promotes independent living by prescribing low vision aids and providing comprehensive functional vision assessments, and programs to improve reading skills and mobility. Common conditions addressed include Macular Degeneration, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Optic Neuropathy, Glaucoma and Retinitis Pigmentosa.

We look forward to collaborating with Dr. Meija on future projects and products.

Oldies but Goodies: The "Established" APH Product Series

Money Handling and Budgeting is a collection of techniques and resources for teaching adolescents or young adults who are blind and visually impaired the skills necessary to manage money in daily life. This guide is based on the premise that daily living skills must be learned in natural settings and with real-life applications whenever possible.

A variety of fundamental, interconnected skills are addressed in this product, including: coin and bill identification; counting money and making change; budgeting; basic employment strategies; banking skills; and handling money in a number of simulated and actual daily living situations, such as visiting a store or a bank.

Appendices include a glossary, references, resources, an aids/devices chart, and a record keeping skills chart. Included with this product is an adapted practice checkbook with a vinyl cover; a pack of 28 yellow, raised-line, large type practice checks bound with 8 white, raised-line, large type practice deposit tickets; and a white, large type, columned practice checks and deposits register. The resource guide, along with the adapted practice checkbook, helps students learn vital money handling skills.

If you have any suggestions for other products you would like to see highlighted in this monthly feature, please send your comments to Monica Turner at mmturner@aph.org.

Tennis Begins with Love!

by Kristie Smith-Armand, M.Ed, CTVI

The other day, I was in my cubicle when I began to hear laughter from a colleague. I could also hear the sound of a tennis ball. I ran into Karen’s cubicle and watched a grown woman’s eyes light up while she bounced the tennis ball on a racket from APH.

“This is an amazing product,” Karen said while she continued to bounce the ball. “My student needs recreation and socialization and this is the tool that will certainly help,” Karen stated.

I watched Karen play with the tennis racket until I could not stand it anymore. “Let me play,” I begged acting like the adolescent that still remains deeply inside of me.

When I told my student about the new tennis kit, he grinned and asked me if he could play with it after school.

“I can play with my cousin, Carlos, now,” Adelio said with enthusiasm. I smiled because in spite of a tough guy exterior, Adelio seeks to become involved and interact with others. He is skilled in the social arena but feels limited on the athletic playing field- until now!

Thanks to the 30–Love Tennis Kit, students who are blind or visually impaired are able to get out on the court with peers, compete, and develop a new interest.

“I love to play tennis,” Adelio smiled, and now because of this new product he can begin tennis with love.

APH’s Resource Services Welcomes New Staffer!

Matthew Rummele has joined APH as Special Collections and Digital Initiatives Librarian in Resource Services.

Matt comes to APH with a decade of professional experience, primarily with Louisville Free Public Library. He earned his MLIS from the University of Wisconsin.

Welcome Matt!

Low Vision Professionals Convene at the “Gateway to the West”

APH Field Representatives Cathy Johnson and Kerry Isham were on hand to greet the 250+ attendees of 2011 Envision Conference held September 21-24 in St. Louis, MO. Low vision professionals from multiple fields and disciplines come together to share ideas, research and knowledge regarding the issues that face individuals with low vision. Exhibiting provides APH the opportunity to meet the attendees, acquaint them with APH, and display related products. Of the several products on display, of particular interest were the Lighting Guide Kit, Bright Line Reading Guide, All-In-One Board, Digital Light Box Artwork, and the Inkjet Hook Paper.

From the Field

• NFB Initiates Pen Pal Program

  The National Federation of the Blind has created a website to match kids as pen pals for those looking to correspond in braille. Children from around the world will be paired based on age and interests. To learn more visit: www.nfb.org/nfb/NOPBC_Slate_Pals.asp?SnID=2

• TVIs Needed for Linear Equations Study

  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has built accessibility into another Quantum Artificial Intelligent (AI) Mathematics Tutor; this time a Linear Equation Tutor. If you have any visually impaired student(s) covering this topic, your assistance is requested for this field study. Each TVI is eligible for a stipend of $150. If you can participate in this field testing, contact dittel@quantumsimulations.com.

Warren Figueiredo Honored

Our dear friend Warren Figueiredo passed away on May 19, 2010, in Arnaudville, LA. An Ex Officio Trustee for many years, Warren was our field’s premiere advocate for braille. This engraved stone, recently installed on the Wall of Tribute in the Hall of Fame for the Blindness Field, tells the story.

Thanks to Louisiana’s Martha Simmons for leading this effort, supported by BANA, LA AER, and his many, many friends. Soon his stone will appear on the Hall website under the Gallery of Stones.

Here’s more about the Wall of Tribute: archive.aph.org/hall/development

"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, 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

Carmen Grove Suminski, the North Dakota School for the Blind, replacing Cheryl Misialek.

Christine Boone, the Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center, replacing Cheryl Heibeck.

Yolanda S. Gabriel, the Guam Department of Education, replacing Christopher Anderson.

Lynn Boyer, the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, replacing Patsy Shank.

APH Travel Calendar

October

October 1, 2011
NIP Event-Adaptive PE;
Cedar Rapids, IA

October 13-15, 2011
APH Annual Meeting;
Galt House in Louisville, KY

October 19-21, 2011
Northern Rockies AER 2011;
Sun Valley, ID

October 28-30, 2011
AERBVI 2011 Regional Conference;
Crowne Plaza Cleveland-City Centre in Cleveland, OH

October 29-30, 2011
Braille Plus Hands-on Training for The Dominican College and VI Teachers;
Orangeburg, NY

November

November 3-4, 2011
Indiana AER;
McCormick’s Creek State Park in Spencer, IN

November 3-5, 2011
ATIA 2011;
Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center in Schaumburg, IL

November 7, 2011
ToAD/Tadpole Training;
Santa Ana Unified School District in Santa Ana, CA

November 9, 2011
Tools for Assessment & Development of Visual Skills;
Missouri School for the Blind in St. Louis, MO

November 10, 2011
West Virginia School for the Blind Conference;
Romney, WV

November 17, 2011
Division of Early Childhood (DEC) CEC 2011 Conference;
Gaylord National Hotel in National Harbor, MD

November 28, 2011
Pearson and Kentucky Department of Education Test Bias Review;
Lexington, KY

November 30-December 2, 2011
North Carolina Assistive Technology Expo-20th Annual (NC AT Expo 2011) at the North Raleigh Hilton;
Raleigh, NC

December

December 7-10, 2011
Getting In Touch With Literacy Conference 2011;

January

January 26-28, 2012
ATIA 2012;

February

February 27-March 3, 2012
CSUN 2012;
Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, CA

Fall Harvest Sale

Load up a world of savings on selected APH products with APH’s Fall Harvest Sale 2011, October 1—December 31. As always, first come, first served.

archive.aph.org/sale

NEW! Teach Me To See Video

1-30044-DVD — $10.00

This video provides guidance on processes and activities that promote the optimal use of vision and other senses.

Based upon the work and theories of Drs. Amanda Lueck and Toni Heinze, Teach Me to See gives practitioners guidance on developing and carrying out activities that are functional and have meaning to each child. Watch children respond to simple stimuli in rich environments that promote their cognitive development and sharpen their visual skills. Listen to experienced teachers talk about orientation & mobility skills, immersive learning, visual development, and choice-making for their young students.

Teach Me to See consists of 4 videos on one DVD:

1. Instructional Program
2. Visual Skills
3. Methodology
4. Activities and Outcomes

Teach Me to See is helpful to parents, teachers, other practitioners, college students, occupational and physical therapists, and paraprofessionals. Teach Me to See will show parents and professionals how to develop individual learning programs for students with visual impairments, especially those who may also have other significant challenges.

Approximate run time: 68 minutes. Closed captioned and subtitles.

NEW! Building on Patterns: Second Grade, Unit 1

Print Kit: 8-78470-U1 — $199.00
Braille Kit: 6-78470-U1 — $199.00

Replacement Items

Unit 1 Teacher’s Edition:
Print: 8-78471-U1 — $105.00
Braille: 6-78471-U1 — $105.00

Unit 1:

• Student Textbook: 6-78473-U1 — $17.00
• Consumable Unit Assessment Packet (print & braille): 8-78476-U1 — $39.00
• Lesson Monitoring Sheets (print & braille): 8-78473-U1 — $17.00
• Worksheets Pack: 6-78474-U1 — $23.00

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

Note: Building on Patterns: Second Grade replaces Patterns Second and Third Reader Levels.

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.

New Features

• Timed reading in each lesson
• More independent reading suggestions
• Simplified lesson monitoring sheets
• Quick Read for silent reading and reading comprehension practice
• Meet the Authors with information on the BOP writers in each unit

BOP Second Grade includes more worksheets, part-word braille contractions, and other remaining literary contractions and symbols, along with the rules for using them. The curriculum also emphasizes syllables and multisyllabic words, and the effect of certain letter combinations on vowel sounds. For optional map work, each lesson gives the foreign origin of at least one spelling word.

Prerequisite: Building on Patterns: First Grade or equivalent skills.

Recommended ages: 7 to 8 years and up.

NEW! Building on Patterns: First Grade, Unit 6: Animal Shapes and Pages Set

6-78467-00 — $39.00

Fun optional product for BOP First Grade, Unit 6! This entertaining and educational animal crackers puzzle was developed from page 51 in the student text, "More Animal Tales," in BOP First Grade, Unit 6, Lesson 33. It includes four copies of the page with nests and four sets of INEDIBLE animal shapes that fit the nests. Each sheet contains nests for 13 different animals. The name of each animal is given in braille, and a tactile symbol before it shows the direction the animal is facing, i.e. < nose to the left or > nose to the right.

If appropriate for your student, you can use real animal crackers with this product, which will help children connect the real thing with the activity and may be more motivational than using the inedible shapes. Later, use the pretend animal crackers to play with the nests when the real ones are gone. Be sure that children understand that these pretend crackers cannot be eaten.

WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not intended for children ages 5 and under without adult supervision.

Recommended ages: 6 years and up.

NEW! All-In-One Board: Student Model (Magnetic, VELCRO® brand, Dry Erase)

1-08833-00 — $127.00

Related Product

All-In-One Board: 23.56 x 14 inches: 1-08836-00 — $145.00

A noticeably smaller version of APH’s popular All-In-One Board!

Sometimes called the "smAll-In-One Board," this multi-platform adjustable board can be used in combination with either hook VELCRO® brand accessories or magnetic pieces (homemade, obtained from APH, or purchased commercially), as well as with dry erase markers to facilitate a variety of learning activities. The reduced size accommodates portability and desktop use by an individual student with visual impairment and blindness.

Includes

• All-In-One Board: Student Model
• Starter package of dry erase markers
• Product information sheet and cleaning/care instructions, print and braille
• Protective storage and carrying case

Surface of board measures approx. 13.5 x 10.75 inches.

REVISED! The Wilson Digital Voice Recorder, Version 3

1-03993-01 — $34.95

Not available with Quota funds.

New Version 3 now includes volume control and 4 more hours of recording time!

The Wilson is a state-of-the art digital voice recorder that is simple to use and inexpensive. Makes a great gift!

Record up to twelve hours of voice messages and download your computer via the included USB cable.

Features

• Stores multiple messages
• Easily add or delete messages
• Clips to your belt, visor, or purse
• LP/SP switch for "Long Play" or "Standard Play" (shorter recording time, better sound quality)
• USB cable port and included cable

Use to Record

• Phone numbers
• Addresses
• Shopping List
• Reminders
• To-do lists
• Notes
• Appointments
• Messages
• Lectures
• Directions
• Audio instructions
• And much more!

Measures 2 x 3 x 0.5 inches.

Note: Requires 2 AAA batteries (not included).

Note: The Wilson digital recorder is not related to the Wilson Reading System product.

NEW! Braille DateBook 2012

1-07899-12 — $66.00

Replacement Item

Braille DateBook Filler Paper and Tabs: 1-07897-00 — $11.00

The Braille DateBook is an attractive planner-organizer designed specifically for braille users!

Keep track of appointments, addresses, family schedules, class assignments, and more with the Braille DateBook from APH. Use it at your desk or on the go; it is sturdy, compact, and fits in a backpack or briefcase.

Includes

• Binder
• Calendar pages
• Blank filler pages and blank tabs
• A Saddle-Shaped Stylus
• Print and braille tips pamphlet

Recommended ages: 11 years and up.

NEW! TREKS: The Game of Compass Directions

1-08910-00 — $109.00

Replacement Item

Tactile Dice (2): 61-131-027 — $5.65

TREKS is designed to be challenging, educational, and enjoyable. Like a good walk outdoors, it is full of variety. You can change the game to make the play simpler or add rules to make it more complex. And, as each game progresses, your strategy for winning can change!

The goal of the game is to be the first player to move all five of your pieces ("treksters") from your own home row into the opponent’s home row across the board.

After each move, you must announce the direction and the number of spaces moved by each trekster. For example, "I moved this trekster four spaces east and this trekster one to the south." If you forget to make this announcement, your opponent may call out your omission and undo your move!

Included with the kit are print/braille overlays and pieces to use for varying the basic game. They are:

• an overlay with the four cardinal directions labeled and another with only a north arrow.
• an overlay with numbered and named streets. With this game variation, you are required to name the starting and ending intersection for each move rather than the compass direction, as in "Moving from Third and Bay to Third and Fox" or "Moving from Second and Hart to Seventh and Hart."
• an overlay with the cardinal compass directions at the four corners rather than on the sides of the square. By keeping the movement rules the same, you force all moves to be in secondary compass directions with this overlay. For example, if the north arrow is placed in the upper left corner of the board (from your vantage point), moving a trekster straight ahead is a move to the northeast; moving to the left is a move northwest; and so on.
• buttons that serve as barriers to navigate around.
• two blank overlays (one that is open in the middle, one with two intersecting bands inside) to which you can add braille stickers to represent street names, street numbers, blocks, landmarks, lines of latitude/longitude, and so on.

Treks is suitable for ages 8 and up. Along with the pieces mentioned above, the kit includes a game board, “treksters” that are tactually and visually contrasting, a rules and variations booklet in large print and braille, and a set of tactile dice.

NEW SIZE! PermaBraille Sheets, 5.75 x 3.75, 6-Hole Punched

1-08886-00 — $15.00

Related Products

PermaBraille Sheets:

• 5 x 3 Inches: 1-08881-00 — $8.50
• 6 x 4 Inches, 2-Hole Drilled: 1-08882-00 — $8.50
• 6 x 4 Inches: 1-08883-00 — $8.50
• 8.5 x 11 Inches: 1-08884-00 — $12.50
• 11.5 x 11 Inches: 1-08885-00 — $15.00

PermaBraille sheets provide a durable alternative to standard braille paper for a variety of personal, classroom, and work-related tasks. Available in several sizes (see below), sold in packs of 50.

• Use with either a braillewriter or slate and stylus
• Braille dots are durable and easy to read
• Waterproof and resistant to tearing
• Receptive to permanent markers (e.g., Sharpie®) for adding print labels/notes
• Layering of two sheets, one on top of the other, while brailling with a slate and stylus (not a braillewriter) results in equally readable copies
• Tactile graphic displays can be created by using spur wheels (such as APH’s Tactile Line-Drawing Tools) or point symbol tongs from APH’s Tactile Graphics Kit

Suggested Uses

• Address and phone number lists
• Recipe cards
• Important personal records
• Flashcards for the classroom
• Re-usable classroom worksheets
• Braille bulletin board displays
• Tactile displays
• and much more!

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.

Mary Engelbreit’s Nursery Tales A Treasury Of Children’s Classics
by Mary Engelbreit : T-N1832-50 — $20.50
Twelve folk tales retold in a not-too-scary manner for younger readers. Anthology contains friendly versions of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," "The Three Little Pigs," "Puss in Boots," "Little Red Riding Hood," "Hansel and Gretel," "Jack and the Beanstalk," "The Gingerbread Boy," and "The Ugly Duckling." For grades K-3.

Lucky Breaks
by Susan Patron: T-N1835-50 — $33.00
As Lucky turns eleven, she wishes for change. When smart and funny Paloma visits tiny Hard Pan, California, Lucky considers her to be best-girlfriend material. But Lucky has much to learn about friendship and parental trust. Sequel to The Higher Power of Lucky (BR 16881). For grades 4-7. *(AR Quiz #128274 BL 6.0, Pts. 6.0)

Flowers for Algernon
by Keyes, Daniel: T-N1836-50 — $68.00
Charlie Gordon, a thirty-two-year-old with an IQ of 68, keeps progress reports for the doctors who artificially increase his intelligence through surgery. Charlie quickly becomes a genius but the sudden death of Algernon, the lab mouse who preceded him in the experiment, bodes ill for Charlie’s future. *(AR Quiz #738, BL 5.8, Pts. 13.0)

Devil’s Gonna Get Him: A Tamara Hayle Mystery
by Valerie Wilson Wesley: T-N1837-50 — $56.00
Newark, New Jersey. Wealthy, arrogant Lincoln Storey hires African-American cop-turned-PI Tamara Hayle to trail his stepdaughter’s boyfriend, Brandon Pike — Tamara’s former lover. When Lincoln drops dead at a fundraiser, Tamara delves into his sordid personal life, ultimately becoming a target herself. Strong language.

Dead Connection
by Alafair Burke: T-N1833-60 — $91.00
NYPD detective Ellie Hatcher is temporarily transferred to homicide to help detective Flann McIlroy with what he thinks is a serial killing. Two women killed a year apart were both members of an online dating service. Soon a third victim strengthens Flann’s theory–and Ellie goes undercover. Some violence and strong language.

*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/