Learning Without Limits
A celebration of educational opportunities for people with vision loss
Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill
Washington, DC
June 8-10, 2015
The Learning Without Limits exhibit, reception, and awards presentation was held in the Rayburn Foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building on Independence Avenue in Washington, DC.
APH’s traveling museum exhibit, Child in a Strange Country — Helen Keller and the History of Education for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, was displayed in the Rayburn Foyer.
Members of Congress, congressional staffers, and the general public explored this educational exhibit, featuring sections on Reading and Writing, Math, Science, and Geography.
APH Vice President of Development Bob Belknap showed visitors how to use a braillewriter.
Congressional staff members from Congressman John Yarmuth’s office, Jessica Phelps (left) and Erica DiCio assemble APH’s U.S. Puzzle Map.
APH staffers (l-r) Mike Hudson and Larry Skutchan, and student Chase Crispin (back to camera), prepare to educate exhibit visitors.
In addition to the traveling museum exhibit, a display of 10 products illustrated how people who are blind and visually impaired access digital technology. Nearby Explorer, an Android application with built-in maps, was popular with visitors.
Robert Conaghan, APH Technology Project Specialist, demonstrated APH’s Math Robot application for David Hauck, Director of the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services on Capitol Hill.
Heather Kennedy MacKenzie, APH Technology Program Manager, shows a visitor how to operate the Orion TI-84 Plus Talking Graphing Calculator.
Exhibit visitors have fun assembling APH’s U.S. Puzzle Map.
Anne Rich, APH Museum Collections Specialist, discusses how blind students learn geography with a congressional staff member.
Members of APH’s Board of Trustees and Executive Committee enter the Capitol Building to present Senator Mitch McConnell with the Building Independence Award. Shown here (l-r) are APH President Tuck Tinsley, board members Dr. Virginia Keeney, Judge David Holton, Barrett Nichols, and Phoebe Woods, CFO Bill Beavin, and board member Jim Lintner.
APH President, Dr. Tuck Tinsley III, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, W. Barrett Nichols, present Senator McConnell with the Building Independence Award in the U.S. Capitol.
Visitors enjoyed refreshments during the reception as they explored the exhibit and technology display.
APH President Tuck Tinsley spoke about APH’s long partnership with the federal government to provide educational materials to blind and visually impaired students working below college level.
Members of the APH Board of Trustees in attendance included (l-r)(front row) Jane Hardy, Dr. Virginia Keeney, Judge David Holton, (back row) Tuck Tinsley, Board Chairman Barrett Nichols, Bart Perkins, and Jim Lintner. Not pictured: Phoebe Wood, Dr. Julie Lee, and Dr. Charles Barr.
Guests mingle during the reception in the Rayburn House Office Building Foyer.
APH staff in attendance included (l-r): (front row) Anne Rich, Roberta Williams, Gary Mudd, Heather Kennedy MacKenzie, Vicki Buns, Larry Skutchan, and student Chase Crispin; (back row) Rob Guillen, Robert Conaghan, Craig Meador, Mike Hudson, Becky Snider, Bob Belknap, Bill Beavin, and Tuck Tinsley.
APH Board Chairman Barrett Nichols (left) welcomes student guest speaker Chase Crispin to the podium as Tuck Tinsley looks on.
Kentucky Congressman John Yarmuth accepted the Building Independence Award saying that he is honored to represent APH in Kentucky’s 3rd District.
Student and artist Kaytlyn Floyd, who is 10 years old and lives in Pennsylvania, joined Congressman John Yarmuth on stage as he congratulated her for the excellent artwork she provided for the Building Independence Award. Kaytlyn won the second place award in the Grades 1-3 category in APH’s 2013 InSights Art Competition.
The Building Independence Award was created by APH to recognize individuals and organizations working in partnership with APH to ensure continuing support for quality educational opportunities for students who are blind and visually impaired working below college level. During the Learning Without Limits exhibit and technology demonstrations, Senator Mitch McConnell and Congressman John Yarmuth were honored as the first recipients of this prestigious award.
