Exciting New APH Products Announced!
Read on to learn about these new products - now available!
Making Connections with New Ex Officio Trustees
APH was pleased to welcome ten new (or nearly new!) Ex Officio Trustees to Louisville on June 14-16 for an intensive two-day introduction to APH and training on what it means to be an Ex Officio Trustee. Led by Ex Officio Trustee facilitators Yvonne Ali (MO) and Jonn Paris-Salb (CA), the group had opportunities to visit with key APH staff, tour the facility, ask and answer questions, learn about the Student Registration System for the Census, view the Tactile Graphics Image Library, learn from each other, and more. Presentations of new and upcoming products from the Research Department Project Leaders highlighted the training, as did the demonstration of the new APH shopping website and presentations by the staff from Public Affairs. We all learned much from APH Museum Director Mike Hudson's history of APH!
We plan to repeat this opportunity for new Ex Officio Trustees annually, so please be on the lookout for information about next year's event!
Back row (left to right): Patrick Johnson, Jonn Paris-Salb, Erin Meehan-Fairben, Dan Hutto, Meg Stone, Christine Boone. Front row: Jim Olson, Gail Gibbard, Andrea Noel, Yvonne Ali.
Field Evaluators Needed for APH Product
APH is currently seeking field evaluators for Feel n' Peel Textured Sheets, a package of 8.5 x 11 sheets in a variety of colors and textures that can be used by teachers, parents, and students to make collage tactile displays; construct or adapt games and storybooks; design worksheets and matching activities; label/mark personal belongings; create tactile artwork; and much more. The rough and bumpy translucent sheets can be used underneath coloring pages as a child colors to achieve a textured surface, or can be used in combination with a light box. If you are interested in being considered as a field test evaluator, please contact Karen Poppe, Tactile Graphics Project Leader, at kpoppe@aph.org or 800/223-1839, ext. 322 for more information.
Middle Tennessee Comes To APH!
Seven students from the Middle Tennessee State University teacher preparation program visited APH on June 24. The students, accompanied by teacher Dorothy Morris, took a tour and then met with several APH staff members to discuss products available from APH and the services provided in support of those products. After a welcome from Dr. Tuck Tinsley and discussion with staff from Accessible Textbooks, Accessible Tests, Field Services, Resource Services and others, the Research Department stole the show! Under the guidance of Research Director Ralph Bartley, students were treated to demonstrations of new and upcoming products from Project Leaders Elaine Kitchel, Fred Otto, Tristan Pierce, Larry Skutchan, Terrie Terlau and Jeanette Wicker. Thanks to all the Middle Tennessee State students for making the trip to Louisville and for visiting APH. We hope you'll come again soon!
BOP Group Meets at APH
BOP = Building on Patterns
A working group of eleven consultants from across the country convened at APH, June 22-24, to begin the work of writing Building on Patterns, 2nd Grade. While work is continuing on responding to field test and expert review comment from Building on Patterns, 1st Grade, plans are being made for completing the next part of this project: BOP 2nd grade. APH feels very fortunate and honored that these talented and dedicated educators have agreed to assist APH in completely revising and updating the Patterns braille program. Teachers from Arkansas, California, Ohio, and Oregon have begun working with APH's Eleanor Pester on the seven-unit reading series for beginning braille readers.
We expect to announce the availability the first half of BOP 1st Grade this fall, with the remainder of the units after the first of the year. Watch for announcements in future issues of the APH News.
Kate Dilworth (OR), Kristen Buhler (OR), Eleanor Pester (APH), Robin Wingell (CA), Gary Mudd (APH), Deanna Scoggins (KY), Mila Truan (TN), Marjorie Ward (OH), Cay Holbrook, (BC), Jo Ellen Croft (AR), Elaine Kitchel (APH), LeAnn Nannen (AR), Luanne Blaylock (AR), Izetta Read (CA)
APH Vice President of Finance Nominated for CFO Of the Year!
APH's Bill Beavin was recently honored as one of three finalists in Business First's CFO of the Year: Not-for-Profit Category. According to Business First Publisher Tom Monahan, "We want to call attention to some of the most talented CFOs in the Greater Louisville business community and document the vital role they have played in the growth of their companies."
Bill has served as APH's CFO for almost 13 years, and during that time has guided the company's financial affairs from an operating loss to a sustained operating profit since 1999. Business First correspondent Rachel Reynolds says, "Beavin's gift and wisdom were that he was able to see his place in the continuum as a steward of the institution's future." "APH was here 140 years before I came. Let's hope that it goes on for that many years after I leave," he said. "That's what motivates me every day."
Congratulations Bill! We are grateful to you for all that you continue to do for the company and those we serve!
The full article can be found in a special supplement to Business First, entitled CFO of the Year, June 26, 2009. Web address: BusinessFirstofLouisville.com
The 141st Annual Meeting of Ex Officio Trustees and Special Guests
October 15-17, 2009
Seelbach Hilton Hotel, Louisville, Kentucky
- Special Invited Keynote Speaker: Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy and graduate of the Tennessee School for the Blind.
- Thursday night opening session and reception at the Muhammad Ali Center overlooking the Ohio River.
- APH staff and product authors will provide training sessions in the use of the latest APH products. A banquet honoring APH InSights Artists will be a highlight and you won't want to miss the Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Dr. Euclid Herie and Dr. Dean Tuttle!
Questions? Call 800/223-1839, ext. 367.
Further information and a tentative agenda available soon at www.aph.org.
Annual Technology Symposium
Alabama's Annual Technology Symposium, a multi-agency effort, was quite a success as more than 300 consumers, teachers of the visually impaired and rehabilitation professionals gathered at the Alabama School for the Blind in Talledega June 4th and 5th. Breakout sessions at the conference covered topics such as portable devices, low cost assistive technology, what's new in assistive technology, deafblind services, and APH's Elaine Kitchel's session on New Developments in Lighting for People with Visual Impairments.
APH also had an exhibit in the vendor hall, where Sandi Baker and Elaine demonstrated the new Better Vision Lamp along with other new favorites: the Braille+, the Refreshabraille 18, and the Qwerty Docking Station.
Photo: Elaine Kitchel shows the Braille+, Refreshabrille 18, and the Qwerty Docking Station to conference attendee.
Students Rise to the Challenge!
After a full day of competition on Saturday, June 20, at Braille Institute in Los Angeles, the 15 winners of the 2009 Braille Challenge® were announced at a gala Awards Ceremony at the Hilton Universal Hotel. Winners received their prizes from voiceover artist Jim Cummings, best known as the voices of Disney's Tigger and Winnie the Pooh and Warner Bros.' Taz the Tasmanian Devil. The evening culminated with an inspirational speech by special guest, "American Idol's" Scott MacIntyre. As a blind adult who has been lauded as both a classical musician and a scholar, Scott spoke to the students about the importance of perseverance and defining their own dreams.
The day started with the 57 Braille Challenge® finalists in attendance, being ushered into the Opening Ceremonies by the USC Spirit of Troy marching band. Representing 26 states and two Canadian provinces, they were seated on risers and individually introduced to the cheering crowd before marching to their respective rooms to take the three to four one-hour contests, depending on their age. Parents and teachers accompanying the students were able to attend workshops or take in exhibits, including a very busy exhibit from APH. Highlights at the booth were the Jump Rope to Fitness Kit, Azer's Interactive Periodic Table Study Set, and, of course, the Perkins/APH Brailler!
Congratulations to all of the students who competed at the regional and national levels, and especially to Desmond Delgadillo of Pico Rivera, California who took top honors in the competition. Desmond's name will be placed on the perpetual trophy housed at Braille Institute. For a complete list of all winners, photos of the event, and more information about the Challenge, please visit http://www.braillechallenge.org/.
Way to go, students! You are all winners!
This Summer - The United States Blind and Pan Am Games!
The Kentucky School for the Blind's Connie J. Hill, ATC will be working in the US Blind and Pan Am Games this summer in Colorado Springs, Colorado, July 15-20. As a certified athletic trainer, Connie will be working with Team USA, in one of the following sports: Goal ball, Track-Field, Swimming or Judo.
Connie has been a certified athletic trainer for over 9 years. While taking courses to become certified, she worked at Huntington High School as an athletic trainer in football, basketball, wrestling, baseball, and track-field. After completing the program, she was an assistant athletic trainer for football, men's basketball, track-field, cheerleading, and men's soccer at Marshall University. Some of the athletes with whom she had the pleasure of working were: Randy Moss, Chad Pennington, Chris Crocker, John Wade, and Bryon Leftwech.
Hill came to KSB in 2002 where she is a transition teacher and athletic trainer. She is also the athletic trainer for NCASB, which is comprised of 12 schools, in Track-Field, Goalball, Wrestling, Cheerleading, and Swimming. On February 12, 2006, Hill was inducted into the Marshall University Sports Medicine Hall of Fame; she was one of only three women among the 25 inductees.
Hadley High School Graduates Celebrate Commencement 2009
Winnetka, IL--On Wednesday, June 10, The Hadley School for the Blind, an international distance education school based in Winnetka, Ill., held its 2009 high school graduation ceremony at the Winnetka Woman's Club. Five of the 10 graduates were able to travel from their homes around the country to Hadley to celebrate their achievement: Anna Bolino, 22, from California; Megan Tate, 19, from Mississippi; Christopher Harper, 28, from Indiana; Jessica Pitzer, 19, from North Carolina; and Louise Craft, 68, from Pennsylvania. Graduates who were unable to attend included Dixie Brown, 58, from New York; Russell Dyer, 38, from Florida; Paige Hardin, 19, from Georgia; Jesse Mulock, 18, from Arizona; and Laura Parshley, 21, from New York.
Congratulations Graduates!
Woodcock-Johnson III Workshop Rescheduled
A National Instructional Partnership (NIP) Workshop on "Administering and Scoring the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement (WJ III ACH) for Braille Readers" has been rescheduled for Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5, 2009. The audiences for this workshop are psychologists, educational diagnosticians, teachers of visually impaired individuals, and graduate students in visual impairment or psychology programs.
This 2-day event will be conducted at the Desert Valleys Regional Cooperative in Phoenix, Arizona. The instructor will be Dr. Lynne Jaffe. Dr. Jaffe is an educational consultant, WJ III trainer, and adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation and School Psychology at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Dr. Jaffe retired in 2007 as a member of the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind statewide assessment team.
Day 1 will focus on administration and scoring of the regular print WJ III ACH and interpretation of scores; Day 1 is required for examiners who have not had this training. Day 2 will focus on administration of the WJ III ACH: Braille Adaptation, working with an ancillary examiner (a non-braille reader working with a braille reader), and special considerations and cautions when testing individuals who are blind.
As of August 2009, visit www.aph.org/tests/ for updated information and a registration form.
APH Welcomes New Ex Officio Trustee
Samuel Ace, the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, replacing Robert Hill.
APH Travel Calendar
July
July 1-3, 2009
NEA Expo 2009;
San Diego, CA
July 3-8, 2009
NFB 2009;
Detroit City
July 4-10, 2009
ACB 2009;
Orlando, FL
July 13-16, 2009
Dominican College Summer Assistive Technology Product Training (not NIP);
Orangeburg, NY
July 17-19, 2009
National Family Conference: Families Connecting with Families;
Costa Mesa, CA
July 19-22, 2009
OSEP Project Directors Conference;
Washington, DC
July 20-25, 2009
AHEAD 2009;
Louisville, KY
August
August 1, 2009
Aniridia 2009 "Make A Miracle" Medical Conference and Low Vision Exhibits;
Bloomingdale, IL
August 18-22, 2009
BVA 2009;
Portland, OR
August 20-22, 2009
Discovery 2009 Low Vision Conference;
Chicago, IL
August 28-29, 2009
NIP Event - Administering/Scoring the WJ III for Braille Readers;
Phoenix, AZ
September
September 9-12, 2009
Envision Conference;
Westin Riverwalk Hotel, San Antonio, TX
APH Product Information
Please remember that we are beginning to "populate" our website with product infomercials. Of particular interest at this time is the video/power point that provides "Quick Start" instructions for operating the new APH Perkins Brailler.
These short videos can be found on our website, www.aph.org, under the heading Products.
Sizzling Summer Savings
Explore a world of savings on selected APH products with APH's Sizzling Summer Savings! 2009, July 1 - September 30. As always, first come, first served. www.aph.org/products/sizzle.html
NEW! Verbal View of Windows Vista
D-10517-00 -- $50.00
Related Items:
APH carries an entire line of Verbal View software training products.
A comprehensive tutorial on Microsoft Windows Vista® from the viewpoint of a blind or partially sighted student or professional. This tutorial covers nearly every aspect of Windows Vista, and presents this material from the keyboard user's perspective.
Basic knowledge of Windows is required. This tutorial comes on CD-ROM in DAISY 3.0 full-text, full-audio format, and also includes versions in Microsoft Word®, HTML, contracted braille, and a text file.
Requirements to Run
- PC running Windows® 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista®, or later
- 512MB RAM
- 10 MB disk space
- Internet Explorer® 5.5 or later
- Sound card and speakers
- CD-ROM drive
NEW! Tri-fold Board
1-08859-00 -- $54.00
This tri-fold board is covered with Velcro®-compatible material and measures 37 x 24 inches. It can be used in combination with many existing APH hook Velcro-backed pieces (e.g., Picture Maker Accessories), as well as with commercially available OR teacher/parent-made manipulatives. The board can be used at its full size, folded down to one or two panels, or propped up in an easel position (if supported from behind). Two 3/4 inch nickel-plated D-rings are riveted in the top center of the two outside panels for easy hanging. The reverse side of the board is covered with a protective red vinyl.
NEW! Replacement Items for Braille+ QWERTY Docking Station
- Battery for Docking Station: 1-07452-10 -- $79.95
- AC/DC Adapter for Docking Station: 1-07452-11 -- $64.95
- Carrying Case for Docking Station: 1-07452-12 -- $59.95
Related Products:
Braille+ QWERTY Docking Station: 1-07452-00 -- $600.00
APH's new Braille+ Docking Station provides connectivity and comfort on-the-go or at your desk. Simply snap the Braille+™ Mobile Manager (1-07450-01) into the QWERTY Docking Station and you have a highly functional, comfortable-to-use, portable note taker with Ethernet connectivity.
Now it's easy to maintain your Docking Station with these replacement items. Battery is user-replaceable.
Note: The Braille+ Mobile Manager is required to operate the Docking Station.
APH offers a number of recreational books in braille (Quota funds can be used). Each of these titles was originally transcribed and produced by APH for the National Library Service which has graciously granted permission for this offering. As usual, these titles have been added to the APH Louis Database where you can find thousands of titles produced in accessible formats.
Note: all books are produced upon receipt of orders, therefore, please allow approximately 8 weeks for delivery.
Vox: The Edge Chronicles, Book 6
by Paul Stewart: T-N1656-50 -- $70.50
Rook Barkwater, the young librarian knight, attempts to stop Vox Verlix, the Most High Academe of Sanctaphrax, as he plots to take over Edgeworld once again. Sequel to The Last of the Sky Pirates. Fantasy Fiction, Grades 6-9.
*(AR Quiz #102148, BL 6.3, Pts. 13.0)
Upstate
by Kalisha Buckhanon: T-N1669-10 -- $58.00
Teenaged Antonio, jailed for his father's murder, corresponds with his girlfriend Natasha in Harlem. Over the years Natasha attends college, Antonio adjusts to prison life, their feelings inevitably change--and the truth about the killing comes out. Alex Award. Strong language and some violence. Fiction, Senior High and older readers. *(AR Quiz #102565, BL 5.2, Pts. 10.0)
The Wizard of Sun City
by Garry Jenkins: T-N1656-10 -- $66.00
Biography of Charles Hatfield (1875-1958), part con man, part scientist, and self-proclaimed rainmaker. Focuses on the deal Hatfield made with San Diego councilmen to conjure enough rain to fill the city's reservoir. Describes the subsequent January 1916 flood, the city's worst ever, that led to accusations against Hatfield. Biography.
Two Days after the Wedding: Ladies of Covington
by Joan A. Medlicott: T-N1672-70 -- $77.00
The women of Covington have doubts about their relationships. Grace's friend Bob moves next door, while Max presses Hannah to set a wedding date. Meanwhile, Amelia takes her photographs to New York for an exhibit. The ladies finally learn to trust their emotions and enjoy life. Fiction.
Looking for Peyton Place
by Barbara Delinsky: T-N1662-10 -- $115-50
Thirty-three-year old novelist Annie Barnes returns to her hometown in New Hampshire after her mother mysteriously dies. The locals fear that Annie will denigrate their town, which was the basis for Peyton Place. Instead Annie discovers environmental pollution and falls in love. Fiction.
*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/
