Celebrating Our New Look
The "big dig" on the front lawn of the Printing House gave way to flowers and sunshine during dedication ceremonies for the companies' front lawn renovation on May 16th. The company broke ground on the project in March. For most of the last three months, the main entrance has been marked by an immense pile of dirt, busy workers, and construction barriers. A reception honoring the company board, city officials, neighbors, donors, and other supporters introduced the "wayfinding" project and officially reopened the building's main entrance.
Wayfinding involves visual, tactile, and audible "clues" that guide people from one place to another. Hallmarks of the redesigned entrance include clear signage, well-lit pathways, comfortable seating areas, and attractive landscaping.
"APH is located in a beautiful, historic neighborhood," said President Tuck Tinsley. "Through this project, we hope to better connect with our neighborhood and welcome all our visitors-from both the local community and around the world."
A new museum exhibit celebrating one hundred and fifty years of service and innovation opened the same night. History in the Making: APH Past to Present provides an exciting new doorway into the APH Museum. It explores, in a uniquely accessible way, how a small company operating in a school basement grew into the largest supplier of educational and daily living aids for blind and visually impaired people in the world. For more information about the company's wayfinding efforts or the new exhibit contact the Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind at (502)899-2365.
Spotlight Shines on the American Printing House for the Blind's National Role in Education
The American Printing House for the Blind took its 150th anniversary celebration to Washington, D.C. during the week of June 16. Three historic events occurred that week that will long be remembered as highlights of our sesquicentennial year. Most of the members of the APH Board of Trustees in Louisville traveled to Washington for the festivities, as well as several Ex Officio Trustees. Staff in attendance included all members of the APH Executive Committee and a dozen others from the Public Affairs, Field Services, and Accessible Textbook departments.
- The APH traveling museum exhibit, In Touch with Knowledge: The Educational History of Blind People, was displayed in the rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building and open to the public from Tuesday, June 17, through Thursday, June 19. All four components of the exhibit were displayed (reading and writing, math, science, and geography), and visitors from across the country stopped by to explore the exhibit. Mike Hudson, director of the APH museum, estimates that at least 1,800 visitors saw the exhibit during the week, including several large school and camp groups.
Senator Mitch McConnell, Kentucky's senior senator, supported the exhibit by securing the rotunda and providing staff to help. The Russell Rotunda is generally used for art exhibits, and as far as senate staff members we worked with knew, APH was the first organization in history to present an educational traveling museum exhibit in this historic space. Comments from visitors across the country were overwhelmingly positive. 
With the support of Senator Mitch McConnell and Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr., APH hosted a reception and program on Tuesday, June 17 in the Hart Senate Office Building. About 100 special guests attended the event, including Congressional members and staff, CEOs from agencies in Washington that serve the blind, and "friends" of APH. A 30-minute program conducted by APH President Tuck Tinsley focused on recognizing our founding fathers and thanking members of Congress - past and present - for supporting APH and the education of the blind. Josh Pearson, a 16-year old student from Massachusetts who is blind, stole the show as he talked about the impact that APH products continue to have on his education and his life.
Senator McConnell spoke about the great work that APH continues to do in identifying and addressing the needs of blind students, and presented commemorative resolutions to Tuck and Jim Lintner, Chairman of the APH Board of Trustees. Kentucky Congressman John Yarmuth, who represents the 3rd district in Louisville in which APH is located, also spoke about the enormous contribution APH makes to blind and visually impaired students across the U. S. Dr. Anne Hancock, Secretary's Regional Representative for Margaret Spellings, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, brought greetings from Secretary Spellings and spoke about the need to ensure that every child in America has access to quality educational opportunities.
On Wednesday, June 18, Congressman Yarmuth gave a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives about APH and our first 150 years of serving the nation's blind and visually impaired. Twenty-one APH board and staff members were escorted to the Capitol Building by Stephanie Rowe, a legislative correspondent for Congressman Yarmuth, to witness this historic speech. Congressman Yarmuth subsequently sent a CD of the speech to APH for our archives.
Since 1879, with passage of the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind, APH has served as an instrument of the Federal Government to provide educational materials to blind and visually impaired students below college level. This very special series of events in our nation's capitol gave us a rare opportunity to thank members of Congress for their support, to call to their attention our continuing role in the education of blind and visually impaired students, and to educate members, staff and visitors to Washington on the unique educational needs of the students we serve. It was truly an exciting and memorable week!
Read about more APH 150th anniversary celebration events
©2009, American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.