APH Annual Report cover image, fiscal year 2008.

American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
Celebrating 150 Years of Building Independence
1839 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky, 40206
USA
www.aph.org

2008 Annual Report
October 1, 2007 — September 30, 2008
American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.

Also available in PDF Edition


INTRODUCTION

Photo of the renovated front of the American Printing House for the Blind

SERVICE SINCE 1858

The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) has served our nation's blind and visually impaired citizens since before the Civil War. Founded in 1858, APH is the oldest company in the U.S. dedicated to creating products for blind people and is the largest organization of its kind in the world. In 2008, APH embarked on a year-long celebration of 150 years of service to blind and visually impaired people.

EXTENSIVE RANGE OF PRODUCTS

APH's product lines uphold our mission and include a wide variety of unique educational and daily living items. Some examples of our hundreds of products include: accessible textbooks and tests; large print organizers; braille teaching programs; talking educational software; tactile graphics tools; and science teaching kits.

In partnership with the field of blindness, the APH Department of Research supports the creation of a wide range of products by maintaining ongoing research and development activities.

APH's offerings are detailed in our comprehensive Instructional Products Catalog, organized into the National Agenda's core and expanded core curriculum instructional areas.

Specialty products such as audio books and braille restaurant menus are created by APH for commercial customers. In addition, APH makes custom-ordered materials on demand, such as single copies of large print textbooks.

UNIQUE SERVICES OFFERED

Examples of services offered by APH include:

MANDATE AND CORPORATE STATUS

Much of APH's mandate is derived from the federal Act to Promote the Education of the Blind of 1879. This act designates APH as the official supplier of educational materials to all eligible blind students in the United States working at less than college level.

APH is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. Responsibility for its administration rests with:

APH voluntarily complies with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that sets the business standards for corporate governance and financial disclosure.

For additional information on APH and its full range of products and services that support products, visit www.aph.org.

MISSION STATEMENT

The American Printing House for the Blind promotes independence of blind and visually impaired persons by providing specialized materials, products, and services needed for education and life.

OFFICERS, TRUSTEES AND COMMITTEES

portrait
W. James Lintner, Jr.
Board Chairman

CORPORATE TRUSTEES

CORPORATE OFFICERS

EX OFFICIO TRUSTEES

Ex Officio Trustees are responsible for the administration of the federal Act to Promote the Education of the Blind of 1879. The Ex Officio Trustees are the executive heads of schools for the blind, the chief state school officers of each state department of education, or the executive officers of other agencies serving the blind. If they choose, these executives may designate the Trusteeship to an appropriate professional within their organizations.

EX OFFICIO TRUSTEE ADVISORY COMMITTEES OCTOBER, 2007 - OCTOBER, 2008

The name of each member is followed by his or her term expiration date.

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE

EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

FINANCIAL AND PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

REVENUE DOLLAR

TYPES OF PRODUCTS SOLD

APH PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

Braille Pages Produced

Pages Printed in Large Type Department

Audio Cassettes Produced

*Note: APH now outsources the majority of its printing projects. The pages produced outside of APH are not reflected in this figure.

EXECUTIVE REPORT

portrait
Tuck Tinsley III
APH President

We at APH have just completed seeing the company through its 150th year of operation. It was a year in which we saw a record number of products developed, products delivered, and product-related services provided, in addition to conducting many activities to recognize 2008 as APH's sesquicentennial year.

CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF SERVICE

Projects and events were planned throughout the year to highlight this landmark for the American Printing House for the Blind. The activities began and concluded with focus on APH's most valuable asset, its employees. Beginning with an Employee Kickoff in early January and ending with a holiday luncheon for employees in late December, activities were conducted throughout the year, targeting APH's many publics.

Five special projects completed during the year were: 1) an essay contest for APH's consumers; 2) writing and producing a book of APH's 150-year history; 3) production of a tactile map of the Frankfort Avenue corridor for presentation to the Kentucky School for the Blind; 4) fabrication of a sesquicentennial exhibit for the APH Museum; and 5) renovation of and wayfinding for APH's front grounds.

Nine sesquicentennial events conducted in 2008 were: 1) the Employee Kickoff; 2) 150th Anniversary Luncheon in January; 3) employee preview of museum exhibit and APH history book premiere in May; 4) sesquicentennial Museum exhibit unveiling, APH history book premiere, and reception in May; 5) exhibit and program on Capitol Hill in June; 6) presentation of tactile map to Kentucky School for the Blind in September; 7) Commemorative Dinner during APH's Annual Meeting in October; 8) an open house for local officials including the Kentucky Governor in December; and 9) an employee holiday luncheon and wrap-up, also in December.

While 2008 was a special year to recognize APH's accomplishments during its first 150 years, it was also a great year from a funding perspective, with Congress increasing the appropriation for the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind by $4 million. We sincerely appreciate the advocacy of parents, teachers, Ex Officio Trustees, and others that resulted in the important increase.

HIGHLIGHTS OF FISCAL YEAR 2008

Highlights of the year include the following:

As the curtain falls on 2008,

While the highlights mentioned thus far are services — a video cast, 10 NIP events, 15 web casts, Louis, the File Repository, exhibits, presentations — more precisely, they are product-related services.

APH STILL IS, AS IT WAS WHEN FOUNDED 150 YEARS AGO, ALL ABOUT PRODUCTS!

In 2008, over 600 state, local, and professional certification assessments, alternate assessments, and test-related materials were produced in contracted and/or uncontracted braille, tactile graphic, large print, and audio formats. Thousands of additional test items, passages, and graphics were reviewed for bias, content, and color issues.

In addition to 116 braille textbook titles and 743 large print titles, 88 new products were made available in 2008. These included some major products, such as:

88 new products in '08! And, of significance, 80 percent of the new products this year came as products or product ideas from the field.

Although "voice of the customer" is often referred to as a specific activity with a documented process, the data we at APH capture enables us to "really get our arms around" the extensive and continuous input we receive from customers. While we gather more and more information through our website, the majority of the feedback is provided through seven planned activities:

We do listen! We know we at APH don't work directly with students; however, APH does have direct access to the administrators and teachers of programs across the country serving blind and visually impaired students. They know what works, what doesn't, and what is needed. They are the lifeline to product development, and APH cannot exist without their input.

DATA FROM THE FY2008 FEDERAL QUOTA CENSUS

Data for 2008 regarding the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind indicate the number of legally blind students registered was 58,388, an increase of 1.2% (692) from the number registered for FY 2007. The 2008 appropriation provided $297.88 per student for educational materials, a 24% increase over the $240.44 per capita allocation in 2007. Of the 58,388 students, 9.5% (5,568) were registered as braille readers, 26.9% (15,669) as visual readers, 7.5% (4,402) as auditory readers, 34.4% (20,086) as non-readers, and 21.7% (12,663) as pre-readers. Of this group, 83.6% (48,787) were registered by state departments of education, 8.7% (5,063) were registered by residential schools for the blind, 4.9% (2,892) were registered by rehabilitation programs, and 2.8% (1,646) were registered by multiple disabilities programs.

In closing, we are very proud that APH has come so far since its founding in the basement of what was then the Kentucky Institution for the Blind, with one printing press and no paid staff.

As we reflect on the history of APH, it is clear that we owe thanks to many people who have worked hand-in-hand with APH over the years to help us reach this historic milestone. These include:

However, we probably owe our biggest debt of gratitude to the visionary group of people who, in the 1850s, served as APH's founding fathers.

Respectfully submitted,
W. James Lintner, Jr., Chairman
Tuck Tinsley III, President

SECRETARY'S REPORT

SECRETARY'S REPORT, 2008 FORMAL MEETING OF EX OFFICIO TRUSTEES

The 140th Formal Meeting of the Ex Officio Trustees of the American Printing House for the Blind convened at 12:00 p.m., October 4, 2008, at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. The following conferees were present:

EX OFFICIO TRUSTEE ATTENDEES

APH STAFF ATTENDEES

MINUTES OF THE BUSINESS MEETING

The meeting was opened with a welcome from Dr. Tuck Tinsley III, President and member of APH's Board of Trustees. Ex Officio Trustees and APH staff in attendance introduced themselves and the organizations and departments they represented.

COMMENTS REGARDING FY2008

Dr. Tinsley provided a brief state-of-the-company report for FY 2008 which included the following:

APPROVAL OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORTS

Tom Winton, Chair of the Educational Products Advisory Committee (EPAC), and Ex Officio Trustee representing the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and Jacqueline Denk, Chair of the Educational Services Advisory Committee (ESAC) and Ex Officio Trustee representing the Kansas State Board of Education, recognized each of their committee members and requested approval of the committees' reports previously distributed to the Ex Officio Trustees. A motion to accept the reports as offered was made, seconded, and passed unanimously.

REPORT OF NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE

Bernadette Kappen, Chair of the Nominations Committee and Executive Director of the New York Institute for Special Education, presented the committee's slate of nominees for the advisory committees for 2008, as follows:

James Downs, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Georgia Department of Education, was nominated as the EPAC Chair;
Marty McKenzie, Ex Officio Trustee representing the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, and James Oldham, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Tennessee School for the Blind, were nominated to serve three-year terms on the EPAC;
Dean Stenehjem, Ex Officio Trustee from the Washington State School for the Blind, was nominated as the alternative member of the EPAC;
Michael Bina, Ex Officio Trustee from The Maryland School for the Blind, was nominated as the ESAC Chair;
Marjorie Kaiser, Ex Officio Trustee from the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Barbara McCarthy, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Virginia Library and Resource Center and the Department of the Blind and Vision Impaired, were nominated for two-year terms on the ESAC; and
Barbara Perkis, Ex Officio Trustee for the Illinois Instructional Material Center, was nominated as the alternative committee member of the ESAC.

A motion to accept the nominees as presented was made, seconded, and unanimously passed.

RECOGNITION OF RETIRING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Bob Brasher and Janie Blome acknowledged the Advisory Committee Member Chairs, Tom Winton and Jacqueline Denk.

At Dr. Tinsley's request, Bob Brasher and Janie Blome provided the closing remarks. The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Bill Beavin
Secretary

Note: Full reports of the Ex Officio Trustee Advisory Committees are provided in this annual report.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2008 APH ANNUAL MEETING

photo of two adultsAPH President Tuck Tinsley (seated) and Perkins School for the Blind President Steven Rothstein discuss the new Perkins/APH Brailler prior to the surprise reveal during Annual Meeting.


photo of child and adultChase Crispin was one of the APH 150th Anniversary Essay Contest winners. Chase has produced his own series of YouTube tutorial videos explaining APH's Braille+ Mobile Manager. Here he poses with APH President Tuck Tinsley.


photo of groupIn all, eight essay contest winners from around the U.S. attended the APH 150th Anniversary banquet. Front row from left: Carla Hayes, Chase Crispin, Alex Follo, Mohamedhadi Somji, Deborah Kendrick. Back row from left: Doreen Bohm, Josh Pearson, Ibraheem Shahadat.


photo of large group495 guests from across the U.S. attended the APH 150th Anniversary banquet at the historic Seelbach Hilton hotel in Louisville.


photo of three adultsMike May (right), President of the Sendero Group, gave an inspirational keynote speech. Here he talks to attendees after the presentation.


photo of groupAttendees at the new Ex Officio Trustee meeting included: Front row, from left: Patrick Clancy (IA), Marie Celeste (DC), Susan Egging (WY), Cathy Nadberazny (PA), Dorinda Rife (AZ). Back row, from left: Melanie Austin (UT), Jonn Paris-Salb (CA), Judy Ortman (NJ), Jim Olson (CO), Vince McVeigh (PA).


photo of groupEach year APH helps a group of professionals who have never attended Annual Meeting with an attendance scholarship. The 2008 scholars were, from left: Annette Newbold, Patricia Cox, Pauline Smith, Suzan Patillo, Amy Downard.


photo of adult with awardRichard Welsh (PA), 2008 inductee into the Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field, poses with his plaque.


photo of two adultsAPH's highest honor, the Wings of Freedom Award, was presented to Natalie Barraga, who accepted via video.


photo of adult with awardPhil Hatlen (TX) accepted the Hall of Fame inductee plaque on behalf of the late Sally Mangold.


photo of childAPH InSights Artist William Carr from the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired poses with his artwork.


photo of two adultsEx Officio Trustees Jerry Kitzhoffer (PA) and Frank Simpson (NY) facilitated the Closing Session with humor and a homemade ouija board. Trustees introduced all of the general sessions.


photo of two adultsJanie Blome and Bob Brasher closed the 140th Annual Meeting with special remarks, including comments regarding Janie's great-great-great-grandfather, James Guthrie, who served as APH's first President of the Board of Trustees (1858-1869).


photo of two adultsAPH's Gary Mudd and Tuck Tinsley presented a summary of APH's 150th anniversary year celebration activities.


REPORTS FROM THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES

FORMAL REPORT: 2008 NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE FOR EX OFFICIO TRUSTEE ADVISORY COMMITTEES

The members of the 2008 Nominations Committee are:

Members of the Committee are honored to have been asked to perform the important assignment of nominating Ex Officio Trustees to serve on APH's two Advisory Committees.

The Educational Products Advisory Committee and the Educational Services Advisory Committee support APH in the organization's continuous improvement process, focusing on providing quality products and services that effectively meet the needs of our field. Ex Officio Trustees benefit and contribute through service on the Advisory Committees; the experience is an opportunity to learn about APH and to impact our important work.

Advisory Committee members are nominated with the following in mind:

The 2008 Nominations Committee recommended the following slate that was unanimously approved at the Formal Meeting of the Ex Officio Trustees convened on October 4, 2008 in Louisville, Kentucky:

EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Chair for a one-year term: James Downs, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Georgia State Department of Education

For three-year terms as committee members: Marty McKenzie, Ex Officio Trustee representing the South Carolina Department of Education; James Oldham, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Tennessee School for the Blind

Alternate for a one-year term: Dean Stenehjem, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Washington State School for the Blind

The full 2008-2009 Educational Products Advisory Committee will be: (The year preceding the name indicates the final year of regular committee tenure.)

THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Chair for a one-year term: Michael Bina, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Maryland School for the Blind

For two-year terms as committee members: Marjorie Kaiser, Ex Officio Trustee representing the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Barbara McCarthy, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired and the Virginia Department of Education

Alternate for a one-year term: Barbara Perkis, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Illinois State Board of Education

The full 2008-2009 Educational Services Advisory Committee will be: (The year preceding the name indicates the final year of regular committee tenure.)

The Nominations Committee thanks the new and returning Advisory Committee members and chairs for their willingness to serve. We encourage all interested Ex Officio Trustees to declare your interest to be a future Advisory Committee member; it is the single most important way to contribute as an Ex Officio Trustee.

Respectfully submitted,
Bernadette Kappen, Chair

Carol McCarroll and Stuart Wittenstein,
Members of the Nominations Committee
Louisville, Kentucky
October 4, 2008

REPORT OF THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008

PURPOSE OF ESAC

The purpose of the Educational Services Advisory Committee (ESAC) is to:

INTRODUCTION TO ESAC

In May of 2008 the Educational Services Advisory Committee (ESAC) and the Educational Products Advisory Committee (EPAC) met in joint and separate sessions. The ESAC committee met to address the 2007 ESAC report and to develop commendations and recommendations. To assist with this endeavor, interactive presentations were made by APH's administrative staff and ESAC committee members. These interactive presentations provided progress updates on the 2007 recommendations, operations, and information on new initiatives.

ESAC COMMENDATIONS 2008

Consistent with the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind (1879), the Committee commends APH for:

  1. Creating a nurturing working environment for staff and a transparent, customer-responsive climate that invites open communication and collaboration between EOTs and the APH leadership team.
  2. Supporting the staff's innovative approach to solving unique challenges and furthering opportunities for customers by their hardworking, caring, and thoughtful contributions.
  3. Making substantial progress in the following projects which were recommended in the 2007 ESAC report:
    1. Implementation of the Braille Improvement Project (BIP) by hiring braille transcribers, increasing braille production, upgrading the skills of the staff through certification to meet national standards, and producing more books.
    2. Development of a full range of training opportunities, posting training manuals online, expanding webcasts, and increasing internet bandwidth.
    3. Expansion of an Integrated Library Service (ILS) platform to accommodate a full access e-commerce feature.
    4. Expansion and improvements in the National Prison Braille Program.
    5. Implementation of the downloadable tactile graphic database plan.
    6. Implementation of the plan to improve the intellectual testing of students who are blind or visually impaired.
    7. Implementation of museum initiatives which recognize and raise public awareness of APH's contributions on the occasion of its 150th anniversary.
  4. Expanding APH product-related electronic and face to face training opportunities including those provided through the National Instructional Partnerships.
  5. Implementing the Title Management Module software which allows single entry and migration of Louis, NIMAC, and the APH platforms which interface with e-commerce and SYSPRO for increased interdepartmental efficiency.
  6. Developing exemplary print and on-line brochures, catalogues, newsletters, and other marketing and information vehicles which advance APH's brand, positive image, and information dissemination.
  7. Developing APH's e-commerce feature through the collaborative efforts of the Business Office, Resource Services, Technological, and Communications Services.
  8. Making Fred's Head information more easily available by mainstreaming it within internet search engines.
  9. Dramatically reducing the production and delivery time of ATIC and traditional Large Print textbooks.

ESAC RECOMMENDATIONS 2008

The Committee recommends that APH:

  1. Continue consideration, as recommended in 2007 ESAC report, to:
    1. Explore the development of SRS single entry data transmission protocols which will allow EOTs to download their records to APH and which accommodates bulk import and export of data with automatic feedback to EOTs.
    2. Consider assigning students a permanent Student Registration System (SRS) identifying number for purposes of longitudinal data analysis.
    3. Fully implement the electronic dissemination of acknowledgements and invoices to EOTs as a means to save time and resources.
  2. Provide support to further refine and improve the SRS registration system to meet APH and customer needs for maximum efficiency.
  3. Produce more braille textbooks with a quicker turnaround time by:
    1. Increasing production efficiencies and staffing.
    2. Considering expansion of outside production subcontracts.
  4. Produce 3-5 minute infomercials to inform customers about available products and to provide assistance in utilizing them.
  5. Expand services and products to improve literacy, language, and communication skills for students who are non-readers.
  6. Develop guidelines for alternate assessment for non-readers, a growing portion of the APH census.
  7. Consider further development of a virtual tour of the museum.

Respectfully submitted,

Jacqueline Denk, Chair
Educational Services Advisory Committee

REPORT OF THE EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008

INTRODUCTION TO EPAC

In May of 2008, the Educational Products Advisory Committee (EPAC) met for the seventh year as a formal advisory body to the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). The committee members reviewed products under development, met with APH staff, and approved new products for sale with Quota Funds. The EPAC would like to express our thanks to the staff of APH for their congeniality and frank discussions during our stay. After thoughtful review the EPAC offers the following commendations and recommendations to APH for consideration.

EPAC COMMENDATIONS 2008

The Educational Products Advisory Committee commends the American Printing House for the Blind for:

  1. The efforts of the Accessible Tests Department for
    1. partnering with major assessment companies to address test accessibility issues in the field.
    2. completion of the braille version of the Woodcock-Johnson III: Test of Achievement. The Accessible Tests Department learned how to work with the publisher in an efficient manner to produce a high quality and completely validated product.
  2. Providing open access through a T-1 line to the technology project team, as this has stimulated creativity and innovation in this important area.
  3. The progress made in the past year on the Braille Improvement Project, increasing capacity and staff morale.
  4. The preparation for the sesquicentennial, demonstrating the hallmark of APH as an organization that is welcoming and hospitable to the VI field and the greater community.
  5. The redesign of the building entrance and the museum redesign and accessibility features to reach out to the local community.
  6. The launching of the Tactile Graphics Library and great progress in promoting its use throughout the country.
  7. The Early Braille Tradebooks project and its related website for its user-friendliness and simplified format, providing an excellent resource for the field and alleviating the redundant efforts of teachers and transcribers previously required to produce these books.
  8. The efforts of APH and its contractors in the upcoming integration and redesign of the website, e-commerce, SYSPRO, Louis and NIMAC.

EPAC RECOMMENDATIONS 2008

The Educational Products Advisory Committee, in its effort to help the American Printing House for the Blind remain a relevant and progressive leader in the education of students with blindness and visual impairments and the leading producer of instructional materials for the field, recommends the following:

  1. Related to 2007 recommendations #3 and #5, to ensure that your existing and upcoming products are in demand and relevant to the field, establish and use a standard for updating old products (e.g., Developmental Guidelines; Best for a Nest) and developing new products to be reflective of current thought/best practice and sales data and to reach out to new leaders in the field or related fields.
  2. Investigate and create a plan for more efficient use of research assistants for product development.
  3. Continue to develop and coordinate early and emergent literacy products
    1. By Fall 2008, develop a process for nationwide transcriber and teachers of the visually impaired participation in the development of the Early Braille Tradebooks Library.
    2. Integrate this resource with other early and emergent literacy projects (e.g., Patterns, First Books, etc.) to complement and reinforce the concepts and skills needed for reading by blind children.
    3. Integrate proposed Early Literacy and Emergent Literacy websites so they are not developed in isolation.
  4. Give higher priority by accelerating and/or outsourcing the Patterns Series Grade 1 project such that it is ready for release by March 2009. For the third year in a row, we are frustrated that the Patterns Series Grade 1 is still not ready for field testing. If Grade 2 cannot be completed within one year after this, it should be outsourced as a high priority.
  5. Prioritize the development and availability of TestReady materials for test preparation, as this can make an important and immediate impact regarding student achievement and national standards.
  6. Recruit and train another cohort of APH transcribers and develop a system for recruiting and training APH proofreaders.
  7. Considering that nearly one-third of all students being served by the Act are currently identified as non-readers, we recommend APH devote additional attention to the development of literacy, communication, and curricular products for these students, including using expertise from the larger field of education of students with intellectual disabilities.
  8. Accessible Test Department staff actively seek out opportunities to present at larger non-VI conferences (e.g., CEC, NASP, etc.) to inform school psychologists and others about the availability of adaptive test instruments for blind and visually impaired children.
  9. Explore APH access to Internet 2 to help facilitate interactive training throughout the country.

Respectfully submitted,

Tom Winton, Chair, Educational Products Advisory Committee

JOINT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE, FISCAL YEAR 2008

1). In order to best fulfill the mission of APH in the immediate future, the EPAC and ESAC jointly recommend that APH assess, plan and implement a cohesive strategy that integrates organizational structure, internal and external communication, and technology to better serve its customers and support its employees' creativity and enhance their efficiency.

Our recommendation specifically includes four components: 1) Assessment, 2) Planning, 3) Implementation, and 4) Evaluation/Follow-up.

  1. Assessment

    Conduct a comprehensive assessment/audit that:

    1. is completed by an outside consulting firm;
    2. is overseen by a multidisciplinary committee, to include in-house staff and one member of each of the advisory committees;
    3. evaluates companywide information technology (IT) ability to fully access and share information internally and externally;
    4. examines service and product goals as they relate to electronic delivery systems;
    5. evaluates the structure of internal communication of projects and how business units work together; and
    6. gives consideration to hiring a strategic information leader to implement the plan if recommended by the results of the assessment.


    This assessment/audit is to build upon the existing initiative that merges e-commerce, finance, NIMAC and Louis, and is to extend to evaluating additional areas such as: sharing of information among research professionals and production staff and internet usage policies.

  2. Plan

    Assessment leads to the development of an externally delivered plan by May 2009 that serves as a blueprint for more streamlined production and timely delivery of products and services.
  3. Implementation of external recommendations
  4. Annual Evaluation

2). The EPAC and ESAC jointly recommend the development of a process to create benchmarks and standards upon which APH will measure the outcomes of its various departments, such as error-free textbooks, on time delivery of products, etc.

ADDENDUM TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORTS, PROVIDED BY APH: APH PRODUCTS APPROVED FOR PURCHASE WITH FEDERAL QUOTA FUNDS, FY2008

ALL-IN-ONE Board (Velcro®/Dry Erase/Magnetic): 1-08836-00

Brigance Diagnostic Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills (Green), Revised, 1999: Student Large Print Edition: 4-00000-00

Word PlayHouse Kit: 1-03562-00

Consumable Number Lines: 1-03012-00

Flip-Over Concept Books: 1-08831-00

What Is It: 1-03535-00

Jump Rope to Fitness Kit: 1-07521-00

30-Love Tennis Kit: 1-08110-00

Textured Sorting Circles and Shapes: 1-08834-00

PATTER: Preschool Attainment Through Typical Everyday Routines: 6-76001-00

Lighting Guide Kit: 1-08941-00

Transparent CCTV Rulers: 1-03008-00, 1-03009-00

Braille/Print Yardstick: 1-03002-00

Jumbo Work-Play Tray: 1-03765-00

Azer's Interactive Periodic Table Study Set: 1-08856-00

Picture Maker Accessories: 1-08838-01

PermaBraille Sheets: 1-08881-00, 1-08882-00, 1-08883-00, 1-08884-00, 1-08885-00

Verbal View of Windows Vista & Office 2007: D-10517-00

MathBuilders Unit 6: 7-03563-00

DISTRIBUTION OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS

Based on the Federal Quota Census of January 1, 2007 (FY2008)

Tables showing the distribution (link opens a new window)

AGENCIES RECEIVING FEDERAL QUOTA FUNDS

Agencies for the Education of the Visually Impaired in the United States Receiving Federal Quota Funds Due Under an Act to Promote the Education of the Blind, Fiscal Year 2008

Note: The agencies in this section are in the following order within each state: State Departments of Education, Schools for the Blind, Rehabilitation Programs, Programs for Students with Multiple Disabilities.

*Note: The abbreviation "PNP" means "Private, Non-profit."

State and AgencyPupils as of January 1, 2007FY 2008 Allocation in Dollars
Alabama
Alabama State Department of Education, Talladega813241,390.30
Alabama State Department of Education, *PNP, Talladega8424,940.70
Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, Talladega30590,558.48
Alaska
Alaska State Department of Education, Anchorage16448,693.74
American Samoa
American Samoa Department of Education, Pago Pago123,562.96
Arizona
Arizona State Department of Education, Phoenix988293,350.08
Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Tucson24673,040.61
Arkansas
Arkansas State Department of Education, Sherwood28584,620.22
Arkansas State Department of Education, PNP, Sherwood7823,159.22
Arkansas School for the Blind, Little Rock9127,019.09
Lions World Services for the Blind, Little Rock5616,627.13
Conway Human Development Center, Conway7923,456.13
California
California Department of Education, Sacramento5,0701,505,348.96
California Department of Education, PNP, Sacramento832247,031.65
California School for the Blind, Fremont7823,159.22
Braille Institute of America, Los Angeles5315,736.39
Orientation Center for the Blind, Albany154,453.70
Colorado
Colorado Department of Education, Colorado Springs685203,385.43
Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, Colorado Springs5416,033.30
Rehabilitation Center, Denver164,750.61
Connecticut
Connecticut State Board of Education & Services, Windsor646191,805.82
Connecticut State Board of Education & Services, PNP, Windsor51,484.57
Oak Hill School, Hartford154,453.70
Connecticut State Department of Mental Retardation, Hartford8926,425.26
Delaware
State Department of Education, New Castle4613,658.00
Division for the Visually Impaired, New Castle13840,974.00
District of Columbia
District of Columbia Public Schools, Washington, DC7321,674.65
District of Columbia Department of Human Services, Washington, DC51,484.57
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, Riverdale, MD13740,677.09
Florida
Florida State Department of Education, Tampa1,730513,659.55
Florida State Department of Education, PNP, Tampa10230,285.13
Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, St. Augustine19056,413.48
Division of Blind Services, Daytona Beach6218,408.61
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., Miami6318,705.52
Conklin Centers for the Blind, Daytona Beach3510,391.96
Georgia
Georgia State Department of Education, Clarkston1,036307,601.91
Georgia State Department of Education, PNP, Clarkston92,672.22
Georgia Academy for the Blind, Macon10832,066.61
Center for the Visually Impaired, Atlanta5215,439.48
Gracewood State School and Hospital, Gracewood61,781.48
Guam
Guam Department of Education, Hagatña195,641.35
Hawaii
Hawaii Department of Education, Honolulu16649,287.56
Hawaii Department of Education, PNP, Honolulu3710,985.78
Hawaii Center for the Deaf and the Blind, Honolulu3890.74
Idaho
Idaho State Department of Education, Gooding24171,556.04
Idaho State Department of Education, PNP, Gooding61,781.48
Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind, Gooding247,125.91
Idaho Commission for the Blind, Boise144,156.78
Idaho State School and Hospital, Nampa51,484.57
Illinois
Illinois State Board of Education, Chicago1,823541,272.46
Illinois State Board of Education, PNP, Chicago537159,442.30
Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, Jacksonville7923,456.13
The Hadley School for the Blind, Winnetka1,028305,226.60
The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, Chicago28283,729.48
Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education-Wood, Chicago3710,985.78
The Hope School, Springfield102,969.13
Indiana
Indiana Department of Education, Indianapolis730216,746.52
Indiana Department of Education, PNP, Indianapolis92,672.22
Indiana School for the Blind, Indianapolis12236,223.39
Indiana Department of Education, Adult Students, Indianapolis8324,643.78
Iowa
Iowa Department of Education, Des Moines412122,328.17
Iowa Department of Education, PNP, Des Moines3890.74
Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, Vinton247,125.91
Iowa Department for the Blind, Des Moines175,047.52
Glenwood Resource Center, Glenwood3610,688.87
Kansas
Kansas State Board of Education, Kansas City417123,812.74
Kansas State Board of Education, PNP, Kansas City12737,707.96
Kansas State School for the Blind, Kansas City4312,767.26
Services for the Blind, Topeka92,672.22
Kentucky
Kentucky Department of Education, Louisville630187,055.21
Kentucky Department of Education, PNP, Louisville6118,111.70
Kentucky School for the Blind, Louisville6318,705.52
Kentucky Rehabilitation Center for the Blind, Louisville267,719.74
Louisiana
Louisiana Department of Education, Baton Rouge364108,076.35
Louisiana Department of Education, PNP, Baton Rouge2593.83
Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired, Baton Rouge7020,783.91
Louisiana Center for the Blind, Ruston4613,658.00
The Lighthouse for the Blind in New Orleans Inc., New Orleans2593.83
Maine
Maine Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Bangor21062,351.74
Maine Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired, PNP, Bangor51,484.57
Maryland
Maryland State Department of Education, Baltimore754223,872.43
Maryland State Department of Education, PNP, Baltimore17451,662.87
The Maryland School for the Blind, Baltimore15947,209.17
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Department of Education, Malden1,395414,193.69
Massachusetts Department of Education, PNP, Malden6419,002.43
Perkins School for the Blind - Infants and Toddlers, Watertown25274,822.09
The Carroll Center for the Blind, Newton205,938.26
Massachusetts Association for the Blind, Brookline154,453.70
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, Boston23970,962.22
Walter E. Fernald State School, Waltham5315,736.39
Perkins School for the Blind - Scholl Programs, Watertown15746,615.35
Michigan
Michigan State Department of Education, Flint2,072615,203.81
Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center, Kalamazoo23168,586.91
Visually Handicapped Services/Detroit Receiving Hospital and University Health Center, Detroit123,562.96
Nichigan State Department of Education, PNP, Flint113,266.04
Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Education, Faribault787233,670.56
Minnesota Department of Education, PNP, Faribault92,672.22
Minnesota State Academy for the Blind, Faribault4112,173.43
Blind, Inc., Minneapolis144,156.78
Vision Loss Resources, Minneapolis51,484.57
Mississippi
Mississippi State Department of Education, Jackson13138,895.61
Mississippi School for the Blind, Jackson8525,237.61
Addie McBryde Rehabilitation Center for the Blind, Jackson267,719.74
Missouri
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, St. Louis886263,064.95
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, PNP, St. Louis18956,116.56
Missouri School for the Blind, St. Louis6920,487.00
Alphapointe Association for the Blind, Kansas City61,781.48
Missouri Family Support Division, Jefferson City3510,391.96
Montana
Montana State Department of Public Instruction, Great Falls17351,365.96
Montana State Department of Public Instruction, PNP, Great Falls2593.83
Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind, Great Falls164,750.61
Nebraska
Nebraska State Department of Education, Nebraska City425126,188.04
Nebraska State Department of Education, PNP, Nebraska City3890.74
Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, Nebraska City133,859.87
Nevada
Nevada Department of Education, Carson City30891,449.22
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Department of Education, Concord14342,458.56
New Jersey
New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Newark1,656491,687.99
St. Joseph's School for the Blind, Jersey City12436,817.22
New Mexico
New Mexico State Department of Education, Alamogordo422125,297.30
New Mexico State Department of Education, PNP, Alamogordo123,562.96
New Mexico School for the Visually Handicapped, Alamogordo9227,316.00
New York
New York State Education Department, Batavia2,801831,653.41
New York State Education Department, PNP, Batavia1,246369,953.64
Lavelle School for the Blind, Bronx10631,472.78
The New York Institute for Special Education, Bronx9728,800.56
New York State School for the Blind, Batavia6118,111.70
Helen Keller National Center, Sands Point319,204.30
North Carolina
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Raleigh961285,333.43
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, PNP, Raleigh33398,872.04
The Governor Morehead School, Raleigh31192,339.95
Division of Services for the Blind, Raleigh195,641.35
North Dakota
Department of Public Instruction, Grand Forks16849,881.39
Department of Public Instruction, PNP, Grand Forks154,453.70
North Dakota School for the Blind, Grand Forks9026,722.17
Ohio
Ohio State Department of Education, Columbus1,436426,367.12
Ohio State Department of Education, PNP, Columbus92,672.22
Ohio State School for the Blind, Columbus9829,097.48
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Department of Education, Oklahoma City834247,625.47
Oklahoma School for the Blind, Muskogee7121,080.83
Oregon
Oregon Department of Education, Salem583173,100.30
Oregon State School for the Blind, Salem278,016.65
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Education, Harrisburg1,602475,654.68
Pennsylvania Department of Education, PNP, Harrisburg175,047.52
Overbrook School for the Blind, Philadelphia383113,717.69
Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, Pittsburgh16348,396.82
Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh, Homestead319,204.30
Royer-Greaves School for the Blind, Paoli288,313.57
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Department of Education, San Juan654194,181.13
Puerto Rico Department of Education, PNP, San Juan102,969.13
Instituto Loaiza Cordero Para Niños Ciegos, Santurce8725,831.43
Rehabilitation Center for the Blind of Puerto Rico, San Juan226,532.09
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Department of Education, Providence14543,052.39
Rhode Island Department of Education, PNP, Providence5315,736.39
South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Education, Florence444131,829.39
South Carolina School for the Deaf, Blind, and Multihandicapped, Columbia19557,898.04
South Carolina Commission for the Blind, Columbia216,235.17
South Carolina School for the Deaf, Blind, and Multihandicapped, PNP, Columbia4814,251.83
South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Columbia461136,876.91
South Dakota
South Dakota Department of Education, Pierre7622,565.39
South Dakota School for the Blind & Visually Impaired, Aberdeen13439,786.35
South Dakota Rehabilitation Center for the Blind, Sioux Falls3890.74
Tennessee
Tennessee State Department of Education, Nashville889263,955.69
Tennessee State Department of Education, PNP, Nashville4513,361.09
Tennessee School for the Blind, Nashville15947,209.17
Texas
Texas Education Agency, PNP, Austin51,484.57
Texas Education Agency, Austin4,6981,394,897.44
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Austin12938,301.78
The Lighthouse for the Blind of Houston, Houston6419,002.43
Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, Austin6118,111.70
Texas Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation, Austin750222,684.78
Utah
Utah State Office of Education, Ogden465138,064.56
Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Ogden20661,164.09
Vermont
Vermont State Department of Education, Burlington12938,301.78
Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands Department of Education, Christiansted, St. Thomas205,938.26
Virginia
Virginia Department of Education, Richmond953282,958.12
Virginia School at Hampton, Hampton216,235.17
Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind-Staunton, Staunton205,938.26
Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, Richmond7020,783.91
Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, PNP, Richmond216,235.17
Washington
Washington State Department of Public Instruction, Vancouver794235,748.95
Washington State Department of Public Instruction, PNP, Vancouver6519,299.35
Washington State School for the Blind, Vancouver5014,845.65
West Virginia
West Virginia State Department of Education, Romney25676,009.74
West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Romney10430,878.96
West Virginia State Department of Education, PNP, Romney41,187.65
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Madison674200,119.39
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, PNP, Madison185,344.43
Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped and Educational Services for the Visually Impaired, Janesville4312,767.26
Wyoming
Wyoming Department of Education, Sheridan8926,425.26
Wyoming Department of Education, PNP, Sheridan5917,517.87
Totals58,38817,336,158.34

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT

Department of Development and Magazine Services

photo of hands on brailleReader's Digest® in Braille provides vital information to readers. Your kind gift will help thousands of children and adults who are blind or visually impaired. For more information, please call us toll free, 1-888-295-2405, or visit our website, www.aph.org, click "Donate Now and Support Our Mission."


OUR GENEROUS FRIENDS

Across the nation, people who are blind and visually impaired receive free-of-charge accessible magazines from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). This is possible because of the generous support of family, friends, and others from all walks of life. Their contributions assure that APH programs and services continue to be available to Americans everywhere.

ACCESSIBLE MAGAZINES OFFERED BY APH

Braille Reader's Digest®
For decades, Reader's Digest® has been one of the most popular magazines available. Since 1928, our nation's blind citizens have been able to receive Reader's Digest® in braille from APH.

Recorded Reader's Digest®
Reader's Digest® in recorded form has been offered by APH since 1939. Like the braille edition, the recorded Reader's Digest® is available free to eligible readers.

Newsweek® Talking Magazine
Newsweek® on cassette has been offered by APH since 1959. Newsweek listeners rely on the in-depth current affairs coverage provided each week by APH at nearly the same time as the print edition. Recorded Newsweek is offered free-of-charge to eligible readers.

Weekly Reader® Series
Production of Weekly Reader® in both braille and large print began in 1946. This educational publication is mailed each week to thousands of students. As the regular print version reaches schools nationwide, the braille and large print editions from APH are also available.

Accessible magazines are only a phone call away, 1-888-295-2405.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

There are several ways you can help visually impaired readers receive the vital information that they need:

Gifts of cash: Generous donors remember our programs through gifts of cash, checks, and money orders.

Stocks and bonds are excellent ways to accomplish charitable intent and donors can benefit from favorable personal and estate tax treatment.

Life insurance giving is a creative estate-planning tool.

Gifts that remember a special occasion, memorialize an event, or honor a loved one play a major role in the gift plans of many of our supporters.

Matching gifts from corporations can greatly extend a monetary gift.

PLANNING WITH GIFT ANNUITIES

Caring individuals use Charitable Gift Annuities (CGA) to provide major financial support to APH.

The Charitable Gift Annuity is a popular estate planning tool that provides income for life and very favorable tax results. Other features of a Charitable Gift Annuity include:

HOW TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION

If you would like to receive further details, or an obligation-free proposal on APH's Charitable Gift Annuity program or learn more about Wills and Estate Planning, please contact the APH Development Department at 1-888-295-2405.

Wills: Remembering APH in your Will provides a legacy toward our mission of helping those who are blind and visually impaired.

If you wish to make the American Printing House for the Blind the recipient of a personal bequest, one of the following forms may be used:

"I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to the American Printing House for the Blind, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky, my entire estate."

OR

"I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to the American Printing House for the Blind, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky, the sum of _____________ dollars ($_______________)."

OR

"I give, devise, and bequeath to the American Printing House for the Blind, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky, (state a fraction or a percentage) of the rest, residue, or remainder of my estate, whether real or personal."

Always consult your lawyer before making or changing your Will.

The American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Gifts are tax-deductible.

®Registered trademarks of The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.; Newsweek, Inc.; and Weekly Reader Corp.

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American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
Celebrating 150 Years of Building Independence
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Louisville, Kentucky 40206
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