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APH 150th Anniversary Essay Contest
2nd Place Award Winning Essays
- Category: Grades 3-5
Cricket Bidleman: APH, A Perfect Helper - Category: Grades 6-8
Joy Pack: How APH Has Helped Me Become More Independent - Category: Grades 9-12
Juan Munoz: What APH has Done for Me - Category: Professional in the Field of Vision
Barbara Hadnott: How APH Has Helped Me Be Independent - Category: Adult Consumer
Carla Hayes: How APH Has Opened Many Worlds for Me and My Students
The 150th Anniversary Award Winning Essays are available in .BRF format:
Second Place in Grades 3-5 Category
Cricket Bidleman
APH, A PERFECT HELPER
You might think that I'm a pretty independent third-grader already because I live on an island 3,500 miles from the mainland. But I wouldn't even know where I was if I hadn't borrowed an APH globe from my vision teacher! And that's not the only way APH helps me learn and be independent.
The globe helps me find places like China, where I was born, and Hawaii, where I now live. I can feel the latitude and longitude lines. The globe helps me tell the Northern Hemisphere from the Southern Hemisphere.
Did you know that I can play Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon with my sighted brother and sister? I can braille the cards on my Perkins Brailler.
The Brailler helped me learn the braille alphabet. I do my math homework on it.
The APH abacus helps me with math. I'm learning how to divide by decimals. If I don't know the answer to a math problem, I use the abacus to help me figure it out.
I use Math Flash, Talking Typer and Teachers Pet to help me learn things and practice old things.
In conclusion, APH helps me learn things in a fun way.
Second Place in Grades 6-8 Category
Joy Pack
HOW APH HAS HELPED ME BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT
I was born with a visual impairment and have learned how to adapt, live, learn, and participate like other teenagers my age through the equipment and resources that APH offers. APH has helped me become more independent in my learning by providing me tools to do my school work, play, and achieve what I need to.
I have been given the tools through APH, so I can read and write Braille and print. I am able to read print materials with magnifiers. I use a Braille `n Speak to write. I use specialized computer tools to use the computer to play games, do learning activities, and write on. I have textbooks in large print and Braille. I have been given literature in large print and Braille so that I can read books like my friends. Through these large print and Braille materials, APH has helped me understand my work so I can be independent and fit in.
I have math materials like an abacus, rulers, and manipulatives that I can use to do my math. These materials help me excel in my favorite subject of math. APH provides pictures maps, graphs, science materials, talking dictionaries, and lots of equipment so I can understand and enjoy my learning. They have provided me with books on tapes and my tape players.
Through APH and the equipment that is available, I can learn and enjoy learning without being frustrated. APH has been making a difference in the lives of visually impaired and blind people for 150 years and have impacted my life in the past 6 years of my 13 years. I did not realize how much I used the products from APH at home and school until I started researching the equipment and materials that I use. APH has made me more independent and will continue to help me as I go into High School and College. I can do anything and APH helps me achieve that goal.
Second Place in Grades 9-12 Category
Juan Munoz
WHAT APH HAS DONE FOR ME
The American Printing House for the Blind has affected the lives of countless blind people like myself over the past 150 years with their products designed to enhance independent living, and improve their overall quality of life. Among other things, for a nonprofit organization like APH to exist for any length of time, it needs a strong mission statement, a dedicated staff, and positive feedback from its consumers--all of which are just a few of the qualities that APH possesses. I would like to share with you how the Louisville-based organization has enhanced my learning and assisted me in becoming more independent. I have gained quite a bit from APH, and with the help of their products, I am able to take notes, solve math problems, type on the computer, and various other tasks. I hope that after reading this, you will understand how far I've come in life thanks to APH and their products.
This particular organization is not new to me; I've been using several of their products for a number of years. For example, ever since middle school, the APH signature guide has been on my list of items I must have with me at all times. It is especially imperative now that I'm eighteen years old, and therefore, responsible for my own signature. It is so simple, and yet so convenient that I feel every blind person should have one. I own the metal one with the elastic line, and the rubber bottom to prevent it from slipping and sliding. I never again have to worry about keeping my signature straight with this awesome tool.
Another handy gadget that I have used in the past, and will probably use again in college is the Handi Cassette II. This has got to be one of the first if not, the first product I received from APH next to the braille calendar. While it's inevitable that cassette tapes are approaching the corner of obsolete and forgotten, many people still use them for personal and commercial purposes, especially in the blind community. I have used my Handi Cassette player on multiple occasions in elementary, middle and high school, and as long as cassettes are still around, I'm pretty sure I'll be using it to record lectures and other notes in college. I've gone through a few Handi Cassettes over the years; however, I do have a couple ready to go should I have need of their services.
If for whatever reason I am unable to use my Handi Cassette II, I have my slate-and-stylus to back me up. Jotting down phone numbers, physical and e-mail addresses, quick notes, reminders and even labels are all easy to do on the go with this oldie but goodie. Also, it's more portable, and weighs much less than a Perkins Brailler. I use a metal slate, round stylus and braille eraser, all stored in a pouch that can go in a binder or over a belt loop for easy access. It makes a wonderful alternative if my notetaker should happen to die on me. By the way, this has happened before, and the slate-and-stylus really saved my life. With this ancient-looking notetaker, I can safely say that I know braille forwards and backwards.
One thing you should know about me is that I love numbers, so of course, I own an APH abacus. I received my first thirteen-cell abacus in the third grade, and I fell in love with it. It's very serviceable when calculators are neither allowed or available. I've used it as scratch paper while taking standardized tests, and for help with homework. Like the slate-and-stylus, it's nowhere near as bulky as a Perkins Brailler, and unlike braille paper, it can be refreshed and reused again. The abacus is not a calculator; you use it to work out math problems with simple arithmetic. I actually prefer it this way because I'm still solving the problem without being given the answer. As a matter of fact, I've participated in several competitions tailored towards testing one's knowledge of the abacus. The best part about it is that like the other products I mentioned earlier, the abacus is portable, so I can take it with me everywhere.
I received my first laptop computer in the fourth grade, but there was a slight problem; I had never used one before. This of course meant that I didn't know how a gwerty-style keyboard was set up. This is where Talking Typer for Windows comes into play. I give credit of my knowledge of the keyboard to this amazing piece of software. My VI teacher and I would practice with it once or twice a week until I felt comfortable with the keyboard. Then as a test, my VI teacher had me write an essay, and while I was writing, she examined me to evaluate my level of comfort at the keyboard. I'm proud to say that I passed with flying colors, and I owe it all to Talking Typer.
By now you have probably concluded that I am a satisfied consumer of the American Printing House for the Blind. I have acquired so much from APH's products, and I plan to obtain more products in the future. I look forward to using APH products for the rest of my high school years, as well as during my college and working careers. APH is a true paradigm for all organizations geared toward improving independence and overall life for persons dealing with blindness. I highly recommend APH to anyone who is looking for products like the ones I discussed earlier, and more. The best thing about APH is that there is something for blind people of all ages: students, parents, teachers, employees and small business owners, just to name a few. Finally, I would just like to congratulate and thank the American Printing House for the Blind for all that they have done over the past 150 years. Keep up the great work guys, and here's to 150 more!
Second Place in VI Professional Category
Barbara Hadnott
HOW APH HAS HELPED ME BE INDEPENDENT
Being independent has always been important to me. When I was a child, this meant competing with the kids in my neighborhood as well as with those attending the Mississippi School for the Blind. In college, it meant being recognized as an honor student as well as being able to equally participate in extracurricular activities along with my peers. As an adult, and this was the biggy, it meant securing a professional job and owning my own home. I truly wanted my status of independence to be an example to other individuals who were blind, especially my older and younger sisters. The American Printing House for the Blind has played a most significant role in my achieving these goals.
In life, it is the small things that we sometimes take for granted. One of those things is a window. This has been something that has always fascinated me. Whether the window had a screen on it or not, I could still see out of it. Even with very limited eyesight I could see that a lot was out there. The point is that not only is a window a porthole or a glass encasement, it is an opening, a chance, an opportunity. So, when you look at it in these terms, I could see through the window very clearly.
The first window that got my attention was the Braille book. I was five years old when I was introduced to the Braille cold by way of a primer Braille book containing the alphabets. The title of the book was Up the Sound Ladder. Through subsequent reading books, I had Fun With Dick and Jane and traveled through New Streets and Roads, It was great, I had access to all of my books throughout elementary and high school. These books were produced by the American Printing House for the Blind. At that early age I came to know that whatever APH was, it was a very important part of my life. For a good long while, I thought that APH was the only printing house for the blind in the entire world. Even now, when I hear someone say "Kentucky," I immediately think of 1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville.
Another small thing in life is a candle. A candle gives light so that one may see his/her surroundings. During my college years, APH was that candle which aided me in seeing my way clearly. My Perkins Brailler, Braille paper, and the APH 4-track tape recorder were the "high tech" products and devices that got me through various challenging situations. This candle provided the light of hope that enabled me to achieve excellence in speech and Spanish. It sparked the flames that blazed the coals of determination that encouraged me to participate with the Jackson State University Choir, the media center, and with the campus radio station. It was the vehicle whereby I was able to graduate with honors having maintained my status on the Dean's List for four years.
After college, it was time to look for a job. APH, at that time, served as still another small thing for me: a bridge. Moving from the classroom to the workroom was no easy matter. To assist me with bridging the gap was APH. The pocket notebooks, slate and stylus, the Handi Tape Recorder, and other products were my tools for seeking competitive employment. I was able to gather information, follow job leads, prepare for interviews, learn to use the computer, and to present myself in a professional and confident manner.
Upon obtaining a position with the Disability Determination Services and moving on to Protection and Advocacy, then Goodwill Industries, the bridge led me to the Addie McBryde Rehabilitation Center for the Blind located in Jackson, MS. Now, because of APH, I am the candle in the window looking over the bridge that leads the way to independence for other individuals who are blind.
As an instructor of Advanced Communications, I am sharing my knowledge and skills relative to word processing, the Internet, E-mail, notetakers, Braille translation and embossing, and text to speech. Yet another and final small thing that we take for granted is a cable. Just think about it, a cable transmits, supports, and makes connections to information, resources, and options. The Book Port, Datebook, and Dymo Labeler have enhanced my abilities to teach others to become more independent through the world of assistive technology aides and devices. The Fred's Head Database with its companion and blogs has proved to be an invaluable asset in my work environment. The continual stream of resources and tidbits of information gained from Fred's Head is always exciting and beneficial.
All in all, the American Printing House, with so many of its products, programs, and services, has really been that catalyst that has brought me to the point of inclusion with regard to being self sufficient in my community and in the workplace. I am living independently in my own home, involved in many activities in my church, and I am a leader in the National Federation of the Blind. The window, the candle, the bridge, and the cable have impacted my life through the presentation of opportunities, knowledge, connections, and a network to independence and first-class citizenship.
Why has APH help me be independent? The American Printing House has demonstrated that it truly cares about the quality of life for blind people. For the last one-third of its existence, I have been privileged to be one of its consumers and beneficiaries. With high expectations and well defined goals, I plan to continue to live independently as I aspire to impact the lives of individuals who are blind in a positive, professional, and proficient way.
Happy 150th anniversary of serving those of us who are blind.
Second Place in Adult Consumer Category
Carla Hayes
HOW APH HAS OPENED MANY WORLDS FOR ME AND MY STUDENTS
My name is Carla Hayes. I am a 49-year-old foreign language teacher who has been totally blind since birth. As I contemplate the almost half-century that I have walked on this earth, it is interesting to consider the numerous products from the American Printing House for the Blind which have made me more independent and fulfilled as a blind person and how APH has opened many worlds for me and my students.
When I was in kindergarten, Touch-And-Tell books from APH trained my tiny fingers to track in a straight line and discriminate between shapes which made me ready to read Braille. In the first grade, primers and reading books from APH opened for me the world of words and led to a lifetime of education and recreation. Throughout my schooling and my entire life, it was mostly books from APH that opened for me the realms of arithmetic, science, history, health, hobbies, literature, grammar and so much more! Library books, magazines and encyclopedias from APH transported me to distant cultures and worlds where I spent many hours of my childhood and adult life. I often turn to my APH cookbooks for recipes and my various APH reference books to look up words and the fine points of grammar in English and in other languages. When I was a child, my church presented me with an 18-volume Revised Standard Version of the Bible which has a prominent place in my bookcase and provides me with daily spiritual encouragement and education.
Books are not the only APH products which have opened many worlds to me and made me more independent. Atlases from APH have given me a clearer understanding of geography. My raised line drawing kit from APH helped me to learn about geometric shapes as a young math student. An abacus from APH helps me to compute my students' grades and keep track of points during classroom games. Also, typing lessons on tape and computerized typing programs from APH have helped me to improve my keyboard proficiency and have assisted me when I have given keyboard instruction to students.
APH has also opened the world of friendship to me. As a child and as an adult, I have spent many happy hours with family and friends playing games from APH. Several of my friends have received gifts from me which came from APH. I often send Braille/print greeting cards purchased from APH to blind and sighted friends alike, and I use my APH signature guide to sign them.
In addition to opening many worlds for me, APH literally helps me to open many worlds and cultures to my foreign language students. Here, it is important to explain that I teach Spanish, French, German and English as a second language to students of all ages in a variety of settings. Most of my students are sighted. A good foreign language teacher must use many visual aids so that the classes can be conducted in the target language as much as possible. APH has provided me with many of these visual aids and ways of modifying off-the-shelf teaching materials so that I can use them independently as a totally blind teacher. For example, I use the APH plastic teaching clock with movable hands and Braille and large print numbers to teach students of all ages how to tell time in different languages. I also use the APH Demonstration Thermometer with the movable mercury and Braille and large print numbers to teach students how to talk about the weather in their target language. In the case of both products, the numbers are large enough for all my students to see throughout the classroom and the Braille permits me to use these products independently. Finally, my aide uses the APH raised line drawing kit to trace the lines on transparency maps of countries so that I can use these maps independently to teach students about the geography of the countries they are studying.
As you can see, the American Printing House for the Blind has had a great impact on almost every aspect of my personal and professional life. APH products have made me much more independent and have opened many worlds for me and many others in my life. This year, APH is celebrating its 150th Anniversary. I feel privileged that I have been able to benefit from APH and its products for almost a third of its history. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at the American Printing House for the Blind for all that you have done, the numerous products that you have provided, and the many lives that you have impacted in the past 150 years. I am sure that you will keep up the good work, help many more people and open many more worlds for 150 more years and beyond.