APH Press Release
APH Explores "Products Across America" During Annual Meeting
142nd Meeting of Ex Officio Trustees to be held in Louisville, Kentucky, October 14- 16, 2010
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (September 29, 2010) - The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) will hold its 142nd meeting of Ex Officio Trustees at the Galt House Hotel & Suites in Louisville, Kentucky, October 14-16, 2010. Approximately 400 people from across the country are expected to attend. Pre-conference and Conference highlights include:
- Tenth Annual APH Prison Braille Forum - Wednesday, October 13, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Professionals in the fields of vision and corrections across the country who operate braille production businesses behind prison walls will gather for the 10th annual National Prison Braille Forum. Two programs recently awarded grants of over $725,000 from the Second Chance Act to assist qualified offenders as they establish braille transcription careers upon release from prison will be spotlighted at this year’s Forum. These programs are in the states of Indiana and Georgia. Forum participants who have registered in advance will tour KCI Braille Services, Kentucky’s only prison braille program, located within the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women in Pewee Valley. - Opening Session, Awards Ceremony and Welcome Reception - Thursday, October 14, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Our invited keynote speaker, Jim Gibbons, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International, Inc. will share the story of his success during his "Crossroads of Opportunity" speech at our Thursday night opening session. Dr. Tuck Tinsley III, President of APH, will receive the Migel Award. - APH InSights 2010 - Open to the public on Thursday, October 14, from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM, Friday, October 15, from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM and Saturday, October 16, from 8:00 AM until noon
This exhibition of artwork by artists who are blind or visually impaired features seventy-eight artworks by artists from the U. S. and Canada. This is the nineteenth year for the competition. Participants range from preschool children to senior citizens, and include professional artists as well as hobbyists and school art classes. Judges selected the art works from over 400 entries in a wide range of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography. - Product Exhibit - Open to the public on Thursday, October 14, from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM, Friday, October 15, from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM and Saturday, October 16, from 8:00 AM until noon
This exhibition features products produced by APH for children and adults who are visually impaired (large print, braille, electronic tools, and software). - APH InSights Art Awards Banquet and Hall of Fame Induction, Friday, October 15, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
On this special evening we will honor our APH InSights Art Award winners and celebrate the addition of two new members to the Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field with the inductions of M.C. Migel and Morris Frank. The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field, founded in 2001, is housed at the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). The Hall is dedicated to preserving the tradition of excellence manifested by specific individuals through the history of outstanding service provided to people who are blind or visually impaired in North America. The Hall is guided by a Council of eight members. New inductees are selected through a nationwide nomination process. - Related meetings
Since APH is a focal point for issues in the field of blindness, several other national groups hold their annual meetings the day before or the day after APH’s annual meeting in order to allow their members to attend both activities. These include the Council of Schools for the Blind ( COSB), the Council for Exceptional Children Division on Visual Impairments (CECDVI), and seven other national organizations.
ABOUT APH EX OFFICIO TRUSTEES AND THE ANNUAL MEETING:
In 1879, the U. S. Congress passed the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind. This act set up a system to provide free schoolbooks and other materials for blind students and named the American Printing House for the Blind as the national central source of these educational materials. The system through which these specialized materials are distributed is known as the Federal Quota Program. American Printing House for the Blind Ex Officio Trustees are responsible for overseeing the implementation of this program in the various states and regions they represent. The Ex Officio Trustees come to Louisville each year for the Annual Meeting to provide insight and exchange information about developments in the field of blindness. "Special guests" such as parents, teachers, and administrators and other educators involved with the field of blindness also attend this meeting.
ABOUT APH:
The American Printing House for the Blind, a 501©(3) non-profit organization, is the world's largest company devoted solely to researching, developing, and manufacturing products for people who are blind or visually impaired. Founded in 1858, it is the oldest organization of its kind in the United States. Under the 1879 federal Act to Promote the Education of the Blind, APH is the official supplier of educational materials for visually impaired students in the U.S. who are working at less than college level.
APH manufactures textbooks and magazines in braille, large print, recorded, and computer disc formats. APH also manufactures hundreds of educational, recreational, and daily living products. APH's fully-accessible website (www.aph.org) features information about APH products and services, online ordering of products, and free information on a wide variety of blindness-related topics. One popular feature of the site is the Louis Database, a free tool to help locate accessible books available from organizations across the U.S. APH products can be ordered through Louis.
The American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. is located at 1839 Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky. For more information, call (502) 895-2405 or log on to www.aph.org.