American Printing House for the Blind
Corporate Capability Statement
September 2006

Statement of Purpose

The American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. (APH), a non-profit organization, has been in continuous operation as a source of alternative media for blind and visually impaired students since 1858. APH has adapted and produced tests in accessible media for over 50 years. In 2002, APH became a member of the Association of Test Publishers (ATP).

Mission Statement: To promote the independence of blind and visually impaired persons by providing specialized materials, products, and services needed for education and life.

Accessible Tests Department

In establishing the Accessible Tests Department, APH furthers its mission by providing additional guidelines and services directly related to making accessible test items and related materials available to blind and visually impaired persons.

Background and Role of the Accessible Tests Department

With passage of the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001," APH recognized the need for a centralized national testing "center" to ensure that test items and related materials would be accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The center would provide information and encourage communication on the topic. A federally funded special initiative in FY2001 called "Test Central" spurred the formation of a separate department, the Accessible Tests Department with three goals

  1. to provide tests, practice tests, test preparation materials, test administration manuals, and other test-related materials in high quality accessible media in a timely manner;
  2. to promote the inclusion of blind and visually impaired individuals during test development;
  3. and to enhance the test performance of blind and visually impaired individuals through research, education, and communication. (See APH Accessible Tests web page http://www.aph.org/tests/index.html for more information.)

Services provided or coordinated through the APH Accessible Tests Department include:

APH's Experience Producing Tests

Braille Tests

APH has been producing tests in accessible formats since 1952 when the first Stanford Achievement Test in braille became available. Over the years, APH has been an acknowledged source of high-quality braille and large print testing materials. APH has produced braille tests for Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Florida, California, Arizona, South Carolina, New York, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Massachusetts. Furthermore, APH has provided braille and tactile graphics, large print with enlarged graphics, and audio formats for test producers such as Harcourt Educational Measurement, CTB/McGraw-Hill, Data Recognition Corporation, Measured Progress, NCS/Pearson, ThinkLink, and Riverside Publishing as part of their state assessment contracts.

APH produces a number of commercially available tests, in addition to state assessments. For CTB/McGraw-Hill, APH edited and transcribed the original TerraNova series (Levels 13-21/22). For Harcourt Educational Measurement, APH edited, transcribed, proofed, and produced the eighth edition of the Metropolitan Achievement Test (MAT8) in braille, large print, and audiocassette formats. We also edited, transcribed or reformatted, and made available through our product catalog, large print and braille versions of the Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition, Complete Battery, Form S, for Grades 2-12, the Kaufman Functional Academic Skills Test (K-FAST). For an individual state, APH adapted the second edition of the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT) for braille readers.

APH recently adapted the Brigance® Diagnostic Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills, Revised (CIBS-R), for grades Pre-K through 9, in cooperation with Curriculum Associates, Inc., and added it to our list of catalog products. Under development in the Accessible Tests Department are accessible versions of the Woodcock-Johnson III (WJ-III) Tests of Achievement and Test Ready® Test Prep Series.

Qualifications of Braille Transcribers and Proofreaders

APH has on staff 10 braille transcribers, all certified by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) in Literary Braille. Some of the APH transcribers have 20-30 years experience and have specialized training in use of Nemeth Code for Mathematics and Science Notation. Our staff of proofreaders consists of five experienced teams, trained in literary braille, made up of a blind proofreader and a sighted copyholder. Two of the teams are trained in Nemeth Code for Mathematics and Science.

In making tests accessible for totally blind students, APH staff frequently design and produce tactile graphics. APH has two graphic artists in the Braille Department, each with more than 20 years experience in translating print graphics into tactile format. As there are no national standards for creating tactile images, APH's tactile graphics staff make use of guidelines developed by Educational Research staff and consultants. Tactile graphic artists also rely on feedback from braille readers, instructors, and Accessible Tests staff (http://www.aph.org/edresearch/guides.htm). If there are questions about the necessary content of the drawing, members of Accessible Tests consult with the test developer/publisher to determine the essential components that need to be conveyed in the tactile graphic.

Large Print Tests

For large print editions of tests to be accurately and properly adapted for low vision students, APH requires an original file that can be manipulated. APH developed guidelines for producing large print documents (available on our website, http://www.aph.org/edresearch/lpguide.htm) based on research by staff and other experts in the field of low vision. When adapting tests, Accessible Tests staff consult either with APH's in-house low vision project leader or with individuals at schools across the country who have experience and educational backgrounds in low vision learning and teaching. During the reviewing and editing of large print tests, Accessible Tests staff may make recommendations to the test developer/publisher to edit some of the graphics, questions, or response options.

Audio/Recorded Formats

APH recording studio staff works closely with state departments of education and test publishers to develop scripts for audio versions of tests. Guidelines for best practices in production of audio tests will be addressed in documents currently in press at APH. Until these guidelines are published, the APH studio follows the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) guidelines for recorded editions. In addition, APH's Recording Studio staff employ practices established during years of experience. In addition to consultation on working with this medium, APH can provide experienced editing and scripting for audio versions of tests as well as CD and cassette duplication.

Time Lines

APH requires a minimum of 8 weeks to adapt and produce large print, audio, or braille test documents. Within the past year, more than 200 different tests have been adapted and produced. APH understands the nature of tests and the quick delivery times needed. Thus far, the required deadlines for delivery have all been met. APH has the staff and experience to produce any type of test that needs to be adapted for braille, audio, or large print.

Test Security

To ensure the highest degree of test security, APH braille transcribers, large print formatters, narrators, and proofreaders work in a separate room away from the production floor. They have no contact with outside vendors or other visitors. Each test is assigned to a single transcriber, editor or narrator. When not in use, the tests are locked up.

Since test transcriptions and digital recordings are created on personal computers, a separate server is maintained which is not connected to any other servers or PC's or with phone lines for Internet hookup. After production, test "masters" are kept in a secure locked area.

APH has a Test Security Specialist and has received certification by Educational Testing Service (ETS) as a "Test Safe Facility." The highest degree of test security is followed and understood by employees working with and around test materials.

Guidelines

APH has produced guidelines for large print, tactile graphics, and computer-administered tests. We have recently updated the second book in the Test Access Series: Making Tests Accessible for Students with Visual Impairments: A Guide for Test Publishers, Test Developers, and State Assessment Persons, by Carol Allman, Ph.D. This document incorporates the input of many experts in the field of visual impairment toward "most promising practices" in producing braille, large print, and audio tests. Go to http://www.aph.org/tests/index.html.

Also under development are a variety of position papers discussing topics of importance to providers of accessible tests. As position papers are completed, they are being made available on the Accessible Tests Department web page. Topics addressed include:

Accessible Tests Department Staff Biographies

Deborah Hill Willis, M.A. (Education), B.A. (Psychology) Director, Accessible Tests Department

Debbie Willis has 32 years of experience at the American Printing House for the Blind; 28 years in the Educational Research Department and four years in the Accessible Tests Department. While a Research Scientist in the Educational Research Department, one of Debbie's roles was that of Test and Assessment Project Leader. During that time, Debbie worked with Barbara Henderson to edit and adapt the Stanford Achievement Tests, Ninth Edition, Form S, for test-takers in need of braille, tactile graphics, and large print formats. She also worked to edit KeyMath® Revised for presentation in a braille/tactile format.

As Director of the Accessible Tests Department, Debbie has planned training workshops for test publishers, item developers, test editors, and other assessment personnel across the country in order to help ensure that test items are accessible to students who are blind or visually impaired. She continues to work with Dr. Carol Allman, Accessible Tests staff, and professionals in the fields of blindness and visual impairment to update and provide guidelines for editing, transcribing, and reformatting tests into accessible media.

Debbie and the Accessible Tests staff have edited about 400 different tests for presentation as tactile graphics, braille, large print, and audio media. This includes work on two states alternate assessments. Debbie and staff continue to serve on Item Bias Review Committees, Universal Design Committees, and to be involved in efforts with organizations such as the National Center on Educational Outcomes, the National Center for Accessible Media, Lighthouse International, Association of Test Publishers, and the National Center for Leadership in Visual Impairment.

Debbie is currently serving on a special task force of the American Psychological Association to explore and address test accessibility issues for graduate students with disabilities, especially students with visual impairments, who are mandated to meet training requirements in testing and assessments. She also serves as co-Goal Leader on National Agenda Goal 6 (Expanded Core Curriculum) and Goal 8 (Assessment).

Debbie can be reached at dwillis@aph.org.

Visit the American Printing House for the Blind website at www.aph.org and click on "Accessible Tests Department" for test-related information and resources.

Barbara Henderson, M.A./B.A. (Linguistics), Test & Assessment Project Leader

Barbara has worked in the field of visual impairment for twenty-two years. Her experience in creating assessments in accessible formats started in 1994, when she began editing tests for presentation in braille and tactile formats. Since then, she has facilitated numerous multi-media projects including: the braille edition of the Stanford Achievement Test Series, Ninth Edition; the braille and large print editions of the Kaufman Functional Academic Skills Test (K-FAST); the braille edition of Brigance® Diagnostic Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills, Revised (CIBS-R); the braille and large print versions of the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement; the braille, large print, and audio cassette versions of the Allied Health Professional Admissions Test (AHPAT); and adaptation for braille and audio formats of over 900 individual assessment tests for publishers and departments of education nationwide.

Barbara joined the APH Educational Research Department in 2000 as Test & Assessment Project Leader and became a member of the Accessible Tests Department in 2003.

While serving on the Kentucky Department of Education's Universal Design for Learning Workgroup (UDL), Barbara has helped to implement online delivery of the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS). In this same connection, Barbara acted as project director for the accessible web publication titled Test Access: Guidelines for Computer Administered Testing, available at http://www.aph.org/tests/publications.html. She also serves on the Kentucky Core Content Test (KCCT) Bias Review Committee. Most recently, Barbara helped to establish and implement goals of the national assessment initiative known as "Test Central," funded in 2001 by the U.S. Department of Education.

Barbara can be reached at bhenderson@aph.org.

Carol Allman, Ph.D. (Special Education), Consultant/Trainer

Dr. Carol Allman received a B.S. in elementary education, an M .S. in visual impairments, and a Ph.D. in early childhood/special education with a minor in statistics and research from Florida State University. Carol taught visually impaired children for 15 years, was the State Vision Consultant for the state of Florida for 10 years, and was an administrator of special education programs for Florida for 5 years. Dr. Allman is currently serving as an adjunct professor at Florida State University and is co-authoring several books with Dr. Sandy Lewis.

Dr. Allman has worked with APH's Accessible Tests Department as Lead Consultant and Instructor since 2002. In this capacity, Carol was the facilitator and instructor for two accessible materials editor training sessions, one braille transcriber focus group, and workshops for test publishers and state assessment personnel. She has also made numerous presentations at conferences on Making Tests Accessible to Visually Impaired Persons and has written a guidelines document of the same name. This document is available on the APH website: http://www.aph.org/tests/access2/index.html.

Carol can be reached at allmanc@prodigy.net.

Dena Garrett, Accessible Media Editor

Dena has worked at APH for 30 years as an NLS certified braille transcriber. She is certified in both Literary and Nemeth braille codes. For over ten years, Dena's specialty was transcribing print tests for presentation in braille format. During this period of time, she worked with over 20 individual states to develop their mandated assessments. In addition, Dena has worked on many APH special braille projects including KeyMath and the Stanford Achievement Tests, Ninth Edition. Dena currently works with both the Accessible Textbook Initiative and Collaboration (ATIC) and the Accessible Tests Department. She also serves as the APH consultant to the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) Braille Formats Committee.

Dena can be reached at dgarrett@aph.org.

Monica Coffey, M.Ed. (Special Education), Accessible Test Editor

Monica holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Special Education. She joined the Accessible Tests Department in the spring of 2002 after working as a Research Assistant in the Research Department. While working full-time as a test editor, Monica achieved her certification in Literary Braille through the National Library Service (NLS).

Since joining the Accessible Tests Department, Monica has worked on such major projects as adaptation of the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test II (WIATII) for braille readers and has edited sample test items in braille and large print for use in accessibility workshops and training sessions. Finally, she has worked with other Accessible Tests Department staff members to edit many standardized tests for individual state contracts.

Monica can be reached at mcoffey@aph.org.

Kristopher Scott, M.A. (English), Accessible Test Editor

Kristopher holds an undergraduate degree in History and a graduate degree in English, with a concentration in composition.

After joining APH in 1999, Kristopher spent 3 years in the Educational Research Department, where he worked on several low vision/large print projects and was instrumental in helping develop Envision II, a curriculum designed to help train children in the use of near magnification devices.

In the spring of 2002, Kristopher transferred to APH's Accessible Tests Department. There, he successfully completed two test editor training programs and has assisted in the editing of over 80 standardized tests during the early formation of the Accessible Tests Department.

Kris can be reached at kscott@aph.org.

Nancy Bayens, Administrative Assistant

Nancy has worked at APH for two years as Administrative Assistant sharing her time between Accessible Textbook Initiative and Collaboration (ATIC) and the Accessible Tests Department. Nancy acts as the departmental contact person for information regarding test department services and registration for the Accessible Tests Workshops.

Nancy can be reached at nbayens@aph.org.

Contract Administration

Your contact person for custom contract and pricing information:

Doug Trent, B.A. (Liberal Arts), Contract Administrator

Doug has worked at APH for 15 years. Doug spent his first 9 ½ years as a literary monitor in the APH Recording Studio. Most recently, he has been able to utilize his previous experience in retail sales management in the role of contract administrator. Doug handles customer requests for customized braille, audio, and large print contracts, working closely with the Accessible Tests Department to develop streamlined processes and procedures for producing tests in alternative media.

Doug can be reached at dtrent@aph.org.

Research Department

For information on APH's Educational and Technical Research staff, please visit the APH website at www.aph.org and click on "Research and Development."

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©2006, American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.