Website: American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
Since 1858, the American Printing House for the Blind has addressed the problems of individuals who are blind by providing accessible educational, workplace, and independent-living products. They are a non-profit organization that has existed in Kentucky since it’s it inception. To assist non-visual learners to experience geometry, geography, anatomy, science diagrams and graphs that cannot be converted into ordinary Braille, APH creates Tactile Graphics that allow someone to feel and understand visual concepts. This includes Maps, Charts, Diagrams, Illustrations, Scientific and Mathematical representations.
Features
- Accessible textbooks, exams, workbooks and other instructional resources are produced in either Braille, Large Print, or Digital Formats
- Tactile graphics and maps allow someone to feel and understand visual information, such as Maps and Graphs.
- Scientific and mathematical representations are available to develop concepts that are difficult to comprehend without visual access.
- APH is heavily involved in technology including refreshable Braille technology, accessible digital materials, educational software and mobile technology.
- Another goal of APH is to assist people who are visually impaired to live more independently in everyday life. They can address areas such as organization, time management, orientation and mobility, and managing household tasks.
Eligibility Requirements and Application Process
Creating an APH account is free, but not all products are. Eligible students who are blind or have low vision can receive many APH educational materials using Federal Quota funds, rather than paying out of pocket through the public school system. APH also sells products directly to individuals, schools, organizations, and others. Its catalog contains thousands of products with prices—for example, current listings include items costing $10, $50, $100+, and even several thousand dollars.
Additional APH Resources
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) maintains and promotes the Louis Database of Accessible Materials, named in honor of Louis Braille. Louis contains information on accessible materials produced by over 60 organizations throughout the United States. These materials include educational materials in braille, large print, audio, and electronic file format. Website is located at https://louis.aph.org/
The M.C. Migel Memorial Collection is a part of the APH Library. It is one of the largest collections of nonmedical information related to blindness in the world. APH has digitized thousands of items in the library and is making them available through Internet Archive and Open Library. The non-digitized collection can be accessed through an on-site visit. You can search the entire library at https://archive.org/details/aphmigel/
Social Media
Assistive Technology Resource Guide link: American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
Categories: Accessible books, Vision