Navigation links: Table of contents | Previous page | Next page |
The following information was submitted by the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and is used with permission.
American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfort Avenue
P.O. Box 6085
Louisville KY 40206
Phone: 800-223-1839 or 502-895-2405
Fax: 502-899-2274
E-mail: info@aph.org
http://www.aph.org
The American Printing House for the Blind is the world's largest company devoted solely to producing products for people who are blind or visually impaired. Founded in 1858, it is the oldest institution 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 of less than college level in the U.S.
APH manufactures books and magazines in braille, large type, and recorded form. We also manufacture a wide range of educational and daily living aids, such as braille paper and styluses, talking book equipment, and talking educational software and hardware.
APH primarily serves people who are visually impaired, although many of our products have application with learning disabled people and those who are multi-handicapped. Many of our products can be used by impaired and non-impaired students alike, making them useful for students who are in a mainstream classroom.
The APH Educational and Technical Research department develops products most needed to facilitate the education and rehabilitation of the population served by the American Printing House for the Blind. It does so through cooperative efforts and partnerships between all the departments at APH as well as with individuals, agencies and businesses outside of APH. By developing high quality materials that are needed and affordable, APH can make a difference in the education and lives of blind and visually impaired students and clients, and their families.
Some of the many products that have been developed as a result of these efforts are:
On average, more than 20,000 visitors explore the APH web site at www.aph.org each month. They come to the APH web site to purchase products, to explore new acquisitions in the APH Callahan Museum, to view original art by children and adults who are blind or visually impaired, to purchase APH products, and to locate sources of educational materials needed in classrooms across the country and around the world. They can also download working demos of APH software products.
The Louis Database of Accessible Materials currently contains information on more than 150,000 books, audio, computer and braille titles, APH products and other materials from more than 200 contributing agencies. At Louis, users can search for specific titles, gather contact information for obtaining these materials from non-APH sources, and order APH products and materials directly online.
The Fred's Head database is an e-resource of tips and techniques for people who are blind or visually impaired. Fred contains records on such diverse topics as: how to become a braille transcriber, sources for assistive devices, techniques for organizing and labeling clothes, tips for the visually impaired traveler, where to find a dog guide, and what do blind people "see" when they dream. Visitors to Fred's Head can submit their own ideas for records or ask questions that the Fred's Head staff will answer.
The APH File Repository contains the files that may be downloaded from the APH web site by registered users. The type of files in the Repository are: braille textbook files ready for embossing, publisher textbook files ready for editing and translation, and APH software.
The AMP database contains the names, locations and qualification of producers of accessible materials for the visually impaired.
Navigation links: Table of contents | Previous page | Next page |