Printing House Square

Transcription

- This is an amazing place because we get to create products that really make a difference in people's lives. There really is no other place like APH. This is technology that helps people. They're blind and visually impaired students all over the United States, they're their teachers and other educators. And to every one of those people, the products we produce are integral to their success. male narrator: The American Printing House for the Blind is the world's largest nonprofit company providing educational, workplace, and independent living products for people who are blind and visually impaired. With a mission of promoting the independence of our nation's blind citizens, APH has been transforming lives since 1858. APH was soon nationally recognized to meet the strong need for tactile schoolbooks and literature for students and adults. In 1879, the United States Congress passed The Act to Promote the Education of the Blind. Today, 70% of our funding comes through this federal act. Under the act, more than 60,000 blind and visually impaired students and adults working at less than college level, are registered across the U.S. and its territories. The act requires each state to have Ex Officio Trustees who administer the funds and who advise APH about the creation of new products to benefit these students. The remaining 30% of our funding is derived from product sales, contract work, and the generous donors who support the independence of blind people. Our facility in Louisville, Kentucky, encompasses over 280,000 square feet and is home to an extensive manufacturing plant which includes digital printing presses, computerized braille embossers, a book bindery, digital talking book duplication, and digital recording studios. - "Ruby, there's some things a man just can't keep taking responsibility for"... narrator: APH researches, designs, and manufactures hundreds of products in these categories: Braille, Low Vision, Early Childhood, Emergent Literacy, Multiple Disabilities, Tests and Assessments, Tactile Graphics, Adult Life, Technology, Core Curriculum, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and Cortical Visual Impairment. [graphing calculator speaking] narrator: Our educational kits, curricula, and textbooks are designed so that students will have intentional learning experiences that engage their senses often including their functional vision. - My name is Mike Burke. I'm working on what we call a clicker press. And it's just mashing little circles out of these 9-inch pads. They go into a kit that we make for visually impaired and blind kids. narrator: Products offered by APH are developed in-house or in collaboration with those in the field of blindness. We have over 300 employees dedicated to the design, manufacture, and distribution of our accessible products. APH educational, tutorial, and utility software provides interactive learning experiences using braille, large print, and synthetic speech output. [electronic speech] narrator: While hard copy braille remains the standard for most blind readers, APH also offers electronic braille devices. - My name is Larry Skutchan. I'm the Technology Products Manager at APH. This device here is an Android smart phone. Instead of a touch screen, you've actually got a braille screen. Many people consider that blind people are using less braille, but braille is actually more important than ever, especially in this electronic age. - I'm Keith Creasy. I'm a senior programmer at APH. I'm currently involved in a really big project to revolutionize the way we produce braille. Braille is very expensive to produce. We're working on new software to help produce those books much less expensively and much more quickly. narrator: APH products are designed to give students an equal opportunity in the classroom and adults more opportunity in the workplace and day-to-day living. - "Copyright symbol 1983 comma cap Cobblestone Publishing"... - My name is Vikki Pagan. Our sole purpose is to read books, tests, publications that are written in braille. We check them for different types of errors. I read aloud, and Tonya follows along in the print. narrator: APH also offers many services that support our products including the Louis Database of Accessible Materials, the M.C. Migel and Barr Research Libraries, and nationwide product training. It is also home to the Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind which brings alive the history of the education of blind people and the field's Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field. The American Printing House for the Blind is dedicated to making an independent life possible for people who are blind and visually impaired. - I feel so good, because we're doing things that matter to people, that make real differences in their lives. [students laughing] narrator: Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @APHfortheBlind. You can also visit us on the web at www.aph.org or come in for a tour. We're open to the public.