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Your monthly link to the latest information on the products, services, and training opportunities of the American Printing House for the Blind.
January 2007
Read on to learn about these new products - now available!
Watch for power point presentations on these three new products coming soon to the APH web site!
Click on 'Products' on the APH Home Page, and then 'Special Presentations About Selected APH Products', to chose the power point you wish to view.
These power point presentations help the reader learn about the products and their uses. You will see photos, as well as information about what is included with the product, skills students can acquire by using the product, and any unique features it possesses.
At 12:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 3, 2006, the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) began operations!
The mission of the NIMAC is to serve as the national repository of publishers' electronic files of print instructional materials in the National Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) format. The NIMAC is the conduit through which the NIMAS files are made available to authorized users who convert them into accessible textbooks for elementary or secondary school students with qualifying disabilities.
The NIMAC was established through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004, and it is funded by the United States Department of Education's Office of Special Education Projects.
More information about NIMAS and NIMAC is available here:
Photo: The opening of the NIMAC was celebrated with cake. From left to right: Bob Brasher, Julia Myers, Nicole Gaines, and Tuck Tinsley
In December, NIMAC registered state coordinators, authorized users, and accessible media producers with the NIMAC. Most of the large textbook publishers have also registered and already begun working with the NIMAC.
NIMAC offered seven web casts in December, providing instructions for registering state coordinators and authorized users. In January, NIMAC will ring in the New Year with a series of web casts on how to search for NIMAS files in the NIMAC and how to download the files or assign them to accessible media producers. The first round of web casts will be held on these dates and times:
Additional dates and times will be announced soon. To register, check the NIMAC web site for details or email NIMAC@aph.org. The web casts are intended for NIMAC authorized users, or those who expect to be registered as authorized users.
We are currently identifying field reviewers and field testing sites for the new braille and large print editions of Brigance® Inventory of Early Development-II (IED-II). Field testing will be carried out in early Spring 2007. The IED-II is a readiness skills assessment for children from birth to age 7. If you are an Early Interventionist, an O & M Specialist, a teacher of students who are visually impaired, a parent volunteer, or an assessment team member, we want your input.
To participate, contact Barbara Henderson, Test and Assessment Project Leader at bhenderson@aph.org or 800/223-1839, ext 328.
APH has a field test opportunity for teachers working with braille using math students grades K-3. MathBuilders-Geometry provides math lesson plans, manipulatives to teach/demonstrate concepts, and worksheets with tactile graphics to reinforce the student's understanding. This unit deals with Geometry concepts only, other MathBuilders units are under development.
If you are interested in participating as a field evaluator, please contact Jeanette Wicker, APH Core Curriculum Project Leader, at jwicker@aph.org or by phone at 800/223-1839, ext 246 by January 19. Evaluators will be asked to use the prototype with as many students who are braille users as possible as well as complete an evaluation regarding the product's design, function, and usefulness. Selection is based upon type of setting, available number of students, and geographical location.
The APH National Instructional Partnerships (NIP) event, "Cortical Visual Impairment: Pathways to Intervention" will be held January 22 - 24, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Held in partnership with the Southeast Regional Professional Development Center, the event will feature Dr. Christine Roman, APH Project Leader in Cortical Visual Impairment. Dr. Roman will provide information and strategies for the identification and assessment of students with CVI, along with instructional strategies featuring products from APH.
Cost for the event is $80.00, and graduate credit is available. You may register online at www4.semo.edu/rpdc, or contact Jennifer Coy, Blindness Skills Specialist, at 573/651-5077 for more information.
APH announces that PATTERNS:READING:READINESS LEVEL (RED) Catalog # 6-78000-00 is being phased out and will be replaced by BUILDING ON PATTERNS:KINDERGARTEN. When the current back orders are filled and the current stock depleted, the catalog items listed below will no longer be available. These catalog items include the entire kit and the individual items that are included in the kit, with the exception of the Catalog #6-78041-00 swing cell, compact.
Phasing out:
6-78010-00 Pupil's Texts
6-78020-00 Review Worksheets
6-78030-00 Posttest
6-32130-00 Teacher's Edition for Pupil's Texts
6-32140-00 Teacher's Edition for Posttest
6-32150-00 Teacher's Edition for Review Worksheets
8-78010-00 Teacher's Edition for Pupil's Texts
8-78020-00 Teacher's Edition for Review Worksheets
8-78030-00 Teacher's Edition for Posttest
A new listing of overstocked and discontinued APH products is now available at www.aph.org/products/fleamarket.html
This discounted inventory is available on a first come, first served basis. Please order early to take advantage of the extra dollars off.
The following exciting podcasts (audio recordings) are available on the APH website: the APH Information and Training Podcast.
The 2006 Annual Meeting video recordings of keynote speakers Tom Sullivan and Michael Hingson, along with the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony of Dr. Arnall Patz and Anne Sullivan Macy, are located at: www.aph.org/anmtg/2006/media.html
The Photo Gallery of Annual Meeting 2006 presenters and participants can now be seen at www.aph.org/anmtg/2006/pictures.html
The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is now accepting nominations for 2007 induction consideration.
If you are interested in learning more about the process and/or submitting a qualified nominee to join the 38 inductees, please visit: www.aph.org/hall_fame/nom_letter.html
The nomination process will close Friday, March 16. Nominees who were first submitted in 2006 will remain active.
"The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the tradition of excellence manifested by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame and through the history of outstanding services provided to people who are blind or visually impaired."
Three new engraved stones were added to the Wall of Tribute in December, bringing the total to 116.
How can you honor a friend, mentor, organization, or family member and support the Hall of Fame? It's easy, visit: www.aph.org/hall_fame/wall_tribute.html
Photo: The Seeing Eye stone is another recent addition to the Wall of Tribute.
For details, click on the positions of interest.
Vielka I. Scott, the District of Columbia Public Schools, replacing John Schmidt.
Tracie Bullock Dickson, the District of Columbia Department of Human Services, replacing Ellen Yung-Fatah.
January 5, 2007
Texas Education Service Center VIII ISAVE Training;
Mount Pleasant, TX
January 9, 2007
NIMAC Webcast;
APH in Louisville, KY
January 10, 2007
NIMAC Webcast;
APH in Louisville, KY
January 11, 2007
NIMAC Webcast;
APH in Louisville, KY
January 12, 2007
NIMAC Webcast;
APH in Louisville, KY
January 23-24, 2007
NIMAS-NIMAC Development Committee Meeting;
Orlando, FL
January 23-28, 2007
ATIA;
Orlando, FL
February 2, 2007
2007 South Carolina AER;
Charleston, SC
February 4-7, 2007
Association of Test Publishers 2007 Conference on Innovations in Testing;
Rancho Mirage, CA
February 22-23, 2007
New Mexico AER Conference;
Rio Rancho, NM
March 1-4, 2007
CTEVH;
Santa Clara, CA
March 14-16, 2007
SOMA;
Nashville, TN
March 19-24, 2007
CSUN;
Los Angeles, CA
March 23-25, 2007
Jo Taylor;
Dallas, TX
This publication introduces potential braille transcribers to the first three lessons of the twenty lesson course offered by the National Library Services (NLS), Washington, DC. This enables users to "sample" the course before signing up. It can also be used to teach the basic tools for uncontracted braille.
Contents include:
Lesson 1-The Braille Alphabet
Lesson 2-Capitalization, Paragraphing, Punctuation
Lesson 3-Cardinal Numbers
Appendix A-Reading Practice reproduced in Simbraille
Appendix B-Chart of braille signs for use with Lessons 1-3
Appendix C-Drills for Lessons 1-3 reproduction in Simbraille
APH is now offering a number of new recreational books in braille (Quota funds can be used). Each of these titles was originally transcribed and produced by APH for the National Library Service which has graciously granted permission for this offering. As usual, these titles have been added to the APH Louis Database where you can find thousands of titles produced in accessible formats.
Note: all books are produced upon receipt of orders, therefore, please allow approximately 8 weeks for delivery.
Girl, 15, Charming but Insane
by Sue Limb: T-N1617-30 -- $50.00
Jess Jordan deals with having an imperfect body, a beautiful best friend, and a crush on an unattainable boy. Senior high readers. (*AR #81218, RL 5.1, Pts. 8.0) RI Teen Book Award Nominees, NY Publishers Library Best books for Teen Age.
The Mermaid Chair
by Sue Monk Kidd: T-N1595-80 -- $73.50
In an abbey on Egret Island resides a mysterious chair ornately carved with mermaids and dedicated to a saint who, legend claims, was a mermaid before her conversion. Some descriptions of sex. (AR #86815, RL 6.2, Pts. 15.0) Quill Book Awards.
Kid's Guide to Working Out Conflicts: How to Keep Cool, Stay Safe, and Get Along
by Naomi Drew: T-N1577-20 -- $54.50
Details strategies for dealing with conflict in a variety of settings including school, home, and in the community without resorting to physical contact. Includes anger management and handling bullies. For grades 6-9. (AR#84816, RL5.9, Pts. 6.0) Nappa Gold/Honor Book.
Suspect
by Michael Robotham: T-N1589-30 -- $98.50
Psychologist is accused of murdering a patient and must attempt to clear his name. Strong language and violence. Adult.
*Accelerated Reader number, reading level, and point value. For more information on the Accelerated Reader program, see the January 2006 APH News or www.renlearn.com/ar/
President:
Dr. Tuck Tinsley
ttinsley@aph.org
Designer:
Malcolm Turner, APH Web Site Coordinator
webmaster@aph.org
Thanks to the following APH staff:
Editor:
Bob Brasher, Vice President, Advisory Services and Research
bbrasher@aph.org
For additional recent APH News, click the following:
December Issue - www.aph.org/advisory/2006adv12.html
November Issue - www.aph.org/advisory/2006adv11.html
October Issue - www.aph.org/advisory/2006adv10.html
Archive of all previous issues - www.aph.org/advisory/advarch.html
Please share this web link or any items that appear in this publication with anyone who might benefit.
Thank you.
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