American Printing House for the Blind facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | APH |
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| Founded | 1858 |
| Type | 501(c)(3) |
| Legal status | Nonprofit organization |
| Purpose | To empower people who are blind or visually impaired by providing accessible and innovative products, materials, and services for lifelong success. |
| Headquarters | Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Phoebe Wood | |
| Subsidiaries | Goodmaps Inc (C Corp) |
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Revenue (2020)
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$22,611,443 |
| Expenses (2020) | $28,814,266 |
| Endowment | $6,237,601 (2020) |
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Employees (2019)
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373 |
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Volunteers (2019)
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14 |
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is a special organization in Louisville, Kentucky. It helps people who are blind or have low vision live more independently. For over 150 years, APH has made unique products and services. These tools help people who can't see well with their daily lives.
Contents
APH History
The first schools for blind children in the United States opened in the 1830s. At that time, there were very few books or learning materials for these students. Teachers often had to create their own special teaching tools. They also got books with raised letters from Europe.
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) was started in 1858. This happened because there was a big need for books and learning aids for blind students.
How APH Started
Dempsey Sherrod, a blind man from Mississippi, had the idea for a main printing house for books for blind people. He worked hard to raise money for this project. He named it the American Printing House for the Blind.
In 1857, Sherrod got permission in Mississippi to create a publishing house. It would print books with raised letters. He chose Louisville as the location because it was easy to reach from many places. In 1858, the state of Kentucky officially approved the creation of APH.
Two years later, in 1860, APH received its first money from people in Mississippi and Kentucky. They bought a printing press. APH then set up its operations in the basement of the Kentucky School for the Blind.
Some states like Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee had promised money to APH. People in these states also gave donations. But then the Civil War began. This made it impossible for the southern states to send the promised funds.
It wasn't until 1865 that APH could truly begin its work. The state of Kentucky provided money. People from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois also gave donations.
The very first book APH produced was Fables and Tales for Children. It was printed in 1866 using a raised Roman letter type called Boston line letter. It took many years before braille became the main reading system for blind people.
Federal Support for APH
Printing books with raised letters was not a business that could make a lot of money. So, people looked for help from the government. They wanted to make sure there would always be money for printing.
A bill was written and presented to the U.S. Congress. On March 3, 1879, a law called "An Act to Promote the Education of the Blind" was passed. This law made the American Printing House for the Blind the official place for educational books and tools for legally blind students across the country. This important role continues today.
Growing and Expanding
With money from the government, there was a much higher demand for books with raised letters. APH quickly needed more space than its rooms at the Kentucky School for the Blind.
In 1883, APH bought land next to the school. They built a new building there to hold their growing operations. The main APH building today is still on the same land. It covers almost an entire city block. APH now has over 300 employees.
In the late 1800s, APH started making many more embossed books. Their catalog of publications grew from 15 pages in 1894 to 100 pages just ten years later. At first, books were made in different kinds of raised codes and alphabets. Over time, these systems were replaced by braille. APH printed its first braille books, including readers and children's books, in 1893.
APH always looked for ways to improve. They wanted better machines and faster presses. Anything that would make it cheaper to produce embossed books was important. Their early catalogs offered basic braille slates, writing guides, maps, and spelling frames.
In the 1900s, APH continued to provide materials that helped blind people become independent. In 1928, they published the braille edition of Reader's Digest. This was the first popular magazine available in braille for blind readers.
Today, school districts can buy APH products using special federal funds. These funds were set up by the 1879 law. Congress decides each year how much money to set aside for this purpose.
Talking Books
In 1936, APH started its recording studio and began making "Talking Books." These were books recorded so people could listen to them. The first recorded weekly magazine, the Talking Book edition of Newsweek, came out in 1959. The first recorded encyclopedia, the Talking World Book, was released in 1981.
Flexible records were first made in 1970, and cassette tapes in 1973. Today, APH's Talking Book Studio records about 1,000 talking books each year for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. They also work on many other audio description projects.
APH Products and Services
Besides braille, large print (started in 1948), and recorded books, APH also makes educational tools. To help create these products, a research department was started in 1953. Some famous products include the New Hall Braille Writer (1940), the Lavender Braille Writer (1962), and the Cranmer Abacus (1963). In 1960, APH finished its largest braille project ever: the 145-volume braille edition of the World Book Encyclopedia.
Today, APH offers many different products and services. These include high-tech and low-tech items for children and adults who are blind or have low vision. They also help Teachers of the Visually Impaired. APH continues to create educational tools that are tested and researched. These tools support learning for K-12 students who are blind or have low vision. They produce about 10 new products for these students every year.
Technology and Outreach
In 2010, APH started a technology research department. This was to help meet the growing need for better high-tech products for blind people. These products include apps, GPS tools for finding your way, and software that translates text into braille.
APH also publishes textbooks for Teachers of the Visually Impaired and other professionals. These books are released through APH Press. APH's most well-known high-tech product is the Monarch display. This device shows braille and tactile graphics on multiple lines. It was made with HumanWare.
The Monarch is the first device of its kind. It has a word processor, a calculator for graphics, and a braille editor. It also gives access to many free tactile graphics. Users can browse the web, read books, send emails, and even play chess. APH provides free resources for teachers, parents, and adult users of the Monarch. They also regularly release new updates and apps for the device.
APH's outreach services department started in 1961. This happened when the law about promoting education for the blind was changed. It included money for advice and support services. Outreach services provides regional help and training. They also hold educational events for students. They organize APH's yearly meeting for special trustees.
The APH ConnectCenter joined APH in 2018. It used to be part of the American Foundation for the Blind. Through its programs like VisionAware, CareerConnect, and FamilyConnect, it offers free support and resources. These are for adults who are losing their vision, job seekers who are blind, and families with a blind child.
In 2022, Polly was recognized as one of TIME's 200 Best Inventions. Polly is an APH device that teaches basic braille skills through quick games. In 2024, APH was named one of Fast Company's most innovative companies in education. Fast Company also recognized the Monarch as a finalist for its Innovation by Design Awards in the accessible design category.
APH Campus
The APH building has been expanded many times to hold its growing production. A new administration building opened in 1955. It was built in front of the original 1883 building. In 1980, an addition to the manufacturing area made the building its current size. A new 28,000 square foot addition is expected to be finished in 2026. This new space will house a new museum called The Dot Experience.
Efforts to improve braille production led to the first computerized braille translation in 1964. IBM, a company that helped develop the program, donated a $2 million computer. By 1987, almost all braille production was done by computers.
A computer database for accessible textbooks was introduced in 1988. It was later expanded to include materials in all accessible formats. In 1997, this database was named Louis and made available on the Internet.
APH Museums
| Established | 1994 |
|---|---|
| Location | Louisville, Kentucky |
The Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind opened in 1994. It was located on the APH campus in Louisville. The museum shared the story of how people who are blind have been educated around the world. It also showed how APH helped with this history.
The exhibits focused on different tactile systems, writing tools, braille production, and ways to get around safely. They also showed educational aids and early schools for the blind. The museum was on the second floor of the company's original 1883 factory building. The Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind closed in 2024.
The museum was designed so that people who are blind or have low vision could easily use it. Labels were in Braille, audio, and large print. Visitors could also try out braillewriters and walking canes used for getting around.
The Dot Experience Museum
The Dot Experience is APH's new museum. It is planned to open in 2026. This museum is five times larger than the old one and is funded by private donations. The Dot Experience is being designed so that all exhibits are easy for everyone to use, no matter their abilities.
The new museum will be home to the American Foundation for the Blind Helen Keller Archive. Many historical items about braille, blindness education, and the history of APH will also be on display.
See also
