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Exploring the Resources at American Printing House for the Blind

In our mission to enhance educational opportunities for all students, we recently had the privilege of connecting with an incredible organization – the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). APH is a nonprofit organization that creates accessible learning experiences through educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are blind and low vision. Our encounter with APH left us inspired and deeply impressed by the extensive range of resources they offer, and we wanted to share some of those resources with you here.

Since 1858, The American Printing House for the Blind has operated in Louisville, Kentucky, as the world’s largest nonprofit organization creating accessible learning experiences through educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are blind and low vision. Our mission is empowering people who are blind or low vision by providing accessible and innovative products, materials and services for lifelong success. We believe the future belongs to everyone.

APH has a variety of technology products available, many of which are federal quota eligible. (The Federal Quota program allocates money to purchase educational materials for students who are blind or low vision.) APH also has many free educational apps. Here is a list of some of the amazing products they offer:

Code Jumper

Code Jumper is a physical system that teaches coding. Originally designed by Microsoft and developed by APH, this product takes block coding off the screen using plastic pods, oversized buttons, and cords.

The Code jumper sits on a table in front of an iPad screen, displaying codes.

Accessible Code and Go Mouse

This robot mouse uses coding concepts and tactile graphics to teach students programming. Individuals can use tactile/braille coding cards to map out a path for robot mouse Colby!

The code & Go Robot Mouse box, showing Colby, the blue mouse, moving through a course.

The tactile/braille coding cards that are available with the Code & Go Robot Mouse.

CodeQuest

This free app is interactive and accessible, teaching preschool through early-elementary students coding, logic, and orientation skills. Students help their astronaut move across a game board, exploring the galaxy. Supplemental tactile board grids and manipulatives are available for download, as well.

Talking Typer

This accessible typing and computer keyboard tutorial app helps students increase their typing speed and accuracy. The app is both self-voicing and accessible with Apple’s VoiceOver.

Snap Kits

There are a variety of accessible Elenco kits available, with more to come! Currently, Snapino, RC Snap Rover, and BRIC: Structures have access kits. A new Snap Circuits Jr. 130 Access Kit also launched this year. These kits all contain parts labeled in braille and include accessible project instructions.

Colorful Snap Circuits lay on a table, showing the inclusion of Braille on the pieces.

Colorful Snap Circuits sit on a grid, showing the inclusion of Braille on the pieces.

APH offers many other amazing Science and Math resources. Here are the links to explore:

Science

Math

To learn more about APH, check out their website here. If you are an educator and would like to learn more about the resources available through APH, please email us at info@ruraltechfund.org so we can connect you with the amazing APH team!

We are thrilled to have connected with APH and will continue to share information and technology from their team so as to support our RTF educator community!