American Printing House for the Blind receives funding From Woman’s Club of Louisville for Early

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - May 6, 2015 - PRLog -- The Woman’s Club of Louisville has donated $1,000 to the American Printing House for the Blind’s Partners Print Braille Book Program so that blind or visually impaired children who live in Louisville can receive a free braille book mailed to their home every other month.   Parents of children who are blind and visually impaired often have difficulty finding affordable, early reading, braille books.  Children who are blind or visually impaired learn to read by feeling braille, a combination of raised dots that represent letters, numbers, and symbols.  High transcription costs and low production runs make braille books expensive, costing anywhere from $6 to $20 per page, making it out of reach for many families.

To make braille books more affordable for families with a child (newborn to 6^th birthday) who is blind or visually impaired, APH partnered with some very imaginative partners.  APH first collaborated with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a national program funded through the Dollywood Foundation, encouraging children to read.  To help lower the cost of print-braille books, the Dollywood Foundation agreed to allow APH to purchase DPIL books at their publisher’s lower bulk rate.

APH also contracted with the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women to transcribe the books, adhere braille labels to each page, and prepare the print-braille books for shipping.  Through APH’s Prison Braille Program female inmates are trained to become certified braille transcribers and provide transcription services to create everything from braille restaurant menus to textbooks.  “Some of our finest braille transcription comes from these women as they take great pride in the work they do,” says Jan Carroll, APH Coordinator of Braille Transcription Services.

The Woman’s Club of Louisville awarded a grant to the American Printing House for the Blind and presented a check at their annual luncheon on May 14, 2014. Their donation will enable 30 children living in Louisville to receive braille books.

Four- year-old Jasmine loves receiving her book in the mail.  Her mother, Sharon, said that as soon as the book arrives in the mail, they have to stop everything, sit down and read the book together.  This program has been a double blessing for Sharon and Jasmine since they are both blind.  “It’s such fun and we do appreciate all those involved who make this possible, laying down the foundation for my little girl to have a love for reading and providing books that she herself will be able to read when she gets older,” Sharon said.

Currently over 500 children nationwide receive print-braille books through this program, a program fully funded through generous donors.  To apply to receive print braille books or to donate to the program, go to www.aph.org  and select “Free Books” for young children and/or parents who are braille readers.  “This program is so important to help young children who are blind to become aware of braille and begin nurturing reading skills in the support of a home environment,” said Cecilia Peredo, APH Director of Grants.  “We are so grateful for the generosity of the Woman’s Club of Louisville and other funders who make this program possible.

About the American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.:

The American Print House for the Blind (APH) is a national resource and local treasure.    Located in Louisville Kentucky and founded in 1858, APH is the world’s largest and oldest company devoted solely to researching developing, and manufacturing products for people who are blind or visually impaired.  Under the 1879 federal Act to Promote the Education of the Blind, APH is the official supplier of educational materials for visually impaired students in the U.S. who are working at less than college level. APH was recently named Kentucky Mid-sized Manufacturer of the year.

APH manufactures textbooks and magazines in braille, large print, recorded, and digital formats. APH also makes hundreds of educational, recreational, and daily living products including computer software and other technology items.

The American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. is located at 1839 Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky. For more information, call (502) 895-2405 or log on to www.aph.org

About The Woman’s Club of Louisville:

The Woman's Club of Louisville was organized with the continuing purpose of promoting and supporting civic improvements, championing the educational
and philanthropic needs of the community - especially where women and children are concerned - and cultivating the fine arts. Susan Look Avery, founder of the Woman’s Club of Louisville (1890) was a leader, speaker and writer in favor of equal suffrage.”