1. The Birth of an APH Product
My name is Kerry Isham, and I’m a field services representative at the American Printing House for the Blind. Today, I’m going to talk about the birth of an APH product.
Kerry Isham,
Field Services Representative

2. Here is how an APH product comes to be -from the idea to the time it’s ready for sale.
So… I’ll be telling you how a product comes to be – from the idea to its sale and distribution. Then you'll see it’s not over after that, because since products are frequently revised, it’s kind of cyclical. In this slide, we have pictures of several of our products: Etc.

3. Somebody shares their idea…
So, the first step of an APH product becoming a reality is: Somebody shares their idea. Here is someone at a conference talking to Tristan Pierce, one of our project leaders. It’s true! An APH product can come from a casual conversation just like this!

4. APH Products - We're Interested in Your Ideas
APH Products - We're Interested in Your Ideas! The American Printing House for the Blind gives serious consideration to ideas for products that improve the lives of persons who are blind or visually impaired. We are especially interested in product ideas that support Core and/or Expanded Core Curricula, since both are essential to the education of students and clients who are blind or visually impaired.
Here’s another way to share your idea with us: By way of our web site! (Read slide) And I have shared the URL so that you can access that page yourself.

5. Potential products could address such areas as: - Core Curriculum - Activities of Daily Living (ADL/ILS) - Assessment - Assistive Technology, Electronics - Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) - Early Childhood - Health, P.E., Recreation, Leisure - Literacy, Communication Modes, Tactile Graphics - Low Vision, Visual Efficiency Skills - Orientation & Mobility, Concept Development - Self Determination - Social Skills - Vocational Education, Career Education, Transition - YOUR idea
(Read slide)

6. "Azer's Interactive Periodic Table Study Set" (pictured above) was originally presented to APH by Samir Azer (pictured right), a science teacher at the Kentucky School for the Blind in Louisville, Kentucky.
Here’s just one example of how your idea can become an APH product: Samir Azer is a teacher right next door to us at the Kentucky School for the Blind. He came up with an idea for a tactile periodic table study set, and now it’s one of our most popular products!

7. APH Product Submission Form
You can submit your product our web site by using this online form. First complete the part of the form asking about you. Put in your name, where you’re from and contact information. Then tell about your idea by filling in the name of the proposed product and a description of it.

8. Next tell us what needs your product idea addresses, including its target population. Tell about any research already done on the product idea and if you could assist with any further research.

9. List potential markets for your product
List potential markets for your product. And tell us how much you think it might cost to acquire any rights for production and/or distribution. Also, tell us what you think the product would look like.

10. Finally, tell what media the product would use; will it be a CD or DVD
Finally, tell what media the product would use; will it be a CD or DVD? Will in be in braille or print? Will tactile graphics be used? Then suggest any product components like guide books or other supporting material. Then click “Submit Idea” and your product idea is on the way! And here’s the URL for the location of this form on our website. You have this in your packet, so I won’t read it all out now.

11. “Over 75% of our new products are the result of your suggestions
“Over 75% of our new products are the result of your suggestions. And the remaining 25% of new products, submitted by APH staff, are the direct result of listening to your needs, and then submitting product ideas based on those needs.” -- Ralph Bartley, APH Director of Research, Annual Research Report
Just to impress upon you how important your ideas are, I took this quote from the 2010 APH Annual Report. Ralph Bartley, the director of research said it… (Read quote) So consumers’ suggestions are the main source of product ideas for APH.

12. The idea goes to an APH project leader…
So, after an idea is pitched, then it goes to one of our project leaders. Here are a couple of pictures of 2 of our project leaders: Burt Boyer and Terrie Terlau.

13. How Products are Assigned…
Products are assigned based on project leaders’ areas of expertise and their schedules.
APH project leaders and their focus areas:
Li Zhou, Ph.D. - Core Curriculum Project Leader
Dawn Wilkinson - Early Childhood Project Leader
Products are assigned to project leaders based on their areas of expertise and also based on how much time they have in their schedules. Here are our current project leaders… (Read info)

14. APH project leaders and their focus areas (cont’d)
Carolyn Zierer- Test & Assessment Project Leader
Elaine Kitchel - Low Vision Project Leader
(read info)

15. APH project leaders and their focus areas (cont’d)
Susan Spicknall - Braille Literacy Project Leader
Fred Otto - Tactile Graphics Project Leader
(read info)

16. APH project leaders and their focus areas (cont’d)
Tristan Gay Pierce - Multiple Disabilities Project Leader
Karen J. Poppe - Tactile Graphics Project Leader
(Read info)

17. APH project leaders and their focus areas (cont’d)
Susan Sullivan - Cortical Visual Impairment Project Leader
Roseanne Hoffmann, STEM Project Leader
(Read info)

18. APH project leaders and their focus areas (cont’d)
Larry Skutchan – Technology Project Leader
Cathy Senft-Graves – Braille Literacy & Technology Project Leader
(Read info)

19. APH project leaders and their focus areas (cont’d)
Laura Zierer - Project Leader
Suzette Wright - Emergent Literacy Project Leader
(Read info)

20. In initial stages of development, the project leader brainstorms and researches the idea…
After the product is assigned to a project leader, that individual begins to brainstorm and research the idea.

21. The Project Schedule Includes:
Product development
Completion of prototype
Field test/expert review
Federal quota funds approval
Revisions
Product specifications
Completion of tooling
Pilot run (if needed)
Production and sale
Here is essentially the schedule for getting a product created…

22. What is Federal Quota?
The Federal Act to Promote the Education of the Blind was enacted by Congress in This act is a means for providing adapted educational materials to eligible students who meet the definition of blindness. An annual registration of eligible students determines a per capita amount of money designated for the purchase of educational materials produced by the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). These funds are credited to Federal Quota accounts which are maintained and administered by APH and its Ex Officio Trustees throughout the country.
I mentioned approval for federal quota funds. What IS Federal Quota? (Read slide)

23. How federal quota funding for a product is determined:
Products offered by APH through the Federal Quota program must be:
specially developed or adapted to meet instructional needs of individuals who are blind/visually impaired
commercially unavailable at the time of development
manufactured by APH or with APH specifications
designed for use by individuals who are blind or visually impaired that are enrolled in programs lower than college level, or for service providers working with such persons
available in the United States exclusively from APH
Not all APH products are available with quota. They have to meet certain criteria…

24. Once a prototype is developed, the product is field tested or evaluated…
The next steps are that a prototype is developed, and it’s field-tested or evaluated in-house. Here is a photo of Tristan Pierce and a new product that’s in the wings – These are braille beads that come in different colors, and you can make bracelets and necklaces with your name or other words in braille. The other picture is of Suzette Wright with a baby playing with an APH Light Box.

25. How to be a field evaluator:
Go to this web address:
Go to: “Product Development”
Click on the heading: “APH Field Test Form”
Questions on the form include:
Your professional certifications/degrees
Type of work you do
Your own visual function
Areas of interest/expertise
Your availability for field testing
So, would you like to be a field tester? Here’s how you can do it… (Read info)

26. Another way you can become a field tester is to be on the look-out for announcements in the APH News, which comes out monthly. Here’s an announcement from the March 2016 newsletter asking for field evaluators for Karen Poppe’s product called the Hop-A-Dot Mat.
From APH News, March 2016

27. After final changes are made based on field testing & evaluation data, the product is ready for production and sale…
So, once the product is field tested or evaluated, and any final changes are made based on those evaluations, it’s ready for production and sale. The product shown on this slide is called O&M Tactile Graphics.

28. Some New Products in 2015-2016 Math Robot for iOS
Labeling, Marking, and Organization
Orion TI-30XS Talking Scientific Calculator
Let me show you some products that have come out recently in the past couple of years. Here are Math Robot; Labeling, Marking, and Organization; and the Orion TI-30XS Talking Scientific Calculator.

29. More New Products in 2015-2016 Refreshabraille 18
Parents and Their Infants
Who Are Visually Impaired
Joy Player
Everybody Plays is a storybook that describes how individuals with blindness and low vision can take part in various sports and athletic activities. Braille beads is a jewely making kit; the beads are braille on one side, and print on the other. And, here’s the US and Canada Tactile-Print Atlas.

30. More New Products in
Parent Empowerment Program: Emergent Literacy
Parent Empowerment Program: Power at Your Fingertips
The Spangle Tangle Kit Quick & Easy Expanded Core Curriculum

31. More New Products in 2015-2016 Touch, Label, and Learn Human Skeleton
All Aboard! The Sight Word Activity Express
Match Sticks

32. More New Products in 2015-2016 ReadWrite mini
Draw2Measure Protractor App for iOS Devices
Match Sticks

33. As feedback is received from APH customers, the product is reviewed and reworked as needed…
So… This is where the process becomes kind of cyclical. As feedback is received from customers, the product is reviewed and revised on an as-needed basis. We’re always revising products, so this can be a never-ending process.

34. Again, to give your feedback, look for announcements in the APH News
Again, to give your feedback, look for announcements in the APH News. Here’s a blurb from February 2011 asking for feedback on Textured Sorting Circles and Shapes.
From APH News, February 2011

35. Then too, you can go to this page on the APH web site
Then too, you can go to this page on the APH web site. The URL for this page is included in your packet.

36. The form begins by asking for basic information about the product for which you’re providing feedback: The name of the product and catalog number, if you’ve got it. When did you purchase the product, where are you using it, and with whom?

37. Next, the form asks you to rate the product’s value, design and user-friendliness and give comments.

38. Then, there are spaces for you to give user tips, your impression of the product, and any other comments you might have.

39. Lastly, fill in your name and contact information, then click “Submit 2 Cents,” and your comments are on their way!

40. As an example of a product revision, here’s a blurb in the October 2010 newsletter that shows a revised version of the Desk Board with 27 Cell Slate & Large Stylus.
From APH News, October 2010

41. Do You Have A Product Idea Or Product Feedback
Do You Have A Product Idea Or Product Feedback? Go to this URL and tell us about it! Kerry Isham, Field Services Representative
So… I bet you have an idea for a product or feedback on an existing APH product. Go to this URL that I’ve provided, and send your ideas to us! Also, if you have any comments or questions for me, I’ve included my address here. It’s At this point, I’ll take a look at questions that have been submitted during the webcast, and I’ll answer them.