Department of Education

AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND

Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Request

CONTENTS

Page

Appropriations Language .........................................................................................................J-1

Analysis of Language Provisions and Changes........................................................................J-2

Appropriation, Adjustments, and Transfers ..............................................................................J-3

Authorizing Legislation.............................................................................................................J-4

Appropriations History..............................................................................................................J-5

Activity:

American Printing House for the Blind .................................................................................J-6
AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND 

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Appropriations Language

For carrying out the Act to promote the Education of the Blind of March 3, 1879,

1

$25,383,000. 

NOTES

A full-year 2017 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, 

the budget assumes this account is operating under the Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 114–254). 

The amounts included for 2017 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Each language provision that is followed by a footnote reference is explained in the Analysis of Language 

Provisions and Changes document, which follows the appropriation language.
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Analysis of Language Provisions and Changes

Language Provision Explanation

1

...Act to promote the Education of the Blind

March 3, 1879...

The language provides the name of the Act 

that authorizes the program.
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Appropriation, Adjustments, and Transfers

(dollars in thousands)

Appropriation/Adjustments/Transfers 2016

2017

Annualized CR 2018

Discretionary:

Discretionar y Appropriation........................................ $25,431 $25,383 $25,383
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J-4

Authorizing Legislation

(dollars in thousands)

Activity 2017

Authorized

2017

Annualized CR

2018

Authorized

2018

Request

 American Printing House for the Blind (Act to promote 

the Education of the Blind of March 3, 1879 (20 U.S. C. 

101 et. seq.)) Indefinite $25,383 Indefinite $25,383

Total annual appropriation 25,383 25,383
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Appropriations History

(dollars in thousands)

Year

Budget 

Estimate 

to Congress

House 

Allowance Footnote

Senate 

Allowance Footnote AppropriationFootnote

2009 $21,616 $22,6971 $22,5001 $22,599

2010 22,599 22,599 24,6002 24,600

2011 24,600 24,6003 24,6002 24,6004

2012 24,600 24,5515 24,5515 24,505

2013 24,505 24,5056 24,5086 23,223

2014 24,505 N/A724,456224,456

2015 24,456 N/A7 25,0008 24,931

2016 24,931 25,431 24,931 25,4319

2017 25,431 25,43110 25,43110 25,43110

2018 25,383

1 The levels for the House and Senate allowances reflect action on the regular annual 2009 

appropriations bill, which proceeded in the 110th Congress only through the House Subcommittee and 

the Senate Committee.

2

 The levels for the Senate allowance reflect Committee action only. 3

 The levels for the House allowance reflect the House-passed full-year continuing resolution. 4

 The level for appropriation reflects the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations 

Act, 2011 (P.L. 112-10). 5

 The level for the House allowance reflects an introduced bill and the level for the Senate allowance 

reflects Senate Committee action only. 

6

 The level for the House and Senate allowances reflect action on the regular annual 2013 appropriations 

bill, which proceeded in the 112th Congress only through the House Subcommittee and the Senate 

Committee. 

7 The House allowance is shown as N/A because there was no Subcommittee action.

8 The level for the Senate allowance reflects Senate Subcommittee action only. 9

 The levels for House and Senate allowances reflect action on the regular annual 2016 appropriation bill, 

which proceeded in the 114th Congress only through the House Committee and Senate Committee. 

10 The levels for House and Senate allowances reflect Committee action on the regular annual 2017 

appropriation bill; the Appropriation reflects the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017. 
AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND 

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American Printing House for the Blind

(Act to Promote the Education of the Blind of March 3, 1879 (20 U.S.C. 101 et seq.))

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2018 Authorization: Indefinite 

Budget Authority: 

2017 

Annualized CR

2017

Appropriation 2018

Change from

Annualized CR 

$25,383 $25,431 $25,383 0

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Act to Promote the Education of the Blind of March 3, 1879, (20 U.S. C. 101 et seq.)

(the Act) authorizes an annual appropriation for the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) 

to produce and distribute educational materials adapted for students who are legally blind and 

enrolled in formal educational programs below the college level. The APH, located in Louisville, 

Kentucky, has received Federal support under this Act since 1879. Materials produced by APH 

include textbooks in braille and large type, educational tools such as braille typewriters and 

computer software and hardware, teaching aides, including tests and performance 

assessments, and other special supplies. APH materials are distributed to programs serving 

blind students through allotments of funds to the States. These allotments are based on an 

annual census (conducted by APH) of the number of legally blind students located in each 

State, and are provided in the form of credits. State educational agencies and programs serving 

persons who are blind may order materials free of charge up to the amount of funds allocated to 

each State under the Federal Quota Program. Approximately 75 percent of the appropriation is 

used to cover the cost of producing these educational materials. The APH uses the remainder 

of the appropriated funds to conduct research related to developing and improving products and 

to provide advisory services to professional and consumer organizations. The Federal Quota 

Program was initiated in 1879 by the Act, which authorized a per capita amount of money to be

designated for the purchase of educational materials for each eligible registered student. Funds 

are appropriated annually by Congress and the annual allocations are maintained in accounts 

administered by the American Printing House for the Blind (APH).

The APH conducts research necessary to develop and improve educational materials in core 

curriculum areas such as science, mathematics, English language arts, and social studies and 

adapts testing materials related to these subject areas. APH manufactures instructional 

materials for a broad range of academic subjects and grade levels. APH also conducts 

research in product areas specific to unique needs of the visually impaired population, such as 

braille reading, orientation and mobility, and assistive technology. Special materials in areas 

such as early intervention and early childhood education, prevocational training, and the 

functional use of residual vision are also developed for use in teaching students who are blind or

have additional disabilities. APH’s education and technical research teams encompass a 

wealth of expert consultants in various fields, from elementary and post-secondary educational 
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institutions to information technology architecture and program design. Major areas of research 

investigations for fiscal year 2018 will include assessment tools for visually impaired infants and 

preschoolers; tactile graphic learning materials, and the development of accessible mobile 

applications for educating the visually impaired.

Ex-Officio Trustees are superintendents of public and private institutions for the education of the 

blind (or a designee) and chief State school officers (or a designee) from every State and U.S. 

territories, that sit on the Board of Trustees of the APH. Trustees are responsible for the 

administration of the Federal accounts and may use the credits to order materials from APH. 

These materials are available for purchase by the trustees and the general public at 

http://shop.aph.org. APH materials are reviewed by a six-member Educational Products 

Advisory Committee. The purpose of this committee, made up of ex officio trustees, is to 

ensure that all educational materials produced and research undertaken by APH are effectively 

focused on meeting the needs of students who are blind. In addition, a second five-member 

advisory committee of ex officio trustees, the Educational Services Advisory Committee, 

provides oversight and accountability regarding APH’s outreach and support services. 

Materials provided through the APH appropriation supplement the various other resources 

available to the States to achieve this goal. For example, the Individuals with Disabilities 

Education Act (IDEA), requires States to provide a free appropriate public education, including 

appropriate related materials and supplies, to all students with disabilities. In order to meet their 

responsibilities under the IDEA, many States make additional purchases from APH and other 

suppliers of materials for students who are visually impaired. 

In fiscal year 2016, Federal funding provided through the APH appropriation for educational 

materials represented approximately 63 percent of APH’s total sales income, and approximately 

72 percent of APH’s total budget of $34.8 million. Federal grants and contracts from agencies 

such as the National Library Service for the Blind, Social Security Administration, and the 

Department of Veterans Affairs represented 11 percent of APH's total budget. The remaining 

16 percent of APH’s budget came from nongovernmental contracts and revenue generated from 

the sale of unsubsidized product to State and local agencies, direct sales to individuals who are 

blind, private sector contract sales, corporate and individual donations from the private sector, 

and interest income from endowments and other investments. 

Advisory services provided by the APH include support a variety of direct and indirect activities 

necessary to support the mission of APH. The term advisory services refer to the informational, 

educational, consultative and administrative services provided by APH staff to support the Ex 

Officio Trustees in their administration of the Federal Quota program. The APH Advisory 

services include conducting the annual census of student who are blind and visually impaired; 

consultation and collaboration with Ex Officio Trustees who administer the Act on the local level; 

the administration of Louis Database of Accessible Materials, Electronic File Repository and 

Expert Database; facilitating National Instructional Partnership activities; and the production of 

catalogs, brochures, videos, and a wide variety of web-based information. APH also convenes 

expert advisory committees and focus groups to address specific issues, as necessary.
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Funding levels for the past 5 fiscal years were:

Fiscal Year (dollars in thousands)

2013 .................................................................................. $23,223

2014 ..................................................................................... 24,456

2015 ..................................................................................... 24,931

2016 ..................................................................................... 25,431

2017 ..................................................................................... 25,431

FY 2018 BUDGET REQUEST

The Administration requests $25,383 million for activities to be conducted by the American 

Printing House (APH) for the Blind in fiscal year 2018. The request would maintain funding for 

APH at the fiscal year 2017 Annualized CR level of $25,383 million. The Department of 

Education Appropriations Act, 2017, provided $25,431 million for this program. APH provides 

crucial educational aids at no cost to students who are visually impaired. The materials that are 

developed, manufactured, and distributed by the APH offer States an additional resource to help 

provide a free appropriate public education to visually impaired students, as required by the 

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Federal support of the APH also helps 

ensure that students who are visually impaired receive the accessible educational materials 

they need to succeed in school and prepare for college and careers. The Administration 

believes the request provides sufficient resources to support an adequate level of service in 

each of the three program areas: educational materials, advisory services, and research. 

Educational Materials. The Administration’s request includes $19 million for educational 

materials, the same as the fiscal year 2017 Annualized CR level. The requested funding level 

provides an estimated $300 per eligible student. In fiscal year 2015, 1,020 distinct educational 

products were available for purchase with Federal Quota funds. The timely delivery of textbooks 

in accessible media formats for braille-reading students is crucial to ensuring that children who 

are visually impaired have the same access to a free appropriate public education as children 

without disabilities. In order to address this need, each year APH produces thousands of braille 

and large print textbooks on demand, including instructional materials featuring tactile graphics. 

APH issues industry standards for tactile graphics, manufactures and distributes graphics to 

students across the country, and maintains a Tactile Graphic Image Library in order to increase 

the variety and lower the cost of pictures and graphics included in accessible educational 

materials. Tactile graphics are essential for teaching subjects such as geography and 

geometry. The funds requested for educational materials support APH’s production of teaching 

modules and associated instructional materials in these subjects. 

Advisory Services. The Administration requests $1.5 million for advisory services for fiscal year 

2018, the same as the fiscal year 2017 Annualized CR level. APH advisory services include a 

variety of activities that support the administration of the educational materials program. These 

funds provide for such things as the annual meeting of the ex-officio trustees; advisory group 

panels; the annual census of students who are visually impaired; printing and distribution of 

catalogs of available materials; and field services such as consultation, in-service training, 

webinars, and workshops. Advisory services support the provision of ongoing consumer 
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information and technical support to customers and help to establish and maintain 

communication with APH’s network of ex-officio trustees. APH also provides support and 

information to staff and teachers at schools around the country. In order to maximize the 

availability of ongoing training and technical assistance activities, APH frequently conducts 

training through the Internet. These Web-based training sessions have given APH the ability to 

reach a wide audience in an efficient, low-cost manner.

Projects that would continue to be funded in fiscal year 2018 include:

• the National Instructional Partnerships program, Webcast product training series (see: 

http://www.aph.org/videos/ ), 

• APH Research Library (see: http://migel.aph.org/catalog/CategoryInfo.aspx?cid=152 ),

• APH Accessible Media Producers Database (see: 

http://louis.aph.org/catalog/CategoryInfo.aspx?cid=152&master=AMP ), and the

• National Instructional Partnership with Teacher Training Programs (see: 

http://www.aph.org/advisory/initiatives/#nip ). 

The APH website offers the public convenient access to products, manuals, downloadable 

catalogs and newsletters, information on training events, online surveys, and online reference 

services such as the Louis Accessible Materials Database and APH file repository. In recent 

years, APH has integrated these unique databases and online tools to make them crosssearchable and to enhance user-friendliness. The APH website provides a unique, 

comprehensive source of specialized information and resources on accessible instructional 

materials for individuals who are visually impaired. The request provides sufficient funds to 

cover advisory services planned in fiscal year 2018.

Research and Product Development. The Administration’s request for research in fiscal year 

2018 is $4.8 million, the same amount that would be allocated for research at the fiscal year 

2017 Annualized CR level. APH undertakes applied and developmental research with the goal 

of developing innovative educational products for students who are visually impaired. Major 

research initiatives include the APH SMART Brailler by Perkins, which is an electronic brailler 

that provides the user immediate feedback through text-to-speech, and a screen that displays 

SimBraille and large print of what is brailled. There is an audio and visual component that 

provides access to non-braille users. APH has also partnered with Orbit Research® and Texas 

Instruments® to create the Orion TI-84 Plus Talking Graphing Calculator. The modified 

TI-84 Plus has attachments that add accessibility controls allowing the student to participate 

fully in STEM-related academics. A calculator to assist younger students is currently in 

development. These new products represent major improvements over existing tools and 

technologies. APH also continues to invest in the development of the file formats, software, 

hardware, and production infrastructure necessary to produce and deliver braille books through 

electronic files and e-readers rather than through paper books. (see: 

http://www.aph.org/research/ )

The Administration recognizes the need for APH to conduct developmental and applied 

research, so that it can continue to meet the changing needs of students who are visually 

impaired, particularly as the technologies for producing accessible educational materials evolve 

rapidly. The request will provide funds for APH to conduct more than 350 research projects in a 

wide range of content areas, including development of new products for use with infants, 

toddlers, and preschoolers who are visually impaired, materials for students who are visually 
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impaired with secondary disabilities, equipment to assist students with low vision, materials for 

braille literacy, classroom learning aids, tactile graphics, and tools to aid in the transition from 

school to postsecondary educational or job settings.

Product development activities planned for fiscal year 2018 are categorized into 12 content 

areas: Adult Life, Braille, Core Curriculum, Cortical Visual Impairment, Early Childhood, 

Emergent Literacy, Low Vision, Multiple Disabilities, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering 

and Math), Tactile Graphics, Technology, and Tests and Assessments.

The Administration’s request also includes funding for APH’s Accessible Tests Department 

initiative. (see: http://www.aph.org/tests-and-textbooks/) The goals of this initiative are to:

• Provide tests, practice tests, examination administration manuals, and other assessment

related materials, including full-color large print assessments, in high quality accessible 

media.

• Promote the inclusion of visually impaired individuals during the development of 

assessments.

• Enhance the test performance of visually impaired individuals through research, education, 

and communication. 

PROGRAM OUTPUT MEASURES 

(dollars in thousands)

Output Measures

2016

2017

Annualized CR 2018

 Distribution of funding:

stribut ion of fund ing: Educational materials $19,006 $18,970 $18,970

stribut ion of fund ing: Advisory services 1,550 1,547 1,547

stribut ion of fund ing: Research and product development 4,875 4,866 4,866

Distribut ion of fund ing: Total 25,431 25,383 25,383

Number of eligible students 63,357 63,357 63,357

 Average per student allotment (whole dollars) $300 $299 $299

 Number of services and products provided:

 and products provid ed: Products available with Federal funds 1,005 1,000 1,000

 and products provid ed: Advisory committee meetings 5 5 5

 and products provid ed: State educational agencies visited by 12 12 12

 and products provid ed: Residential programs visited by 10 12 14

 and products provid ed: Rehabilitation programs visited by 9 10 12

 and products provid ed: In-service training programs and webcasts 25 25 25

 and products provid ed: Product training presentations and exhibits 115 125 125

Output Measures 2016

2017

Annualized CR 2018

Number of services and products provided:

 and products provid ed: Visits to Ex Officio Trustees 205 200 25

 and products provid ed: Total employees (full-time equiv.) 3130 3053 305
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PROGRAM PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Performance Measures

This section presents selected program performance information, for example, GPRA goals, 

objectives, measures, performance targets; and an assessment of the progress made toward 

achieving program results. Achievement of program results is based on the cumulative effect of 

the resources provided in previous years, those requested in fiscal year 2018 and future years, 

as well as the resources and efforts invested by those served by this program.

The Administration and the APH worked together to develop 10 performance measures for the 

activities carried out through the Act. Four of the indicators are customer satisfaction measures; 

two are efficiency measures; and four indicators measure the aspects of product quality.

Goal: Pre-college level blind students will receive appropriate educational materials that 

result in improved educational outcomes.

Objective: Appropriate, timely, high-quality educational materials are provided to pre-college 

level visually impaired students to allow them to benefit more fully from their educational 

programs.

Measure: The percentage of American Printing House for the Blind trustees, advisory 

committee members, consumers, and teachers who agree that the educational materials

provided through the Act are appropriate, timely, and high quality.

Trustees - Percentage who agree:

Year Target

Actual

Extremely 

Mostly

Somewhat

Extremely 

Satisfied

Mostly 

Satisfied

Detail

Somewhat 

Satisfied

Not too 

Satisfied

Not at all 

Satisfied

2013 98 99 56 39 6 0 0

2014 98 98 61 35 2 0 0

2015 98 99 61 34 4 0 0

2016 98 98 75 20 3 2 0

2017 98

2018 98
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Advisory Committee Members - Percentage who agree:

Year Target

Actual

Extremely 

Mostly

Somewhat

Extremely 

Satisfied

Mostly 

Satisfied

Detail

Somewhat 

Satisfied

Not too 

Satisfied

Not at all 

Satisfied

2013 100 100 57 43 0 0 0

2014 100 100 63 33 3 0 0

2015 100 100 66 33 0 0 0

2016 100 100 91 9 0 0 0

2017 100

2018 100

Consumers - Percentage who agree:

Year Target

Actual

Extremely 

Mostly

Somewhat

Extremely 

Satisfied

Mostly 

Satisfied

Detail

Somewhat 

Satisfied

Not too 

Satisfied

Not at all 

Satisfied

2013 96 98 50 43 6 2 0

2014 96 99 61 33 2 1 0

2015 96 98 50 41 7 0 0

2016 96 100 45 55 0 0 0

2017 96

2018 96

Teachers - Percentage who agree:

Year Target

Actual

Extremely 

Mostly

Somewhat

Extremely 

Satisfied

Mostly 

Satisfied

Detail

Somewhat 

Satisfied

Not too 

Satisfied

Not at all 

Satisfied

2013 97 98 53 40 6 1 0

2014 97 99 56 37 6 1 0

2015 97 99 57 38 5 0 0

2016 97 97 58 36 3 1 0

2017 97

2018 97

Additional Information: In 2016, data were collected using a survey instrument designed to 

measure the levels of consumer satisfaction specified in the objective. The individual factors 

were each rated on a separate 5-point Likert scale, with 5 representing the highest level of 

satisfaction. APH conducted surveys of the four groups of constituencies cited in the APH 

GPRA plan for 2015. These groups are: (1) Ex Officio Trustees of APH who are professionals in 

the field of blindness; (2) APH advisory committees; (3) other consumers of APH products; and 

(4) teachers of students who are visually impaired.

The percentages shown for each measure are composed of the respondents from each group 

that were “Extremely satisfied,” “Mostly satisfied,” or “Somewhat satisfied” with all three 

dimensions of product satisfaction (quality, timeliness, and appropriateness for targeted 

audience).
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The survey instrument was distributed electronically to 143 current Ex Officio Trustees of APH, 

advisory committee members, teachers, and consumers. In addition, the survey was available 

on the APH website. This made it easily available for response by individuals who were not on a 

specific mailing list, but who were encouraged to respond through invitations on list serves and 

in various newsletters and announcements. The web-based format also provides accessibility to 

visually impaired individuals who require alternate media.

There were 204 valid respondents to the 2016 survey. The subsets of that total are: (1) 43 Ex 

Officio Trustees; (2) 10 advisory committee members; (3) 125 teachers; and (4) 26 other 

consumers.

Objective: To improve the quality of APH research and product usefulness.

Measure: The percentage of APH product sales revenue that is from new products.

Year Target Actual

2013 22 45

2014 22 40

2015 22 18

2016 22 16

2017 22

2018 22

Additional Information: This measure was developed to help determine the efficacy of new 

products developed by APH. The purpose of the measure is to evaluate the reaction of 

consumers to new products created by the research department, which is determined by 

measuring the extent to which sales of new products surpass a minimum level of products sold. 

For fiscal year 2016, a total of $3.1 million new products (defined as products introduced in 

fiscal years 2014 and 2015) were sold. Total product Sales for fiscal year 2016 was 

$19.2 million. New products included the new version of the Refreshabraille, Joy Player, and 

Orion TI-30XS calculator. Through a review of sales figures it is apparent that the success of 

three products, The VizioBook, TI-84 talking graphing calculator, and the Smartbrailler, 

introduced in 2013-14 has continued to represent the majority of Quota and Non-Quota product 

sales. This indicates that these products have met a need for the field as sales records 

continue to peak. These three items are more expensive items which limit the number of items 

agencies can purchase through the Quota system, and thus impacts the percentage of revenue 

generated from new products.

Measure: The average rating, according to approved criteria on relevance, for a sample of new 

American Printing House for the Blind products evaluated by an independent panel of qualified 

experts or individuals with appropriate expertise related to the target audience.

Year Target Actual

2013 4 5.0

2014 4 5.5

2015 4 5.8

2016 4 6.0

2017 4

2018 4
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Additional Information: To determine the average relevance rating, a panel of experts, who 

are proposed by APH and approved by the Department, reviews a random sample of new 

products developed each year by the Printing House to assess whether: (1) there is evidence 

of need for the product; (2) there is evidence that APH sought the opinions of knowledgeable 

individuals on the need for the product; (3) APH made the decision to produce the product 

based on a standardized process for product selection; (4) the product addresses an identified 

need for individuals who are visually impaired; and (5) the product is fully accessible for the 

intended population. The products are rated using a 7-point rating scale, where 1 equals “does 

not meet criteria, 4 equals “meets criteria,” and 7 equals “exceeds criteria.” The average of the 

scores is the number reported in the actual column. In fiscal 2016, the panel’s average rating 

increased from the prior year and continued to exceed the “meets criteria” rating. The small 

variations in the average score from year to year may reflect the changing composition of the 

expert review panel and the sample of the products rated. 

Panel members reviewed and rated 8 new APH products during the on-site March 2016 expert 

panel meeting, including: (1) labeling, Marking, and Organization (2) Tactile Clothing Tape; 

(3) CVI Matchsticks; (4) Nemeth Tutorial; (5) PAIVI; (6) Quick and Easy ECC; (7) The Joy 

Player; and (8) TI-30XS Talking Scientific Calculator. These products - representing the variety 

of products produced by APH - were purposefully selected by APH for review by the expert 

panel.

During the on-site March 2016 expert panel meeting, panel members found the inclusion of 

short 1-2 minute videos about the product helpful during their initial reviews. It was particularly 

important for those products a panel member might not yet have seen or experienced in person 

as it helps provide some perspective on the reports they were reading. Panel members 

determined that these APH products met the criteria defined for relevance; that is, these 

products were relevant and addressed the needs of consumers who are blind and visually 

impaired. 

Measure: The average rating, according to approved criteria on quality of research, for a 

sample of new American Printing House for the Blind products evaluated by an independent 

panel of qualified experts or individuals with appropriate expertise related to the target audience. 

Year Target Actual

2013 4 4.4

2014 4 5.3

2015 4 5.4

2016 4 5.6

2017 4

2018 4

Additional Information: The panel of experts annually reviews a purposefully selected sample 

of new products developed each year by APH to assess whether: (1) appropriate research 

methodologies are being used consistent with the type of product being developed; (2) sufficient 

supporting information and evidence is collected by research data methods; (3) data are 

gathered from a geographically diverse U.S. population and a variety of potential user groups; 

(4) evaluation data are gathered from appropriately qualified individuals; (5) research data are 
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gathered from an adequate number of sources; (6) development demonstrates use of fieldreviewed data for modification to the product prior to final development; and (7) data are 

gathered on student and consumer outcomes related to the use of the proposed product. The 

products are rated using a 7-point rating scale, where 1 equals “does not meet criteria, 4 equals 

“meets criteria,” and 7 equals “exceeds criteria.” The mean of the scores is the number 

reported. 

Panel members reviewed and rated 8 new APH products during the on-site March 2016 expert 

panel meeting, including: (1) Labeling, Marking, and Organization (2) Tactile Clothing Tape; 

(3) CVI Matchsticks; (4) Nemeth Tutorial; (5) PAIVI; (6) Quick and Easy ECC; (7) The Joy 

Player; and (8) TI-30XS Talking Scientific Calculator. These products - representing the variety 

of products produced by APH - were purposefully selected by APH for review by the expert 

panel. Panel members were complimentary about the effort in the area of research in the vast 

majority of the reports. Use of the template by project leaders for creating the reports was 

helpful to the panel since data related to each of the three factors were easy to find. The panel 

recognized the dedication and passion of the project leaders and the quality of work being 

conducted. At the same time, panel members stated that APH needs to continue its efforts to 

collect relevant and useful data on the links between products and student learning outcomes.

Measure: The average rating, according to approved criteria on utility, for a sample of new 

American Printing House for the Blind products evaluated by an independent panel of qualified 

experts or individuals with appropriate expertise related to the target audience.

Year Target Actual

2013 4 5.2

2014 4 5.5

2015 4 6.0

2016 4 6.1

2017 4

2018 4

Additional Information: For this measure, the panel of experts annually reviews a purposefully 

selected sample of new products developed each year by APH to assess whether: (1) sales of 

the new products indicate demand; (2) new product indicators, such as field evaluations and 

other feedback, substantiate that the new product is meeting a need; and (3) the products are 

considered highly useful for individuals with visual impairments. The products are rated using a 

7-point rating scale, where 1 equals “does not meet criteria, 4 equals “meets criteria,” and 

7 equals “exceeds criteria.” In fiscal 2016, the average rating continued to increase and the 

target “meets criteria” rating was once again exceeded. Panel members stated that updates on 

specific products provided by the project leaders during the on-site presentations, along with 

hands-on demonstration and videos, were helpful in determining the utility of APH products for 

this category.

Efficiency Measures

The Department worked closely with the Printing House to develop appropriate efficiency 

measures for the Federal program at APH. 
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Measure: The cost (in cents) per page to produce color large type textbooks.

Year Target Actual

2013 11.5¢ 9.3¢

2014 12.0 8.2

2015 10.0 8.9

2016 10.0 7.6

2017 10.0

2018 10.0

Additional Information: 

There are three variables used in calculating the cost per page for both the production of color 

large type and braille textbooks. These three variables are: (1) the actual cost of manufacturing 

the pages; (2) the total number of pages produced annually; and (3) the average number of 

pages per volume. Factors that can affect these variables include the costs of raw materials 

and equipment, demand for products, and efficiency of operations. 

In fiscal year 2016, the total number of large type color pages increased by 447 thousand or 5.8

percent and the number of volumes increased by 34,000 or 19.8 percent when compared to 

fiscal year 2015. Total production expenses decreased by $2,000 or 2 percent. As a result, the 

cost per page decreased by 1.3 cents to 7.6 cents per page, which is still under the target of 10

cents per page. (APH printed 8.2 million pages of color large print type textbooks at a cost of 

$1.2 million in 2015.) 

Measure: The cost (in cents) per page to produce braille textbooks.

Year Target Actual

2013 11.0¢ 15.2¢

2014 10.7 17.1

2015 15.0 15.1

2016 15.0 13.9

2017 15.0

2018 15.0

Additional Information: In fiscal year 2016, the total number of braille textbook pages 

increased by 1.1 million or 14.5 percent and the number of volumes increased by 18,000 or 14.5 

percent, compared to fiscal year 2015. Total production expenses increased by $47,000 or 

4.1 percent. As a result, the total cost to produce braille textbooks decreased by 1.2 cents or 

7.6 percent to 13.9 cents per page, almost meeting the target of 15 cents per page. (APH 

printed 8.7 million pages of braille textbooks at a cost of $1.2 million in fiscal year 2016.)