Department of Education

AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND

Fiscal Year 2017 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 

Appropriations Language

For carrying out the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind of March 3, 1879, $25,431,000. 

(Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2016.) 

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AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND

Analysis of Language Provisions and Changes

Language Provision Explanation

to Promote the Education of the Blind The name of the Act of March 3,1879 is 

included to clarify the appropriation language 

reference.

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AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND

Appropriation, Adjustments and Transfers

(dollars in thousands)

Appropriation/Adjustments/Transfers 2015 2016 2017

Discretionary:

Discretionar y Appropriation.......................................................... $24,931 $25,431 $25,431

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AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND

Authorizing Legislation

(dollars in thousands)

Activity 2016

Authorized

2016

Estimate

2017

Authorized

2017

Request footnote

The Act to Promote the Education of the Blind

(20 U.S. C. 101 et. seq.) Indefinite $25,431 Indefinite $25,431

Total annual appropriation 25,431 25,431

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AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND

Appropriations History

(dollars in thousands)

Year

Budget 

Estimate 

to Congress

House 

Allowance Footnote

Senate 

Allowance Footnote AppropriationFootnote

2008 $17,573 $17,573 $22,000 $21,616

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

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. 

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AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND 

American Printing House for the Blind

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

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2017 Authorization: Indefinite 

Budget Authority: 

2016 2017 Change

$25,431 $25,431 0

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Act to Promote the Education of the Blind 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. 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 for educational materials. 

Approximately 75 percent of the appropriation is used to cover the cost of operations to produce 

these 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 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. In addition, APH undertakes research in 

product areas specific to the visually impaired population, such as braille reading, orientation 

and mobility, and assistive technology. Special materials are also developed for use in teaching 

students who are blind and have additional disabilities in areas such as early intervention and 

early childhood education, prevocational training, and the functional use of residual vision.

Advisory services provided by the APH include: administration of the Student Registration 

System, Louis Database of Accessible Materials, Electronic File Repository and Expert 

Database; National Instructional Partnership activities; and 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.

APH materials are distributed, through allotments of funds to the States, to programs serving 

students who are blind. The allotments are based on an annual census conducted by APH of 

the number of students who are legally blind in each State and are provided in the form of 

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AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND 

credits. As of July 2015, APH had 201 Federal Quota accounts administered by 143 ex officio 

trustees who represent State educational agencies, schools for the blind, rehabilitation 

programs, and other agencies responsible for the education of blind students in each State. 

The Quota accounts consist of funds from the APH appropriation in the form of credits that are 

allocated on the basis of the annual census of blind students to the ex officio trustees. Trustees 

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. The ex officio trustees are 

responsible for the administration of the Federal accounts in each State. Items to be produced 

and distributed by APH 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. 

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the States are required to provide a 

free appropriate public education, including appropriate related materials and supplies, to all 

students with disabilities. Materials provided through the APH appropriation supplement the 

various other resources available to the States to achieve this goal. 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 2015, funding provided by the Federal Government for educational materials 

represented approximately 65 percent of the Printing House's total sales income. Funding 

provided through the APH appropriation represented approximately 73 percent of APH’s total 

budget of $34 million. Federal grants and contracts from agencies such as the National Library 

Service for the Blind, Social Security Administration, and Veterans Administration represented 

11 percent of APH's total budget for fiscal year 2015. The remaining sixteen 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. 

Funding levels for the past 5 fiscal years were:

Fiscal Year (dollars in thousands)

2012 ................................................................................... $24,505

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

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

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

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

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AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND 

FY 2017 BUDGET REQUEST

The Administration requests $25.4 million for activities to be conducted by the American Printing 

House (APH) for the Blind in fiscal year 2017. The request would maintain funding for APH at 

the fiscal year 2016 level. APH provides crucial educational aids at no cost to students who are 

visually impaired. The materials 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 2016 level. The requested funding level provides an 

estimated $304 per eligible student. Materials produced by APH include textbooks in braille, 

large type, and audio recording formats; educational aides such as braille typewriters, raised 

(tactile) graphics, and computer software and hardware; teaching tools such as tests and 

performance measures; and other special supplies. APH manufactures these instructional 

materials for a broad range of academic subjects and grade levels. In fiscal year 2015, 

1,020 distinct educational products were available for purchase with Federal Quota funds. The 

Quota consists of funds from the APH appropriation (about 75 percent) in the form of credits 

that are allocated to States on the basis of the annual census of blind students in each State.

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 

2017, the same as the fiscal year 2016 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 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 

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AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND 

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 2017 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 Web site 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 Web site 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 2017.

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

2017 is $4.9 million, the same amount that would be allocated for research at the fiscal year 

2016 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 over 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 impaired 

with secondary disabilities, equipment to assist students with low vision, materials for braille 

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AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND 

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 2017 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 2015 2016 2017

 Distribution of funding:

stribut ion of fund ing: Educational materials $18,698 $19,000 $19,000

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

stribut ion of fund ing: Educational and technical research 4,683 4,881 4,881

Distribut ion of fund ing: Total 24,931 25,431 25,431 

 Number of eligible students 61,739 62,528 62,528

 Average per student allotment (whole dollars) $305 $304 $304

 Number of services and products provided:

 and products provid ed: Products available with Federal funds 1,020 1,020 1,020

 and products provid ed: Advisory committee meetings 5 5 5

 and products provid ed: State educational agencies visited 14 12 12

 and products provid ed: Residential programs visited 9 10 10

 and products provid ed: Rehabilitation programs visited 9 9 9

 and products provid ed: In-service training programs and webcasts 20 25 25

 and products provid ed: Product training presentations and exhibits 111 125 125

 and products provid ed: Visits to Ex Officio Trustees 2 20 2

 and products provid ed: Total employees (full-time equiv.) 31 313 31

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AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND 

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 2017 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 to Promote the Education of the Blind. Four of the 

indicators are customer satisfaction measures. Two are efficiency measures. Four indicators 

measure 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 to Promote the Education of the Blind 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

2012 98% 99% 52% 44% 4% 0% 0%

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

2017 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

2012 100% 100% 60% 37% 3% 0% 0%

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

2017 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

2012 96% 98% 58% 34% 6% 2% 0%

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

2017 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

2012 97% 98% 54% 38% 6% 1% 1%

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

2017 97

Additional Information: In 2015, 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.

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AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND 

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).

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 366 valid respondents to the 2015 survey. The subsets of that total are: (1) 77 Ex 

Officio Trustees; (2) 10 advisory committee members; (3) 222 teachers; and (4) 67 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

2012 22% 31%

2013 22 45

2014 22 40

2015 22 18

2016 22

2017 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. 

New products for fiscal year 2015 included the Smart Brailler and the TI-84 Talking Graphing 

Calculator. However, the overall ratio of the dollar value of sales of new products to ongoing 

products is lower for 2014-2015 (at 17.6%), as some of the more expensive products, such as 

the Visiobook (introduced in 2012), reached the end of the two-year period from their launch 

dates and are no longer included in this calculation as new products. Thus, APH did not meet 

the target for 2015. 

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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

2012 4 4.5

2013 4 5.0

2014 4 5.5

2015 4 5.8

2016 4

2017 4

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 2015, 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 10 new APH products during the on-site March 2015 expert 

panel meeting, including: (1) U.S.Canada Tactile/Print Atlas; (2) BOEHM3 Preschool 

Assessment; (3) Braille Beads; (4) DNA/RNA Kit; (5) Games of Squares; (6) Hundres Chart; (7) 

Math Robot App for IOS; (8) Parenting with a Visual Impairement Book; (9) Smart Brailler; and 

(10) Step by Step. 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 2015 expert panel meeting, panel members noted that the product 

reports included the results of literature searches and user data when documenting 

relevance. 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. 

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AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND 

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

2012 4 4.3

2013 4 4.4

2014 4 5.3

2015 4 5.4

2016 4

2017 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 

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 10 new APH products during the on-site March 2015 expert 

panel meeting, including: (1) U.S.Canada Tactile/Print Atlas; (2) BOEHM3 Preschool 

Assessment; (3) Braille Beads; (4) DNA/RNA Kit; (5) Games of Squares; (6) Hundres Chart; (7) 

Math Robot App for IOS; (8) Parenting with a Visual Impairement Book; (9) Smart Brailler; and 

(10) Step by Step. These products - representing the variety of products produced by APH -

were purposefully selected by APH for review by the expert panel. Panel members reported 

that reports with specific data gathered at multiple points, qualitative quotes, and field testing at 

different geographical sites, as compiled by project leaders, were particularly helpful in rating 

products. 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.

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AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND 

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

2012 4 4.4

2013 4 5.2

2014 4 5.5

2015 4 6

2016 4

2017 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 2015, 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. 

Measure: The cost (in cents) per page to produce color large type textbooks.

Year Target Actual

2012 10.8¢ 8.1¢

2013 11.5 9.3

2014 12.0 8.2

2015 10.0 8.9

2016 10.0

2017 10.0

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AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND 

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 FY 2015, the total number of large type color pages decreased by 1.9 million or 19.7 percent

and the number of volumes decreased by 37,000 or 17.7% when compared to FY 2014. Total 

production expenses decreased by $141,000 or 10%. As a result, the cost per page increased 

by 0.7 cents to 8.9 center per page, which is still under the target of 10 cents per page. (APH 

printed 7,763,000 pages of color large print type textbooks at a cost of $1,262,000 in 2015.) 

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

Year Target Actual

2012 10.9¢ 10.6¢

2013 11.0 15.2

2014 10.7 17.1

2015 15.0 15.1

2016 15.0

2017 15.0

Additional Information: In FY 2015, the total number of braille textbook pages decreased by 

1.8 million or 29.2 percent and the number of volumes increased by 13,000 or 18.8 percent, 

compared to FY 2014. Total production expenses increased by $86,000 or 8 percent. As a 

result, the total cost to produce braille textbooks decreased by 2 cents or 12 percent to 15.1 

cents per page, almost meeting the target of 15 cents per page. (APH printed 7,855,000,000 

pages of braille textbooks at a cost of $1,167,000 in FY 2015.) 

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