Change Makers: A Podcast from APH

In 2018 the Texas State Board of Education made a preliminary decision to streamline their required curriculum by cutting Helen Keller from their third-grade social studies standards. To get a reversal of that decision, Gabby Caldwell testified with her mother, Robbie, before the State Board of Education. In this episode of Change Makers you’ll hear from Gabby and Robbie about keeping Helen in the schools, from Helen Selsdon, one of the leading experts on Helen Keller, and also from Mike Hudson, the Director of the Museum at the American Printing Hose for the Blind. We take a look at why Helen matters as much today as ever before.

LINKS
Helen Keller Online Lessons: https://www.aph.org/learning-from-the-life-of-helen-keller/
Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind: sites.aph.org/museum/
Helen Keller Digital Archives: afb.org/HelenKellerArchive

LEGO Braille Bricks are here! APH is excited to be an official partner, responsible for distributing LEGO® Braille Bricks to students in the United States.

The bright colored bricks, molded with studs that correspond to numbers and letters in the braille alphabet, allow students who are blind, and sighted to play and learn together. 

On today's episode of Change Makers, we hear from the LEGO Foundation about their philosophy of learning through play, and why they created LEGO Braille Bricks. We'll also hear from a teacher with Visually Impaired Preschool Services(VIPS) in Louisville, KY who is helping APH look for ways to best use the bricks in the classroom. 

GUESTS
Per Havgaard - The LEGO Foundation
Stine Storm - The LEGO Foundation 
Paige Maynard - Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS)

LINKS
Learn about brick distribution through APH: https://www.aph.org/lego-braille-bricks-a-fun-way-to-reinforce-braille-skills/
Head straight to the LEGO Braille Bricks site: https://www.legobraillebricks.com

Who's behind the features of the new Chameleon 20 refreshable braille display? We talk with the educational experts who helped design this exciting new tech.

Guests:

Donna McNear – Education Consultant, with more than 40 years experience as a teacher and O&M Specialist.

Liz Anderson – TVI, O&M Specialist, and the Program Coordinator at the Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired.

Andrea Wallace – TVI, O&M Specialist, and Statewide Educational Specialist at the Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired.

Visit https://www.aph.org/product/chameleon-20/ to buy your Chameleon 20!

The history of the field of blindness is rich and storied. While APH has long focused on education and resources for people who are blind, The Wilmer Eye Institute from Johns Hopkins has focused on research, diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions. APH President, Craig Meador sits down with leaders from Wilmer to discuss their past, their goals, and how we can all work together to create a future that belongs to everyone.

Guests:

Jim Deremeik - The Education Rehabilitation Program Manager at the Low Vision Clinic. He’s worked at Johns Hopkins for 26 years.

Judy Goldstein - The Director of Low Vision Rehabilitation Services at Wilmer, and an associate professor of ophthalmology. She spent 10+ years at a private low vision practice, and has now been with Johns Hopkins for more than 15 years, working in clinical care research and teaching.

Many sports camps, swimming pools, and other opportunities for physical education will be close this summer. To learn about ways to stay active while at home, or join a virtual sports camp, we're talking with experts in physical education for young people with visual impairments. First you'll hear from Lauren Lieberman. She's a well publish author, she started Camp Abilities in Brockport, New York, and she's started sports camps across the world. Second you'll hear from Tristan Pierce. She's the Physical Education and Multiple Disabilities Project Leader at APH.

LINKS:
CampAbilities.org
www.aph.org/educational-resources/physical-education/

In this episode of Change Makers we're talking about Code Jumper, an accessible way for students to learn block coding in an inclusive setting. We talk with Cheri Bortleson, who tested Code Jumper in Washington State. Cheri is the K5 STEM and Computer Science Developer for the Bellevue School District. We also talk with Robin Lowell. Robin spent years teaching students with visual impairments in the classroom, and wrote the curriculum for Code Jumper.

If you'd like to learn more, watch videos, or read the curriculum, visit codejumper.com.

Episode 7 is all about the brand new Mantis Q40 from APH and HumanWare. The bluetooth keyboard, with 40 cells of refreshable braille allows you to have braille at your fingertips anywhere.

Order your Mantis Q40 today: https://www.aph.org/product/mantis-q40/

Podcast Guests:
Larry Skutchan - Director of Technology Product Research at APH
Greg Stilson - Head of Global Innovation at APH
Joe Hodge - Quality Assurance Analyst at APH
Matt Poppe - Graphic Designer at APH

After more than a month of working from home, some APH staff has returned to work in the APH building. In today's episode we briefly explain the steps APH has taken to ensure essential staff are safe, and we dig into how customer service is still working hard to ensure you get the products you need. We know a lot of summer camps have had to cancel plans, so we're also sharing about learning opportunities for the summer. If you hang on until the end of the episode, we'll even have a special message for our 2020 Seniors.


Guests:

Arthur Vaughn - Chief Quality and Safety Officer
Jim Kreiner - Director of Customer Service
Leanne Grillot - Director of National Outreach Services
Mike Hudson - Director of the Museum at the American Printing House for the Blind

Links:

https://www.aph.org/virtual-excel-summer-camp/

Conferences are a huge part of the blindness and visual impairment field. They're about more than just attending sessions, they’re also were we learn about new products, and where we partner with other companies to continue to push the boundaries of our field.

To talk about how we can stay connected, and make the most out of virtual conferences, APH President, Craig Meador, leads a roundtable discussion with three change makers who have, or are planning to host virtual events.

Guests: 

Dr. Kirk Adams, President and CEO of AFB, a private non profit that uses research and evidence to effect system change that creates a world of no limits for people who are blind.

Dr. Amy Parker, an assistant professor and coordinator at Portland State University where she is engaged in community development and nurturing.

Sergio Oliva, the Associate Vice President of national and youth programs at the Braille Institute. He oversees Cane Quest and the Braille Challenge. 

As unemployment skyrockets, how can you be job ready? Joe Strechay joins Change Makers to talk about how you can use your time at home to work on your personal brand, and be ready to land your next job.

Also a guest on episode 4, Claire Stanley from ACB shares how they're staying connected with members, offering virtual hang-outs, and even planning a virtual ACB summer conference.

LINKS
APH Typer: aph.org/sharpen-your-typing-skills-with-typer/
ACB Chat Options: acb.org/ACB-community-conference-calls
Career Blog: https://aphcareerconnect.org/blog/careerconnect-blog/19-tips-for-employment-preparation-during-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR2G-zY2ylb-vH7BnWS-OG439Dfkz8AR2mT83HkteiOcJdPB0GTMndc5Ge4

ACB Contact Info
[email protected]
202-467-5081