American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Winter 2025 TECHNOLOGY
APH Secures Ten Million-Dollar Grant
American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of a five-year $10 million federal grant from the Department of Education. This is the largest grant APH has received in its 166-year history.
APH is one of twenty-seven grant recipients awarded under the most recent Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) program. The DIF program focuses on preparing individuals for competitive, integrated employment, enabling youth and adults with disabilities to be paid fair wages while gaining employment in some of today’s most in-demand fields.
In September 2024, APH introduced the Monarch, a groundbreaking assistive technology Braille device that renders tactile graphics integrated with Braille on a first-of-its-kind multiline display. Braille access has long been recognized as critical for individuals who are blind, low vision or deafblind in achieving and maintaining competitive integrated employment.
This project, known as Monarch RISE (Resources for Inclusion, Skills, and Employment) will evaluate the effectiveness of the Monarch in supporting competitive integrated employment and identify targeted improvements for future advancements in technologies that support Braille and tactile graphics.
Empowered by the DIF grant, APH will distribute 250 Monarchs to employment and educational professionals and individuals seeking competitive integrated employment who are blind or low vision across the United States.
Learn about the Monarch
“This grant gives us the opportunity to test how our new innovative Braille and tactile graphics technology will create access to gainful employment for individuals who are blind, low vision, or deafblind,” said Paul Schroeder, Vice President of Impact and Outreach. “With this grant, we can demonstrate how the Monarch will provide the support for young adults to pursue higher education and rewarding careers through the power of ready access to Braille and tactile graphics.”
Monarch RISE’s five-year grant will
- Evaluate the current effectiveness of the Monarch in advancing employment.
- Draft proposals for targeted improvements of the Monarch, prioritizing optimization within an employment context.
- Develop and launch an innovative app for the Monarch to better meet individuals’ employment needs.
- Support individuals in exploring, achieving, and maintaining competitive integrated employment empowered by the Monarch and innovative training.
APH’s goal is to break barriers and broaden access for employment and education for individuals who are blind or low vision. APH is working to create a 21st century workforce of people with disabilities through innovative applications of advanced Braille technology like the Monarch.
Email questions to [email protected].