More than 160 years of life-changing innovations.

A black and white photo of a man working on the model for the US Puzzle Map

About APH

Since 1858, The American Printing House for the Blind has operated in Louisville, Kentucky as the world’s largest nonprofit organization creating accessible learning experiences through educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are blind and low vision.

There’s no other place like it. Creating things that make a real difference in people’s lives is what we do. Please take a moment or two to watch our video.

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The APH Mission

The American Printing House for the Blind elevates the achievements of students and people who are blind or low vision by providing braille products, materials, support services, and specialized technology. We develop innovative solutions that create a gateway to lifelong successful employment, productivity, and independence, ensuring access to opportunities in a competitive digital world.

Our History

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1850s

A Need for Books

Dempsey Sherrod, a blind man from Mississippi, convinces his state to charter a national “Publishing House to Print Books in Raised Letters” to be located in Louisville, KY. The General Assembly of Kentucky passes an act to establish the American Printing House for the Blind.

1860s

Delayed by the Civil War

APH begins raising funds from citizens in Mississippi and Kentucky, but is delayed in beginning operations by the onset of the Civil War. After the war ends, donations from Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana restart its operations. The following year its first book is printed: Fables and Tales for Children, in Boston Line Letter.

1870s

A Federal Subsidy for Embossed Books

Congress appropriates funding for students who are blind for the first time. The Act to Promote the Education of the Blind provides embossed books and “tangible apparatus” from the Printing House to students all over the country.

1880s and 1890s

Rapid Growth

Federal funding creates new demand for embossed books and the Printing House outgrows its basement room at the Kentucky School for the Blind. APH constructs its own building on land nearby.

1900s–1920s

The Era of Braille Production Begins

Building expansion doubles the capacity of the APH press room and bindery. Meanwhile, the preference for the braille code over raised letter embossing continues to grow. Educational aids at this time are basic–braille slates, writing guides, maps, spelling frames, etc. 1928 saw the introduction of Reader’s Digest in braille.

1930s

New Products and Services

The Pratt-Smoot Act expands funding for literature for blind adults. In response, APH installs a complete recording studio and vinyl record production line. Hugh Sutton narrates the company’s first Talking Book, Gulliver’s Travels.

1940s

The Work Continues Despite a World War

APH creates a large type department. The popularity of large type textbooks and growing demand for braille and Talking Books following World War II allows the Printing House to build a major new wing.

1950s

Expansion and Innovation

During the 1950s, IBM and APH partner to write an English text-to-braille computer translation program. The Department of Educational Research is established and APH dramatically expands its production of education aids. Fifty-two braille magazines are in production at this time.

1960s

The Digital Revolution Begins

IBM presents APH with a computer that can be used to automatically translate print to braille. APH completes the largest braille project ever undertaken – the World Book Encyclopedia®. UNICEF funds a project that sends older APH stereograph machines to foreign countries.

1970s and 1980s

Embracing New Media

Cassette tapes are introduced as a medium for talking books. A computerized database for textbooks (Central Automated Resource List — CARL) replaces the Central Catalog card catalog. APH Braille Transcription Editors (electronic braille writing terminals) become operational and braille production is now largely computerized.

1990s

Moving Toward a New Millennium

The Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind opens in October 1994. The Accessible Textbook Initiative and Collaboration (ATIC) is created to address the issues of timeliness and availability of textbooks in a variety of accessible media.

2000s

The 21st Century and Beyond

Dramatic growth occurs in the number and variety of new educational and daily living aids coming from the Printing House. In both braille and large type, new processes and digital technology convert APH from a traditional publisher to a company able to produce one book for one child, on demand.

2010s

Accessibility Made Better, More Affordable

The Printing House creates the Technology Product Research Department to emphasize the need for better, more affordable technology tools. APH introduces products that exploit GPS technology, user friendly braille translation software, digital magnification, and other promising developments. The company joins the international Transforming Braille Group to bring down the cost of refreshable braille displays.

2015–2023

Information Clearing House for the Field of Blindness

APH dramatically expands its Customer Service, Marketing and Product Research and Development functions under the umbrella of a new internal group, Dot6. The company establishes the APH ConnectCenter, including the APH Press and resource websites FamilyConnect, Braille Bug, CareerConnect and VisionAware. The APH Hive, a learning management system, launches, offering professional development opportunities, discussion boards and other resources for teachers, parents and consumers.

Board of Trustees

Meet the dedicated people who help guide us on our mission.

View Our Board

A Message from Our President.

“The Helen Keller desk represents the fierce belief in human potential, and the miracles that happen when we use our collective ingenuity to release that potential into the world. Believing and working for a world that welcomes everyone isn’t just a platitude, it is the key that unlocks innovation, prosperity, and happiness for all.”

A History that Welcomes Everyone