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American Printing House for the Blind
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) was founded in 1858 by Dempsey Sherrod, a blind man from Mississippi who convinced the Kentucky...
American Printing House for the Blind
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) was founded in 1858 by Dempsey Sherrod, a blind man from Mississippi who convinced the Kentucky legislature to charter a national printing house for raised-letter books. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, APH received its first federal subsidy from the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind in 1879, which funds accessible materials for students nationwide. APH develops and distributes braille textbooks, accessible technology, and independent-living aids. Its portfolio includes the Monarch, a high‑definition braille display with 3,840 pins and 24-hour battery life; the Louis Database of Accessible Materials, which aggregates content from 75+ organizations; and the APH Hive, an e-learning platform for educators and families. The organization also runs the National Prison Braille Network, which supplies braille textbooks to K–12 students. Geographically, APH serves all 50 U.S. states and Canada. The organization employs approximately 350 people and operates from its Louisville campus. Its Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind, known as The Dot Experience, is scheduled to reopen in 2026. APH Press publishes texts for professionals on education, orientation and mobility, and aging. APH's funding model is structurally unique: a federal appropriation provides the bulk of its textbook revenue, while product sales and donations support technology R&D. The organization does not manage investment capital and is not structured as a family office.
General information
Firm type
Nonprofit
Year founded
1858
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Louisville
Corporate office
1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky 40206, United States
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is the American Printing House for the Blind?
APH is a nonprofit founded in 1858 that produces braille textbooks, accessible technology, and independent-living aids for people who are blind or low vision. It is the largest organization of its kind in the world, serving over 60,000 U.S. students annually through a federal subsidy established in 1879 (per APH website).
How does APH fund its operations?
APH receives an annual federal appropriation through the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind, which funds braille textbooks and tangible apparatus for students. Additional revenue comes from product sales, technology R&D, and donations. The organization does not manage investment capital or operate as a family office.
What technology products does APH develop?
APH's flagship technology is the Monarch, a high‑definition braille display with 3,840 pins, a 24-hour battery life, and Android navigation. Other products include braille transcription software, GPS-based wayfinding tools, and the APH Hive e-learning platform. APH partners with IBM and the Transforming Braille Group to lower the cost of refreshable braille displays (per APH website).
Does APH work with organizations outside the U.S.?
Yes. APH participates in the Transforming Braille Group, an international consortium. Its Louis Database includes materials from 75+ organizations across the U.S. and Canada. UNICEF funded projects that sent APH stereograph machines to foreign countries in the 1960s (per APH history page).
Is APH a family office or investment firm?
No. APH is a nonprofit organization focused on accessible education products and services. It does not manage investment capital, run a family office, or operate as an asset manager. Its leadership structure includes a board of trustees and a president (per APH website).
What is the National Prison Braille Network?
Since 2001, APH has coordinated the National Prison Braille Network, which uses inmate braille transcribers to produce quality braille textbooks for K–12 students who are blind. The network addresses the shortage of braille materials in schools (per APH website).
When will the APH museum reopen?
The Dot Experience, a re‑imagined museum at APH's Louisville campus, is scheduled to open in 2026. In the interim, APH runs community outreach events under the Connect the Dots series (per APH website).
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