<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">Dear Blind Professional,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) received a significant federal grant from the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) to assess the value of the Monarch
as a tool to support adults to prepare for or advance in employment. In September 2024, APH launched the Monarch, a multi-line braille and graphics tablet, initiating a long-sought revolution in electronic braille technology.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">Ideal participants are blind professionals competitively employed in industries outside of blindness services. Participants will integrate the Monarch into their
work, draft proposals for targeted improvements to the Monarch related to workplace tasks and provide guidance and mentorship to individuals transitioning to Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE). All applicants must have a basic understanding of braille
and proficiency in 6-key entry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">Please join us to learn more about the
<a href="https://www.aph.org/meet-monarch/rise/" title="https://www.aph.org/meet-monarch/rise/">
<span style="color:black">Monarch RISE: Resources for Inclusion, Skills, and Employment</span></a>. This project seeks to assess the impact of
<a href="https://www.aph.org/meet-monarch/" title="Original URL: https://www.aph.org/meet-monarch/. Click or tap if you trust this link.">
<span style="color:black">the Monarch</span></a> - an innovative braille/tactile graphics technology - in achieving and maintaining competitive integrated employment. Over the 5-year project, 250 Monarchs will be distributed cost-free to employment and educational
professionals, individuals seeking competitive integrated employment, and blind professionals as coaches across the United States. Monarch recipients will be provided training on the use of the device. To provide more details about this initiative, we are
hosting two virtual information sessions to accommodate your schedule.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">These sessions will offer an overview of the program objectives, expectations of the Monarch recipients, and benefits for you, as well as an opportunity to ask
questions and learn how to participate. Each link below sends you to a Zoom registration; feel free to share it with other blind professionals around the US. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">Session Options:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">Session 1:
<a href="https://aph.zoom.us/meeting/register/RoZKq0z_RDGcQYlCL5p6kw" title="https://aph.zoom.us/meeting/register/RoZKq0z_RDGcQYlCL5p6kw">
<span style="color:black">January 29, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, Eastern Time Zone</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">Session 2:
<a href="https://aph.zoom.us/meeting/register/a_AxJm2sRTC4TRGxAbQGnA" title="https://aph.zoom.us/meeting/register/a_AxJm2sRTC4TRGxAbQGnA">
<span style="color:black">January 30, 2:00 - 3:00 pm, Eastern Time Zone</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">APH is excited to partner with blind professionals to help demonstrate how this innovative braille/graphics technology can increase employment options and opportunities
for individuals who are blind, especially those of transition age. And we believe this will be an excellent opportunity to support your own professional growth with a Monarch. We encourage you to attend one of these sessions to learn more. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at
<a href="mailto:RISE@aph.org" title="RISE@aph.org"><span style="color:black">RISE@aph.org</span></a>. We look forward to connecting with you and exploring how this endeavor can benefit you and blind individuals seeking competitive employment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">Best regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">Leanne Grillot, Richard Rueda, Erin Sigmund, and Greg Stilson<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The contents of this email and advertised virtual information session were developed under a grant number H21F240052 from the Department of Education. However,
those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. §§ 1221e-3 and 3474)</span></i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <i>100%
of the total costs of APH’s DIF-F project will be financed by the $10 million grant. No percentage of the total costs of the project will be financed by non-governmental sources.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">American Printing House</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.85pt;text-indent:.85pt;line-height:14.4pt"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">1839 Frankfort Avenue • Louisville, KY 40206</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.85pt;text-indent:.85pt;line-height:14.4pt"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Website: aph.org</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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