American Printing House for the Blind Federal Quota Funds

American Printing House for the Blind Federal Quota Funds

It is important for users of the CIMC to understand the fiscal timelines and allocation considerations of the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) quota funds. The program allocates funds to educational programs based on the number of students registered with the APH. The funds are placed in Federal Quota accounts, which are managed by APH and its Ex Officio Trustees. Jim Olson is the Ex Officio Trustee for eligible Colorado children ages 0-21 years.

Students who meet the definition of blindness as determined by an eye care specialist or medical doctor are eligible for APH quota funds. Students must be enrolled in a public or private, nonprofit educational program that is less than college level.

Eligible children and youth who are newly registered with the APH quota funds do not automatically generate quota funds but must wait until a new cycle of funding. Established eligible children and youth generate quota funds and will do so per an approved annual allocation. APH federal funds are finite and as the count numbers grow or decline nationally, the child-specific allocation amounts will change across funding cycles.

While the APH quota funds are invaluable to support the braille book and instructional material needs of eligible children and youth with visual impairment, including blindness or deaf-blindness, they are not sufficient to meet the full early intervention and school-based instructional needs of these learners. They are designed to supplement family-funded homeschool and early intervention or public-school program budgets for such materials. The Ex Officio Trustee has the prerogative to make decisions on filling APH orders based on the allocation generated by eligible children and youth, and the resources within the CIMC repository.