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SQUID: Tactile Activities Magazine [Issue 6]

(Completed)
Purpose

To continue the development of new issues of SQUID: Tactile Activities Magazine which feature an assortment of activities for developing young children's tactile skills within a recreational context.

Project Staff

Karen J. Poppe, Project Leader/Tactile and Visual Designer

Monica Vaught, Research Assistant

Tom Poppe, Pattern/Model Maker

Katherine Corcoran, Pattern/Model Maker

David McGee, Technical Assistant

Bisig Impact Group, Layout of Print Activities Booklet
Background

The premier issue SQUID: Tactile Activities Magazine debuted in FY 2005. This magazine series is intended to encourage young children's development of important tactile skills within a recreational context. Each issue's activities reflect a variety of tactile methods such as thermoform, embossed paper, and thermography for the purpose of familiarizing young children with a variety of raised-line images. Visual counterparts of all the tactile activities are included as well with the expectation that they could be used by peers with low vision and sighted parents, teachers, and siblings. The positive reception of the first issue of the SQUID series provided the momentum to continue its development and production; nearly 1000 issues were sold in less than a year's time. Unlike a “subscription” ordering method, customers simply order the number of SQUID issues for their children/students that they need. The premier and all future issues of SQUID will be available for future generations of children to enjoy. SQUID issues will hopefully become commonplace in home settings where the children can acquire early tactile skills within a relaxed atmosphere with their family and friends.

A timeline for SQUID: Issue 6 was established by the Product Development Committee in October 2007. The original goal of producing two issues of SQUID: Tactile Activities Magazine per year was modified to one issue per year due to the popularity of previous issues demanding production floor time.
During the second and third quarters of the fiscal year, the project leader originated new activities for SQUID: Issue 6 and finished documentation that encompassed the design of both the print and tactile activities, as well as the content updates for the "Solutions" section of the magazine.
Early tooling activities reflected the following timeline of events:
July

• 
  Project leader opened a job ticket with the outside graphic designer to prepare final layout design of the print activity booklet and turned over final documentation.
  
• 
  Braille text and layout of thermoformed activities were delivered to the Model Shop.
  
• 
  Project leader prepared brailling instructions for the paper-embossed activities.
  
• 
  Braille Order Forms were issued for the tooling of the paper-embossed and Green Machine-produced activities.
  

August

• 
  Outside graphic designer provided first proofs of the layout of the print booklet.
  
• 
  Project leader and research assistant reviewed proofs from the graphic designer.
  
• 
  Part numbers were assigned to product components.
  

September

• 
  Final layout of print guidebook and related cover art was proofed and approved by the project leader and research assistant.
  
• 
  Technical assistant prepared final specifications document.
  

Work during FY 2009

Tooling completion of the activities booklet, thermoform masters, and braille plates for SQUID: Issue 6 was completed ahead of schedule, before the beginning of FY 2009. Consequently, most of FY 2009 was awaiting the production of the new issue. The activities included in this new issue are the following:

Across the Pond

Best Seat in the House

BIRDS Word Search

Caught in the Web

Give Me a Vowel

HOT AIR BALLOON Coloring Page

It’s Okay to be Square

Lucky Lady Bugs

Making Tracks

Mind Your Ps and Qs

Name Calling

On the Fence

On the Straight and Narrow

On Top of Spaghetti

Piñata Party

Purr-fect Trap

Rainforest Residents

Sea Life Sequence

Snow Buddies

Star Maze

Tricky Triangles

Two Faced

Watermelon Wager

What’s the Hang Up

Word Play
Delayed by the production of higher priority projects, as well as some lost file and collation problems in the production area specific to Issue 6, an expected January availability was not feasible. An official “AIRPLANE” announcing the availability of SQUID: Issue 6 occurred on May 15, 2009. The selling price assigned was $53.00. For the APH Newsletter announcement, go to http://www.aph.org/advisory/2009adv06.html
Post-production activities included preparing brochure content, showcasing the product a workshop/conferences, and initiating work on SQUID [Issue7].
Work planned for FY 2010

As encouraged by the field, the project staff will continue the development of additional SQUID issues.

SQUID: Tactile Activities Magazine [Issue 7]

(New)
Purpose

To continue the development of new issues of SQUID: Tactile Activities Magazine which feature an assortment of activities for developing young children's tactile skills within a recreational context.

Project Staff

Karen J. Poppe, Project Leader/Tactile and Visual Designer

Background

The premier issue SQUID: Tactile Activities Magazine debuted in FY 2005. This magazine series is intended to encourage young children's development of important tactile skills within a recreational context. Each issue's activities reflect a variety of tactile methods such as thermoform, embossed paper, and thermography for the purpose of familiarizing young children with a variety of raised-line images. Visual counterparts of all the tactile activities are included as well with the expectation that they could be used by peers with low vision and sighted parents, teachers, and siblings. The momentum to continue the development and production of the SQUID series increased following the positive reception of the first issue; nearly 1000 issues were sold in less than a year's time. Unlike a “subscription” ordering method, customers are able to order the number of SQUID issues for their children/students that they need. The premier issue and all future issues of SQUID are planned to be available for future generations of children to enjoy. SQUID issues will hopefully become commonplace in home settings where the children can acquire early tactile skills within a relaxed atmosphere with their family and friends.

A timeline for SQUID: Issue 7 was established by the Product Development Committee. The original goal of producing two issues of SQUID: Tactile Activities Magazine per year was modified to one issue per year due to the popularity of previous issues demanding production floor time.
Work during FY 2009

Project leader initiated work on the creation of new activities for SQUID: Issue 7. These activities, like those included in earlier issues, represent a variety of tasks (e.g., coloring pages, find the differences, hidden pictures, simple mazes, and puzzles). Due to intensive work on higher priority and more challenging projects (e.g., Sense of Science: Astronomy and Tactile Town: 3-D O&M Kit), the project leader’s efforts on SQUID: Issue 7 were interrupted.

Work planned for FY 2010

The project leader will complete the design of 25 new activities for SQUID: Issue 7. Full-fledged tooling of thermoform masters, braille plates, and layout of the Activities Booklet will be completed. The project leader will conduct a PDC meeting to update the product timeline based on new dates of tooling and specification completion. The project leader will monitor the pilot and production runs. Post-production activities will include preparing marking information, showcasing the product at workshops/conferences, and initiating work on SQUID: Issue 8.