Accessible Test

Braille DateBook Calendar 2010

(Completed)
Request for catalog and associated part numbers placed in January for the 2010 product. Tooling information turned over to Braille Translation in February. Tooling proofed and approved in March. Requested sales forecast and provided Production with information to have the product placed into the production queue and will continue to monitor it through the completed production run. Production scheduled for July 2009; was completed in August due to workload in Braille Production areas and problems embossing the Calendar Tabs.

Braille DateBook 2010 Calendar Tabs

(Completed)
Requested catalog number in January for the 2010 product. Copies of the 2009 Calendar turned over for plate tooling in mid February. After the plates for making the embossed Calendar Tabs were produced, Technical Research checked and found the margins to be incorrect. Plates were returned with the specific correction noted. Requested sales forecast and provided Production with information to have the product placed into the production queue and will continue to monitor it through the completed production run. Production scheduled for July 2009 was completed in August due to problems embossing the braille into the plastic substrate. Technical Research worked with Production to find the solution to the problem of low braille.

Braille Docking Station

(Continued)
This item is used with the Braille+ and will be a pass through item. A meeting was held in May to map out and organize a product development plan. Negotiations regarding purchase price and quantities for this item were initiated. Technical Research will continue to monitor this item through its first production run.

Brigance Green: Large Print Edition

(Continued)
Product competed and stocked in September 2008. Production debriefing meeting held in November. Other than some delays in production until corrections could be made to the IGEN to address skewed color tones, no problems were reported.

Brigance Yellow

(Continued)
Technical Research met with the Project Leader in a series of brain storming meetings on this series of products. Technical Research furnished the Project Leader with samples and examples of various paper and other materials to be considered for printing, various storage devices from other kits to be considered, a new concept drawing for a single-sided polyblend folder for packaging, and options on binding in October. The Project Leader is currently examining/evaluating these samples. The Project Leader initially rejected the idea of a single-sided folder to be bound with the book. However, after hand-making sample folders and passing them around in December, it was decided to pursue a 1-off prototype sample fabricated by a vendor in the polyblend material. Technical Research has not received any updates on this product. No additional information to report.

Building on Patterns 1^st Grade

(Continued)
Technical Research working with information received from the Graphics Designer, the Assistant Director of Research, and Braille Translation in developing product specifications for each of Units 1 through 4. Each unit has eight individual parts, so this covered 32 individual product specifications that were turned over to Production in June. This included an additional item that added four more product specifications for the Lesson Monitoring Sheets. There is still another item, an eighth volume to incorporate Introductory Materials and the Index, but it will not be completed until all of the seven units are done. In addition, no work has been started on product specifications for the Posttest Materials, which will be three individual parts for each of the seven units. Technical Research continues to work on the specifications for the components for Units 5, 6, and 7 as information becomes available, as well as monitoring the work being done on the production floor.

Building on Patterns Grade 2

(Continued)
Grade 2 materials are being composed by the Project Leader and consultants as work for Grade 1 Units 5, 6, and 7 are being completed. Technical Research will begin working on developing product specifications as information is received on the individual parts.

Child Guided Strategies (Van Dijk assessment)

(New)
The Project Leader said that sample prototype copies of this product were needed for a conference scheduled for April. Technical Research conducted a meeting with Production in February to map out a plan for producing this product in time for the conference. Technical Research designed a “mini-spec” to facilitate the production and worked with the Graphics Department, Mastering, the Project Leader, and other Production areas to coordinate efforts required to meet the deadline. In late February/early March it was learned the conference was cancelled, so work on this project is continuing, but at a normal pace since there is no longer a deadline.

Consumable Number Lines, Braille/Tactile

(Completed)
Following the completion of specifications and monitoring of a successful first production run, a production debriefing was held in November 2008. Difficulties reported involved taping/sealing the cardboard mailer. This led to a decision to design a mailer that requires less effort to form and seal. After samples from several box vendors were obtained, Technical Research conducted a poll among production departments as to which style would require the least amount of effort in completing the packaging operation. This mailer is currently used for three products, and will be used for another currently in development. The selected box is made of white corrugated cardboard and is made in a style that allows it to be used to both ship and store the product once received. The cost of the new mailer is actually less than the original brown cardboard folded-over mailer. The new mailer will be ordered prior to the next production run of this product. There are no other issues to report.