<div dir="ltr"><div>hello:</div><div> i would love to get in on this program but i also feel i need to share it with all of you. getting your hands on one of these devices may put your blind students ahead of  all their peers. lucy<span style="font-size:11.0pt"></span></div><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div><div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple" style="word-wrap:break-word"><div><div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Leanne Grillot <<a href="mailto:lgrillot@aph.org" target="_blank">lgrillot@aph.org</a>>
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<b>Sent:</b> Monday, January 6, 2025 12:44 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <br>
<b>Cc:</b> Richard Rueda <<a href="mailto:rrueda@aph.org" target="_blank">rrueda@aph.org</a>>; Erin Sigmund <<a href="mailto:esigmund@aph.org" target="_blank">esigmund@aph.org</a>>; Greg Stilson <<a href="mailto:gstilson@aph.org" target="_blank">gstilson@aph.org</a>>; Paul Schroeder <<a href="mailto:pschroeder@aph.org" target="_blank">pschroeder@aph.org</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Monarch RISE Meeting of Interested Organizations and Universities<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#3b204d">Dear Organization or University,</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#3b204d">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.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#3b204d">Please join us to learn more about the Monarch RISE: Resources for Inclusion, Skills, and Employment. 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." target="_blank">
<span style="color:#3b204d">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 and individuals seeking competitive integrated employment 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.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#3b204d">These sessions will offer an overview of the program objectives, expectations of the Monarch recipients, and benefits for your staff, 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 others in your organization, with other organizations around the US, as well as Universities. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#3b204d">Session Options:</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#3b204d">Session 1:</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#763e9b"> <a href="https://aph.zoom.us/meeting/register/IgH0hXY1S72ltEJmb8DWdQ" title="https://aph.zoom.us/meeting/register/IgH0hXY1S72ltEJmb8DWdQ" target="_blank">January
 15, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, Eastern Time Zone</a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#3b204d">Session 2:</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#763e9b"><a href="https://aph.zoom.us/meeting/register/v45WrW8mSfyK5Y5bXLRqMg" title="https://aph.zoom.us/meeting/register/v45WrW8mSfyK5Y5bXLRqMg" target="_blank"> January
 16, 2:00 - 3:00 pm, Eastern Time Zone</a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#3b204d">APH is excited to partner with organizations 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 the professional growth and effectiveness of your team. We encourage you or a designated representative to attend one of these
 sessions to learn more. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#3b204d">If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at
<a href="mailto:esigmund@aph.org" title="esigmund@aph.org" target="_blank">esigmund@aph.org</a>. We look forward to connecting with you and exploring how this endeavor can benefit your agency.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#3b204d">Best regards,</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#3b204d">Leanne Grillot, Richard Rueda, Erin Sigmund, and Greg Stilson</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p style="background:white"><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> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p><b>_{<span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">­­­</span>}</b><b>_{<span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" width="90" height="108" style="width:.9375in;height:1.125in" id="m_6999046355594542293m_-6338095739452805374Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:ii_194430a7fff1d484cc11" alt="APH_"></span>}</b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#201f1e"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p style="margin-left:.85pt;text-indent:.85pt"><b><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Leanne Grillot</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#201f1e"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.85pt;text-indent:.85pt;line-height:14.4pt"><i><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Senior Director of Outreach Services</span></i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#201f1e"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.85pt;text-indent:.85pt;line-height:14.4pt"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">502.899.2229</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#201f1e"><u></u><u></u></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"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.85pt;text-indent:.85pt;line-height:14.4pt"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Website: <a href="http://aph.org" target="_blank">aph.org</a></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#201f1e"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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