Monarch: Thriving Beyond the Classroom

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APH is proud to introduce the Monarch, a revolutionary multiline Braille display transforming the information age landscape for blind and low vision adults. With its innovative design, the Monarch is not just a device; it’s a beacon of inclusivity, empowering college students to thrive in universities where barriers have hindered equality. Imagine the joy of exploring thousands of searchable tactile graphics with your fingertips, igniting curiosity and fostering creativity. Adult learners can also access cutting-edge graphics for career exploration and greater awareness of tangible objects.

Benefits of the Monarch

While the Monarch is designed to excel in educational settings, its capabilities extend far beyond the classroom walls. Working-age adults can leverage the Monarch’s strengths to:

• Stay Engaged with Reading: Access books, articles, and other reading materials in braille format to ensure continued access to information and lifelong learning.
• Enhance Professional Communication: Give public presentations using the multi-line display for reading and editing material. Keep pace with colleagues and enhance independence in the workplace.
• Explore Creative Outlets: Delve into the world of tactile graphics, reigniting creativity and artistic expression.
• Maintain Mathematical Proficiency: Utilize the built-in graphing calculator to graph data and solve equations, bolstering analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Engage in Games:  Access tangible activities, including chess.
• Access Information on the Go: The Monarch’s portability lets users stay informed when connected to a laptop. Promote independence and social inclusion.

In essence, the Monarch empowers adult learners to remain active participants in an information-rich world, fostering independence, communication and continued learning.

Why Monarch?

Jessica Minneci, APH’s Communications Associate, describes how the multi-line Monarch and its text-to-speech feature help her edit blogs for work and novels outside of the office. Read more about Jessica’s Monarch experiences.

Danielle Burton, APH’s Communications Accessibility Editor, is DeafBlind and has been waiting for a device to level the playing field for individuals who rely on braille — enter the Monarch. The Tactile Viewer, an app providing access to APH’s Tactile Graphics Library, is Danielle’s favorite feature of the Monarch. She enjoys viewing diagrams of concepts learned in school on the Monarch. Read more about how Danielle thinks the Monarch will level the playing field.

Leslie Weilbacher, APH’s Regional Outreach Specialist for the Northwest region, shares her insights on how the Monarch can support professionals across various career fields:

• It benefits any field requiring spatial charts and graphs, such as data analysis. The tactile viewer and scientific graphing calculator enhance the ability to interpret these charts. Users can zoom in on specific parts of a graph for detailed analysis or zoom out for a broader understanding, allowing for instant equation manipulation to see how changes affect the slope of a line.
• Fields involving editing formats, such as website design, book editing, magazines, or newspapers, can utilize the word processor for structuring paragraphs and layouts.
• In computer science, the braille editor is advantageous for coding and programming, enabling users to write and edit multiple lines of code while preserving spatial elements often lost with single-line views. The point-and-click touch gesture allows precise cursor placement within a line without losing the overall context of the code section.

Rob Harris, a parent and member of the FamilyConnect Parent Advisory Board who homeschools his teen daughter. My daughter is a bright and curious blind teen, full of dreams and potential. However, she faces unique challenges in accessing and interacting with educational materials. The Monarch offers a revolutionary solution that can transform her learning experience and open up a world of possibilities.

• The tablet provides tactile feedback, allowing her to interact with graphics and diagrams through touch, which is particularly beneficial for subjects like mathematics and science.
• It supports braille input and output, enriching her academic and personal development by enabling her to read and write efficiently.
• The Monarch empowers her to explore and learn independently, boosting her confidence and showing her that she can overcome challenges and achieve her goals.
• Its interactive features make learning an adventure, enhancing her understanding and retention of complex concepts.
• The tablet allows for personalized education plans, ensuring Isabelle receives the most effective and appropriate education possible.
• It integrates seamlessly with other assistive technologies, creating a cohesive learning ecosystem that supports her journey.

This remarkable tool is more than just a learning aid; it is a gateway to a world of opportunities, helping my daughter bridge the gap between her and her peers and paving the way for her to achieve her full potential and beyond.

As a professional working with a student, there are many possibilities to support your student’s access to education and increase independence. TVIs will have the ability to work with their students to access Bookshare, tactile graphics, and skills needed for graphic calculators. This will support changes in teacher or class plans and allow students to adjust to the changes in real-time.

Monarch Pricing and Funding Options

At the time of publication, the Monarch Product Page on APH’s website states, “APH is currently accepting backorders on our website from federal quota customers only. For all other presales, reach out to [email protected] for more information. Devices will ship in September.”

The Federal Quota Program is the primary way access technology is made available to school-aged students who are blind, low vision or deafblind in the United States. You can read more about the Federal Quota Program here. If you would like more information about the quota program, the appropriation that funds it, or to learn about ways you can advocate for students served by the Federal Quota Program, please contact Erin Sigmund, Community Relations and Policy Advisor, at [email protected].

Beyond the Federal Quota Program, here are some additional options to consider for financially supporting obtaining a Monarch.

• Braille readers with open cases through the Vocational Rehabilitation or the Veterans Administration can advocate for procuring a Monarch on their behalf.
• Connect with service organizations such as Lions Clubs and other community-based organizations that may help with cost-sharing or savings assistance.
• Utilize ABLE accounts, tax-advantaged savings accounts, that can fund disability expenses. Individuals or family members can contribute to these accounts.
• A Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) is a program offered by the Social Security Administration as part of Supplemental Security Income (SSI). It is designed to help individuals with disabilities return to work. If you are currently receiving SSI benefits, or you would qualify for them by setting aside income or resources to pursue a work goal, you may be able to benefit from a PASS. This could be another option to explore for Monarch funding.
• The Rural Technology Fund is another organization that may be able to assist or cover the cost of procuring a Monarch.

Advocating Starts with Knowledge

The first step in advocating for your child or family member is being knowledgeable about the Monarch. The Monarch has the potential to support many skills within assistive technology, independence, braille, tactile graphic literacy, and many more. Here are a few examples:

• Braille literacy: Students may test below grade level when it comes to reading fluency due to the limitation of reading single-line braille. The Monarch has the potential to support students using both hands to increase how many words per minute they can read.
• Independence: Students will have the opportunity to learn and develop skills needed to access tactile graphics, adjust to changes in real-time as their instruction changes, and the ability to share digital information with their teachers.
• Math skills: Students have the potential to work through their math skills in uncontracted, contracted Nemeth or UEB math allowing them to choose their preferred format. The graphing scientific calculator will allow a student to graph tactile functions on demand as well as the potential ability to share the file, in print, with their teacher.

As the Monarch continues it’s metamorphosis, it is key to stay up to date on new skills and updates to this revolutionary product. Be sure to follow the Monarch’s journey on Facebook, and Instagram and sign up for APH newsletter.

Learn More

Meet the Monarch

APH Monarch Product Page