Help for the APH Directory of Services / Directory Center

What Is the Difference Between the Directory of Services and the Directory Center?

APH calls the database that lists your agency’s information the “Directory of Services.” The “Directory Center” is the place where your agency staff members will log in to an administration area to update your information. The general public does not access the Directory Center. The APH Directory of Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons in the United States and Canada is a free-of-charge, searchable database containing contact information for over 2,000 organizations and agencies that serve people who are blind or visually impaired in the United States and Canada. It is offered by the American Printing House for the Blind (APH).

Creating a Listing for the First Time

If your blindness-related agency is not yet listed in the Directory of Services, we encourage you to add a free-of-charge listing! To be listed, please visit the Directory Center login page and click on “Sign Up.” Here you will be asked to provide a brief description of the services you offer for people who are blind or visually impaired. After you submit the form, APH staff will determine if you are eligible for listing in the Directory. Agencies that are eligible for listing in the Directory will be contacted via email and with be provided with user names and passwords with instructions on how to access their records in the Directory Center. We encourage you to update your listing regularly.

Logging into the Directory Center and Resetting Your Password

To log into the Directory Center, go to the login page and fill out all required information. If you forget your username or your password, please click on the “Forgot Password” link, and we will send you your password. Please note that you will be required to provide an email address to which the password will be sent. Our system will only send passwords to email addresses associated with the agencies in the database. If you want to change your password, you may do so by going into the Account Setting section of your agency’s record.

Functions in the Directory Center

After logging in, you will see several sections that allow you to update your information, including the following: Home, General Information, Services, Products, News, and Account Settings.

Home

In this section you will see all the addresses and telephone numbers associated with your agency's record and links to your various listings on APH's websites:

• Your APH Directory of Services listing is your profile on APH ConnectCenter (www.APHConnectCenter.org). This profile includes general information about your agency and a description of all the services you offer for all age groups as well as any events, or announcements you post.

General Information

In this section, you may add or edit your mailing, website, and e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and other general information about your organization such as eligibility requirements, staff, number of clients served, and ages served.

You may also use this section to provide a brief narrative about your organization and list your additional offices and contact persons for your organization.

Services

In this section, you may add to or edit your list of services and provide descriptions for each. There are four main service categories under which you may add services: Services for Children, Services for Adults and Seniors, Services for Professionals, and Services for Jobseekers.

Products

This section is only available to product distributors and manufacturers. In this section, you may add the products you manufacture or distribute. The products you add to your record will be listed with your profile in the APH Directory of Services on APH's main website (www.aphconnectcenter.org).

News

In this section, you may view and edit your current events and announcements or add new ones. Your announcements and events will be posted in the calendar of events and announcements on APH's websites. You have the option to designate the website on which the event or announcement will be posted.

Account Settings

You may use this section to change your username and password. This section also records the date and name of the last person from your agency to update your record.

Further Assistance with the Directory Center and the Directory of Services

If you need further assistance, please contact Alan Lovell, APH’s Information & Referral Coordinator:
aphdirectory@aph.org