Q. Am I eligible to utilize IPI Express Braille?
A. Express Braille is a resource for qualified organizations or individuals working with braille readers:
- Tax-supported institutions and government subdivisions, including state, county and city agencies, and school districts.
- Non-profit groups, including churches, fraternal organizations, and parochial schools.
- Employees of eligible institutions agencies, and organizations.
- Exception: Iowa K-12 educators should use the dedicated Braille on Demand website bod.iaprisonind.com provided in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Education.
Q. How will I receive my Express Braille order?
A. Express Braille offers two options for receipt of your order:
- Electronic: You will receive an electronic file via email of your transcribed documents.
- Embossed: You will receive embossed braille pages via UPS ground.
Q. How much will my Express Braille order cost?
A. Express Braille costs $9.90 per page of material you supply to be transcribed. Shipping charges will also apply if you choose to have your order embossed. Payment can be made with MasterCard or Visa upon order placement.
Q. When will I receive my Express Braille order?
A. Orders submitted before 9am CST will be emailed by 9am the next business day or shipped within one business day via UPS Ground. Orders submitted after 9am CST will be emailed by 9am the second business day or shipped within two business days via UPS Ground. Standard UPS Ground delivery times apply from Anamosa, Iowa.
Q. How many pages can I order through Express Braille?
A. The maximum pages allowed per braille reader per day is ten. For quantities
larger than ten pages, please contact Lucas Timpe at Iowa Prison Industries Braille at 800-332-7922 or
ipibraille@iowa.gov for an
estimate outside of these services.
Q. Who performs the braille transcription?
A. Offender trainees, supervised by Iowa Prison Industries' staff, perform the braille transcription. Offenders receive extensive training and are certified by The Library of Congress - National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. View the About Us page for more information.
Q. Do my tax dollars support IPI?
A.
Iowa Prison Industries is a self-supporting division of the Iowa Department of Corrections. Revenue from the sale of products pays for all costs of operation, including civilian salaries, offender allowances, raw materials, and equipment. No tax dollars are appropriated by the legislature.
Q. What types of files can I upload for transcription?
A.The Express Braille website accepts most common document formats including, but not limited to, PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, JPG, PNG, GIF, etc.
Q. Where will my embossed Express Braille order ship from?
A.
Your order will ship from our Anamosa warehouse.
Q. How do I request a quote for larger braille transcription projects?
A. Please contact Lucas Timpe at ipibraille@iowa.gov or 800-332-7922.
Q. Can I get a tour of your facilities?
A.
Customers are welcome to visit IPI facilities to see our shops in action, place orders or discuss special needs. Please contact Lucas Timpe at ipibraille@iowa.gov or 800-332-7922 to set up an appointment and review tour policies.
Q. How can I find out the status of my order?
A.
IPI understands how important your order delivery date is to you. Please contact Lucas Timpe at ipibraille@iowa.gov or 800-332-7922.