Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D): Educational audiobooks for students with visual impairment, dyslexia or learning disabilities

 

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D): Educational audiobooks for students with visual impairment, dyslexia or learning disabilities

 

For nearly 60 years, RFB&D has been an invaluable educational resource, enabling those with print disabilities to complete their educations, advance their careers, and gain self-esteem.

RFB&D was established in 1948 by Anne T. Macdonald to provide recorded textbooks to veterans blinded in World War II. We were legally incorporated in 1951.

RFB&D's materials are for all people who cannot effectively read standard print because of a visual impairment, learning disability or other physical disability.

More than 70 percent of those served by RFB&D last year were identified as having a learning disability. This member population is growing rapidly as serious learning disabilities are better diagnosed.

In fiscal year 2007, more than 7,071 volunteers, working in RFB&D's 29 recording studios across the United States, contributed 388,935 hours of their time recording 6,189 new titles. There are numerous volunteer opportunities available throughout our nationwide locations.

In fiscal year 2007, RFB&D distributed 502,501 recorded textbooks to 185,235 members around the world.

With more than 37,000 digitally-recorded titles in our CV Starr Learning Through Listening® Library, RFB&D is the top producer in the world of audio textbooks for people who can't effectively read standard print.

RFB&D's AudioAccessSM enables downloading of audio textbooks from the Internet for playback on either a Windows computer or a Windows-compatible portable media player

RFB&D's AudioPlus® digitally recorded textbooks on CD are providing members with unprecedented navigation through their extraordinary portability and ability to be navigated by page, chapter or section at the press of a button. Studies conducted by Johns Hopkins University revealed a 38 percent increase in content acquisition for students with learning disabilities who use RFB&D's AudioPlus digitally recorded textbooks.

Besides audiobooks in all academic areas, RFB&D's special collections include medicine, environmental issues, law, women's studies, Jewish studies, literature and fiction.

RFB&D offers both RFB&D's Learning Through Listening Individual and Institutional Memberships.

Institutional memberships are valid for 12 months from the day the school joins. Institutional members may borrow a set number of audio textbooks based on a chosen membership level.

Individual membership entitles members to unlimited access to RFB&D's library and a reference librarian service.

RFB&D audiobooks are password-protected digitally-recorded on CD and downloadable audio textbooks, to comply with US copyright law.

Portable and desktop CD players and computer software designed to play RFB&D's AudioPlus CDs and AudioAccess audio textbooks are available for purchase directly through RFB&D.