1

60 Years of Innovation, Leadership and Success

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic®

2

RFB&D Commitment

Our Vision:

For all people to have equal access to the printed word.

Our Mission:

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, a nonprofit volunteer organization, is the nation’s educational library serving people who cannot effectively read standard print because of a visual impairment, a learning disability or other physical disability. Our mission is to create opportunities for individual success by providing and promoting the effective use of accessible educational materials.

RFB&D Vision and Mission

3

RFB&D Commitment

Our Vision:

For all people to have equal access to the printed word.

Our Mission:

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, a nonprofit volunteer organization, is the nation’s educational library serving people who cannot effectively read standard print because of a visual impairment, a learning disability or other physical disability. Our mission is to create opportunities for individual success by providing and promoting the effective use of accessible educational materials.

RFB&D Vision and Mission

4

60 Years of Innovation, Leadership and Success

60 Years of Innovation

60 Years of Leadership Setting the DAISY Standard

Impactful Research

Best Library of Audio Textbooks

The right books at the right time

Best in Quality Production

Best Member Relations/Support

Best Teacher/Student Support

60 Years of Success

RFB&D’s Overview

5

60 Years of Innovation

1948 - Anne T. Macdonald founds Recording for the Blind (RFB); Dedicated volunteers record textbooks onto vinyl

1950’s - RFB expands nationwide

1960’s – Converted library from vinyl to reel-to-reel and then to cassette tape

1980’s – RFB computerized operations and developed high-speed tape duplication

1990’s – RFB changes name to Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic to reflect increased membership of people with learning disabilities

2000’s – RFB&D goes digital

“In the information age, access to information is a basic human right.”

--George Kerscher, RFB&D Sr. Officer for Accessible Information

“Education is a right, not a privilege”

--Anne T. MacDonald, Founder RFB

6

Leader in Customer Satisfaction

AudioPlus CD format Human-narrated DAISY navigation on specialized hardware/software player Convenient; portable for use anytime, anywhere

AudioAccess Downloadable/instant access to a PC or commercial player Human-narrated No specialized playback equipment Convenient; portable for use anytime, anywhere

NIMAC/NIMAS Full Text/Full Audio synchronization with publisher images Timely delivery of content DAISY navigation on specialized software player Enhanced content will include Human-narration of figure

descriptions with images

RFB&D Offers Choices

7

Leader in NIMAC/NIMAS Solution

RFB&D and NIMAC/NIMAS RFB&D is an Accessible Media Producer (AMP) providing student-

ready instructional materials in the NIMAS format.

Speedy delivery to state & students

Delivery of content on CD for easy management

Provides portability for students on hardware devices for audio-only playback

RFB&D offers many of the core textbooks in navigable audio format that predate the “published” date required for publishers to submit files to the NIMAC.

The text portion can be read with tools that students may already have.

8

Leader in NIMAC/NIMAS Solution

RFB&D and NIMAC/NIMAS

Timely Delivery of Content

Synthetic speech audio and full text synchronized at the sentence level with publisher images

Producing K-3 textbooks through human narration to deliver highest quality product to beginning readers

Enhanced NIMAC product

Replacing synthetic speech version with human narrated audio including figure descriptions

Human narration results in listener hearing content with proper voice inflection, pace and pronunciation

9

Leader in Research & Development

Leading the development of the standards

RFB&D was integral in the development and adoption of the standard that is now known as DAISY

D – Digital

A – Accessible

I – Information

SY - System 

10

Leader in Demonstrated Results

Impactful Research: RFB&D changes livesRFB&D commissions primary research and case studies to document

learning outcomes of children with print and learning disabilities use our audiobooks

Rutgers University, Johns Hopkins, Tufts, Rutgers, Baltimore City Public Schools

Students with learning disabilities showed a 38% increase in content acquisition and demonstrated significant achievement gains

Increase in word recognition

Increase in reading comprehension

Improved reading rate; increased reading accuracyStudents achieved significant increases in standard scores for these essential reading skills:

Listening comprehension

Phonological analysis

Blending and reading comprehension

11

Leader in Cataloging and Referencing

RFB&D has over 45,000 digitally recorded titles RFB&D works with key textbook publishers for K-12 and college levels.

Textbook titles from the top three K-12 publishers: Houghton Mifflin, McGraw-Hill, Pearson form the core of our collection

Collection development librarians select core novels and award winning literature titles

On-line catalog offers easy to use searching and subject/keyword searching

RFB&D anticipates requests ahead of need to provide the “right books at the right time”

Over 6,500 new books produced annually; this year 9,000 added to the library

Textbooks

Literature,SupplementalMaterial

65%

35%

12

Leader in Quality Production

Exceptional quality and efficiency

Centralized production & planning coordinates books, facilities and volunteers

30 specialized recording studios across the nation 190 recording booths 7,000 volunteer readers

Best practice processes Standardized production tools developed and patented by RFB&D, used in all

studios Standardized reading conventions followed by all volunteers at all studios All books read by human content experts

– Superior quality reading for text

» Appropriate emphasis and cadence

» Increases comprehension

– Subject-matter experts

» Describe charts, maps, illustrations

» Can’t be duplicated by synthesized voice

13

Leader in Member Support

Providing over 200,000 members with exceptional service

24/7 online Access to extensive library, playback devices, and account management

Member Services support, Reference Librarian services and Product Support

Personal support through our 30 nationwide locations

Free web-based teacher training and other classroom support materials

National Achievement Awards totaling more than $50,000 per year for students with print disabilities

Convenient online membership registration and renewal available

14

Leader in Teacher Assistance

Teacher-focused website resources

The Learning Through Listening® website created by teachers for teachers

Lesson plans

Classroom strategies and activities

Graphic organizers

Resources and strategies for parents and teachers to foster effective and successful use of audiobooks

Information about teaching philosophies such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Presentation explaining the theory and basic “how-to’s” of Differentiated Instruction with overviews, examples and activities

15

Leader in Student Support

Our choice of digital books allows students with print disabilities to access the general education curriculum at the same time as their peers.

By enabling students to meet higher academic goals and achieve greater levels of academic success, students gain greater self-confidence and self-esteem.

Our audio textbooks increase independence and flexibility by empowering students to work on assignments independently in the classroom or at home.

Member Services, websites

Program Benefits for Students

16

Leader in Student Support

Compliments the existing curriculum in all subject areas providing access to the general curriculum.

Teacher Training and Support Materials

Supports classroom management; Teachers can use audio textbooks as a tool for students to continue working independently on assignments.

RFB&D’s audiobooks help to minimize the one-on-one instructional time a teacher may spend reading textbooks to students.

Students are more engaged with the text and classroom activity.

Program Benefits for Teachers

17

RFB&D Building Confidence, Independence and Success

60 Years of Success When students with print disabilities can listen and

learn independently. That’s success!

When they can tackle the same curriculum content as

their peers. That’s success!

When they have access to learning opportunities

that enable them to pursue their own education and

professional dreams. That’s success!

While we lend these learners audiobooks, the confidence, independence and success they develop are theirs to keep for a lifetime!

18

Our Measure of Success

“RFB&D is an empowerment. When you start to educate yourself, you realize what a blessing – What a treasure it is.” Paul Stankard, Mantua, NJ, Donor and Member

“RFB&D offers such a wonderful service. The program is invaluable to so many people on so many different levels.” Joan Brown, West Windsor, NJ, Mother

“Without RFB&D I would not be where I am today … who knows where I would be and what would have happened to me. … Now RFB&D is here to help my students be successful in life too.” Anne Gaddy, Columbia, NC, RFB&D member and teacher

“RFB&D lets the kids take control of their own education and their own future … with RFB&D they know that they are limited not by their disability, but by their own desires and dreams of success” David Hall, Atlanta, GA, teacher

Testimonials

19

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic®

800-221-4792

www.rfbd.org

www.learningthroughlistening.org