In 1948, Anne T. Macdonald began what would become the nationwide nonprofit organization first called Recording for the Blind (RFB), which is now known as Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D). After World War II some servicemen returned home from the war having lost their sight in combat. These soldiers wanted to take advantage of the new GI Bill but were unable to read the textbooks. They sent letters to the New York Public Library's Women's Auxiliary and Macdonald's famous quote, "Education is a right, not a privilege" led her to began recording the textbooks at the New York Public Library with the help of the Women's Auxiliary. The women recorded the books on SoundScriber vinyl phonograph discs.
Recording for the Blind Expands Through the Decades
By 1951, Macdonald saw the need for additional assistance in recording the requested textbooks. She established seven recording studios across the United States. The studios were manned by volunteers in the additional cities. In the 1960s, the vinyl tapes were replaced with reel-to-reel tapes and then with cassette tapes.
By 1970, RFB noticed an increase in students with learning disabilities who were using the recorded textbooks as well. The headquarters moved from New York to Princeton, New Jersey, in 1983. The new facility was computerized and allowed for high-speed duplication. Three times the number of books were able to be circulated using the new technology.
The 1990s brought even more advanced technology with electronic text enabling RFB&D members to use computer disks with adaptive computer equipment. In 1995, Recording for the Blind became Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic to acknowledge the growing base of users with learning and print disabilities. In 1996, a digital recording pilot program was started that led to production of textbooks on CD and other multimedia.
By the 2000s, RFB&D's member included more than 75 percent of students from kindergarten through college graduate-level courses with learning disabilities. In 2002, digital technology was first used to record the textbooks on CD, and in 2007 they moved to an all-digital format called CV Starr Learning Through Listening® Library.
RFB&D Services, Members, and Formats of Recorded Books
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic has the largest library of audio textbooks in America. Blind students and students with dyslexia and other print disabilities use the recorded books offered by RFB&D. Print disabilities include learning disabilities and visual and physical impairments. Kindergarten through college graduate students use RFB&D's services. When new textbooks are issued or a new version of an existing textbook is issued, RFB&D assigns the book to one of the twenty studios across the United States. After it is read and recorded by volunteers, it is accessible to students anywhere in the U.S. through the following formats:
- AudioPlus
- AudioAccess
- PlexTalk PTP Pocket
- Victor Reader Wave
- Victor Reader Classic X
- Plextalk PTR2 Player/Recorder
- Easy Reader PC
- eClipse Reader PC
- Victor Reader Soft Version 2.0
The audio books contains marks for important parts of the books like page numbers, chapters, headings, and the index for easy navigation by the students through the book. It's also possible in some formats for students to add notes directly to the file.
Learning Through Listening Helps Students Nationwide
One woman's desire to help blind soldiers blossomed into Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, whose motto, Learning Through Listening, sums up the philosophy of the organization. By providing blind students and those with print disabilities an alternative means to learn, RFB&D provides a valuable service across America. The variety in formats students can use makes the audio books accessible to all age levels.
Source: Recording for the Blind & Dsylexic
Peggy Hazelwood - Peggy Hazelwood+ is a word nerd who has worked as a reporter, proofreader, technical editor, freelance copy editor, and freelance writer ...
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