Our unit serves students in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. We were proud to become the first unit to regionalize into a territory serving multiple states. Please click on the state you wish to explore on the left!
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RFB&D's Mission Our mission is to create opportunities for individual success by providing, and promoting the effective use of, accessible educational materials. RFB&D's Vision Our vision is for all people to have equal access to the printed word. |
About RFB&D®
RFB&D was founded in 1948 on the top floor of the New York Public Library. Anne Macdonald and other members of the library's Women's Auxiliary began recording textbooks for blinded World War II veterans who wanted to fully enjoy the benefits of the GI Bill of Rights.
RFB&D has grown significantly in the past 60+ years. With 29 locations across the nation and an audio textbook library of more than 46,000 recorded titles, RFB&D is the nation's largest educational library for people with disabilities that make reading print difficult or impossible.
As a private, nonprofit, volunteer-based 501(c)(3) organization, RFB&D has no guaranteed sources of income and relies on corporate, foundation and individual donations; federal and state funding; product sales and membership fees to provide our unique service. Gifts in any amount are welcomed and fully tax-deductible.
History of the Unit
Ralph and Maria Miller first learned about Recording for the Blind® (RFB®), as we used to be called, while living in Washington, DC. When they retired to Charlottesville, VA, they put their knowledge to excellent use by founding the unit there in February 1958.
Following their own weeklong orientation at RFB headquarters, the Millers began training volunteers in an office on Main Street. The following year, the studio was relocated to University Boulevard and four recording booths were constructed. In 1964, the unit moved to Madison Lane, where its work was further expanded with the addition of a raised-line drawing program, which helps people with visual impairments feel pictures, somewhat like braille.
An increasing demand for RFB&D's audiobooks on tape created the need to expand even further, and by 1970, the board undertook an ambitious fundraising campaign and building program. A piece of land on Millmont Street was presented to RFB by James Jessup, president of the Pepsi Cola plant. Over a two year period, $150,000 was raised from donations made by private sources and the United Way.
These efforts culminated with the opening of a new building in March 1973. The building contained a recording area with six soundproof booths, a raised line drawing department and music room complete with piano for use in recording textbooks that contain musical scores. During the first few years of its existence, the unit's operating expenses were met by donations through activities such as concerts, auctions, and exhibits. Since 1958, the unit's operations have been financed by private and state contributions.
The unit was renamed the "Virginia/North Carolina Unit" several years ago, as a reflection of its expansion of territory, providing services to schools in Virginia as well as North Carolina. In 2004, the unit was renamed "The Regional Unit of the Virginias and Carolinas" to reflect continued expansion of its territory and coverage of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. In 2005, state directors were hired in each state to further facilitate the expansion of our mission to serve students in need of accommodation in the region.
The continued rapid growth of members, volunteers and staff resulted in the need for an expanded regional facility in Charlottesville. The Maria Miller Center, named in honor of our beloved founder, was completed in early 2007. The total construction cost of the building was $2.6 million. These dollars were raised through private donations. No state funding went toward the construction costs. The Maria Miller Center houses the regional headquarters, the regional production studios and Virginia state offices. In addition, the facility will continue to open its doors as a community meeting area, resource center and training space.
In 2008, our ambitious expansion of our regional scope and service continued
with the addition of Tennessee. Our unit is now called the "Regional
Unit of the Upper Southeast".