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Become a Member
RFB&D has membership programs for individual students
and for schools.
Individual Memberships
Anyone who is unable to effectively read due to a vision
impairment, physical disability or specific learning disability
is eligible for service. An RFB&D membership provides
access to our CV Starr Learning Through Listening® Library
of more than 39,000 digitally recorded titles. Additionally,
RFB&D's reference librarians can search the collections
to find out for members what titles are available in specific
subject areas.
RFB&D members are welcome to visit any of the three
Los Angeles Unit recording studios where they
can receive training on use of the playback devices or enjoy
a tour of the recording facilities.
Membership Requirements
Our membership application requires the signature of a
certifying professional who can attest to the basis of a
physical, vision or learning disability. Qualified professionals
include family physicians, school psychologists, special
education teachers, educational therapists and optometrists.
There are three ways to get an application: You can call
the Los Angeles Unit at (800) 732-8398 with your name and
address and we'll drop one in the mail, you can download
one from our national website at
www.rfbd.org/membership_indchoices.htm, or you
can also apply online. The cost associated with
membership is minimal. There is a $65 one-time registration
fee and a $35 annual fee. When you return your completed
application form, you should include your payment of $100.
The cost for each consecutive year of membership would be
$35.
Eligibility Concerns
You do not need to be enrolled in school to register for
RFB&D. Vocational materials, cookbooks and gardening
manuals are examples of other educational matter in our
library.Due to an agreement with textbook publishers, RFB&D
can only provide service to people with physical, vision
or learning disabilities. RFB&D audio textbooks cannot
be used to help limited English speakers learn the language.
They can be used with ESL students who have been assessed
with reading disabilities.
Online catalogue of books
You
may check our online catalogue of books. Anyone
may browse through this catalogue. When you click onto "online
catalogue of books" you will be advised that the books
listed are for RFB&D members only. The notice is simply
there to inform you that if you see a book that you want,
you cannot borrow it unless you are registered for service.
If you are unable to access the catalogue, you may call
Member Services at (323) 664-5525 ext. 101 or fax (323)
664-1881 and provide us with the author, title, and copyright
date or edition and we can look it up for you.
Scholastic Achievement
Awards
The Los Angeles Unit of RFB&D seeks and rewards students
who can serve as role models of success. Individuals who
have demonstrated a consistent effort or who have shown
significant improvement in the areas of academics and school
or community involvement are encouraged to apply for our
annual "Winslow Coyne Reitnouer Scholastic Achievement
Awards." Monetary awards range up to $2,000. Students
who are registered with an individual membership or through
RFB&D's Learning Through Listening® Institutional
Membership are eligible. Applications for the 2008 awards
are available now. Click
here to download one in PDF format. You can also email
or call Michael @ (323) 664-5525 x101 for an application.
Applications must be received in one package (by mail or
delivered in person) no later than 5:00 pm, April 7, 2008.
We invite you
to read the personal success stories of our June 2007 winners.
School Membership
RFB&D's
Learning Through ListeningŪ Institutional Membership
Any school can establish a direct partnership with us through
RFB&D's Learning Through ListeningŪ (LTL) Institutional
Membership program. Registering for this program is an efficient
way to provide an accessible education to students with
special needs. A member of RFB&D's LTLŪ program may
order books for all of its eligible students instead of
registering each individual student with his or her own
membership. If you are a teacher or administrator who
would like more information about this program,
please call Member Services at (323) 664-5525 ext. 101 or
e-mail them at memberservices@rfbdla.org.
Choosing the Type of Membership
Individual memberships are good for students who can independently
select and order their own books. RFB&D's LTL Institutional
Programs are ideal for schools that order books for multiple
students. Many program sites create their own on-site listening
libraries by ordering common textbooks and popular novels
and keeping them on hand for different students to use throughout
the school year.
RFB&D's LTL programs and individual memberships work
well when used together. For example, a school can use the
program to order the standard curriculum for its students,
while each student may have his or her own membership to
borrow reading materials which supplement the curriculum.
Diagnosis and Testing
If you think you or your child may have dyslexia or a vision
impairment, please visit our Other
Resources page for a list of organizations that
can assist you with diagnosis and testing.
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