2006 Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Awards

RFB&D has enabled me "to jump over the hurdle of reading and go on to achieve success in every aspect of my high school education."

Nathaniel Goldman - Georgia

Nathaniel sees his dyslexia as his 'invisible disability,' the other being an enzyme deficiency called Fabry, which limits his participation in school activities. He feels people can grasp the latter because they know he receives biweekly replacement enzyme infusions. He believes the manifestations of dyslexia, however, can be misconstrued as stupidity or laziness because there is no outward sign of his internal struggle.

Being judged by others has affected how Nathaniel perceives the world. He says it has "helped me look at life through more understanding eyes" and adds that his 'invisible disability' "is not just a part of who I am, but has actually changed who I have become."

Besides being an outstanding student, Nathaniel became a respected member of The Ben Franklin Academy in Georgia, where he earned the admiration of his peers and where one of his teachers described him as "exemplary in every way." His 4.0 GPA and USAA National Mathematics Award attest to his academic ability. In addition, Nathaniel also served as President of the Latin Club.

Nathaniel sees RFB&D as allowing him "to jump over the hurdle of reading and go on to achieve success in every aspect of my high school education." Currently, he is an honors student at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta where he is active in the economics club. He also founded and serves as President of the Jewish Student Union. He hopes to pursue a career in the financial field and will ensure RFB&D remains part of his education and his life.

"Although it might seem cliché, the only reason I do as well as I do in school is because I am able to listen to my books."

Junia Howell - Ohio

One of Junia's teachers at Clark Montessori High School in Cincinnati described her as
"... brilliant yet humble, dedicated yet sincere, determined yet compassionate." She is also a nearly straight A student who challenges herself with a positive outlook and sees her dyslexia as a "gift," not a disability.

Junia states, "Although it might seem cliché, the only reason I do as well as I do in school is because I am able to listen to my books." She says RFB&D audiobooks allow her to fully participate in literary analysis and explore her intellectual curiosity - a curiosity that takes the form of physics, sociology and calculus (one of the courses in which she enjoyed using RFB&D).

Helping others is a huge part of Junia's life. In 2005, she received a Human Relations Award acknowledging students whose daily lives exemplify a concern for others. Her activities include being a community peer leader, tutor and leader of an urban after-school program. In between, she plays the violin and steel drums and is a varsity long-distance swimmer.

Of her community activities, Junia says "Although I love to learn, enjoy solving math, and relax when swimming, the thing that makes me keep going is the opportunity to share a little bit of love and a lot of hope." After finishing her education at Wheaton College, she wants to head to Africa, maybe to teach or build, but definitely to continue making a difference in the lives of others.

"Through the support of programs such as RFB&D, I and thousands of other students have the support and resources to learn and achieve."

Juliet Silberstein - Nebraska

Juliet recalls, "I remember the day my mom and dad sat me down. They told me that I was not stupid, but that I had a thing called dyslexia, which was merely hiding my intelligence." Before this, she remembers feigning new ailments and dreading the looming books and the taunts at school.

Once diagnosed, she used multi-sensory reading techniques, including RFB&D audiobooks such as A Tale of Two Cities. Juliet says, "I finally understood the lines, 'it was the best of times, it was the worst of times' as I started comprehending the book's powerful meaning." She adds that "through the support of programs such as RFB&D, I and thousands of other students have the support and resources to learn and achieve."

Juliet is big on achievement. She was a top student in her honors American literature class, and achieved A's in AP calculus and AP chemistry. She also ensures her summers are productive. Her fondness for journalism led her to an intensive program at Northwestern University, and her love of learning resulted in her being a genetics research assistant at Creighton University with a renowned leader in cancer genetics, Dr. Henry Lynch. Utilizing their data, Dr. Lynch and Juliet co-authored a paper in the peer-reviewed journal Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics.

Seeing the possibilities of this research to help future generations, Juliet yearns to become a physician. Her high school academic credentials of a 4.13 GPA combined with RFB&D services will no doubt help her reach her goal.