2006 SAA Winners

Henry, known as Hoby, is currently attending the University of California, Davis. He is studying a variety of subjects including math, chemistry, physics and American Government and Politics. Hoby has been blind since birth. Since he was a baby, his parents urged him to do his very best and he believes that this is what has gotten him through huge challenges and brought him to where he is today.

Hoby’s family has always been very enthusiastic, inspirational, and extremely excited for him. This support gave him the courage to go out and do things from a very young age. He thanks his parents for getting him involved as an individual, regardless of his blindness. High goals were set for him and he was treated no differently than his sighted brother. He enjoys finding new and exciting challenges for himself that keep him motivated and healthy.

His family always had a strong interest in the outdoors and he grew up hiking in the Sierras and sailing in the San Francisco bay. While doing these things, he developed a love for nature himself. He considers spending time outdoors to be one of his greatest hobbies and enjoys sailing, hiking, swimming and bike riding. He joined a junior rowing team in eighth grade and continued until he graduated high school.

As freshman year in high school came around, Hoby noticed he was struggling to keep up with all of his school work and still be an active rower. Reading Braille was a slow process and at times Hoby had difficulty keeping up with the required readings. He found himself asking his parents and friends for reading assistance, as there was simply not enough time in the day to accomplish what was necessary. This is when his Teacher of the Visually Impaired introduced him to RFB&D learning through listening. Hoby then became a member of RFB&D and ordered books on tape which he found very useful. Today, he uses books on CD and the “easy to use players”. Excelling at UC Davis, Hoby says “With RFB&D’s services, I have been able to set high goals for myself in college. I have confidence that I will be able to get my reading done just as fast as my sighted counterparts. RFB&D has had nearly all the textbooks on digital recording that I have needed for college and is thankfully making more every day.”

Hoby believes that the RFB&D learning through listening materials will be an indispensable tool throughout college and graduate school and says, “After college, I hope to teach either high school or college chemistry, again, a goal that would seem impossible without RFB&D’s materials”.

Peter is currently attending Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.He is studying Economics, Biology, Math, Humanities and Music and wishes to major in Economics. He has many interests including an enjoyment of music (he plays the trombone and has been a member of the Cupertino High School Marching Band, the Cupertino High School Pep-Band called “Tino Beat” and the Boy Scout Band).

Peter has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for many years. He helped younger scouts advance by encouraging them to identify their strengths and to learn how to cater to those strengths. He has also been involved as Senior Patrol Leader and organized many trips as Campmaster. He has great interest in helping others and has tutored fellow students in mathematics and science, helping others to speak what Peter refers to as his “first languages.” He is also a member of the Whitman Learning Styles Coalition which is a support group for students with disabilities.

Peter is dyslexic and has been a member of RFB&D since he was in elementary school. The value of receiving books on tape was greatly realized when he was in his freshman year of high school and believes the tapes from RFB&D have been vital to his success and facilitated his learning by augmenting his understanding of the books he had to read for class. He believes that RFB&D has opened up the world of audio books not only for class, but also for personal enjoyment. He says the service of RFB&D will be very helpful for his remaining time at college and that he is looking forward to enjoying audio-books throughout his adult life.

Peter says, “As early as fifth grade, I knew I was unique. I was the only kid at my school in both GATE, a program for the ‘gifted and talented’, and Special Education. Some call this a ‘learning difference’ or learning disability but I see it instead as a “gift of character”. It has helped make me non-judgmental, interested in helping others, and determined to overcome my stumbling blocks. Although some people view having a learning disability as a negative, for me, it has been a priceless gift of character.”