News from The Southwest Region

Download a PDF of our Southwest Region newsletter for Spring 2009 or listen to the MP3.

Lola Wright Foundation Awards Grant for Use at Austin Studio

The Southwest Region of Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic^® has received a grant for $9,335 to use for new equipment for the Austin studio. This grant, from the Lola Wright Foundation, will be used to buy seven new computer recording stations, a new at-home recording station, headphones, cables, and many other accessories the studio is in need of.

The Austin studio currently produces about 250 books annually but with these upgrades the studio expects to decrease the length of time it takes to record a book and in return raise that number.

"Much of the computer equipment is over 5 years old. We are beginning to see equipment break down and become outdated," said Cheri Nightingale, Production Director for the Southwest Region. "When equipment breaks down it hinders production in the studio and this newer equipment will allow the Austin studio to function even more efficiently."

The older computers being replaced will be redistributed around the studio to be used as checking stations where volunteers will do quality checks and book pre-production. By repurposing these older computers for tasks which they can still handle, the grant money will go even further in helping the Austin studio exceed its production goals.

Verizon Grants RFB&D $24,000

Verizon awarded a $24,000 grant to Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) to fund their Learning Through Listening Program which helps students with print disabilities meet their educational potential through a one-of-a-kind collection of recorded textbooks in every subject area and grade level. Carl E. Erhart, Verizon President – Southwest and Great Lakes Regions and Helen Soto Knaggs, Verizon Director – External Affairs presented RFB&D with the award Nov. 21 at 1:30 p.m. at RFB&D’s studio building in Austin.

Pictured: Erhart presented the check to Lil Serafine, Regional Executive Director and Michael Ver Schuur, Regional Board Chair.

Lauren Francis, Legislative Advisor and Chief of Staff, Kevin Cruser for Representative Myra Crownover also attended the presentation.

Development Officer, Linda Nichols also spoke about how the funding would give RFB&D memberships to schools in North Texas.

School districts are required to provide appropriate accommodations to learning disabled students in compliance with federal disability legislation; however, many school district budgets are limited. The grant from Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, will enable RFB&D to implement the Learning Through Listening Program in seven schools in the Denton, Garland and Keller school districts. In addition the grant will provide renewals of this program in the Azle, Coppell, Wylie and Irving school districts.

“Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic has made education accessible for students with print disabilities for 60 years," said Carl Erhart, Verizon Southwest Region President. “This grant from Verizon will enable RFB&D to provide this crucial service to these students to increase reading comprehension and allow them to achieve academic success and self confidence.”

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its signature program Thinkfinity.org and fostering awareness and prevention of domestic violence. In 2007, the foundation awarded more than $67.4 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad. Under the Verizon Volunteers initiative, one of the nation’s largest employee-volunteer programs, the foundation matched charitable donations from Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $25.1 million in combined contributions. Verizon Volunteers, made up of employees and retirees, also have contributed more than 3 million hours of community service since Verizon’s inception in 2000.

RFB&D Scholarships - Apply now!

Members, we would like to invite you to participate in our scholarship opportunity by applying for one of our $1,000 awards. This year we will be choosing from our members across the states we serve as the Regional Unit of the Southwest. RFB&D members in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma & Texas are elligible to participate. Please follow the links below to view instructions on applying.

Guidelines & Application

Teacher Referral Form

RFB&D Open House in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma State Director, Rachel Hernandez and Oklahoma Outreach Coordinator, Carla Scull, hosted an open house event in Oklahoma City at Deep Fork Grill. Thirty three people attended and Lil Serafine, Regional Executive Director and Rachel Hernandez spoke at the event along with RFB&D member Theresa Bleecker, VI teacher at Moore Schools, who told about her success using RFB&D to finish college and how the program is now helping her students.

Rachel Hernandez, Carla Scull & Volunteer Rubye Scull

Paul Adams & Jay Doudna of Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Pat Hall, RFB&D Advisor

Theresa Bleecker, Nikki Keck & Kim Wallace, VI teachers with Moore Public Schools

Little Rock Holds RFB&D Open House

Arkansas State Director, Paula Graves, hosted an open house event in her new office in downtown Little Rock. (200 South Commerce, Suite 100) She is pictured cutting the ribbon with Regional Executive Director, Lil Serafine and Board Member, Lois Pohl McCook, M.Ed., who held the ribbon across her office doorway. More than 30 people attended the event to learn about programs, services and volunteer needs in Arkansas. Outreach Director for Arkansas, Amanda Self, also attended the event and was able to answer parent questions and tell about RFB&D's memberships. The event was very successful in raising awareness that RFB&D's Southwest Region is actively serving the area.

New Business Office Open House

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic's® Southwest Region hosted an open house on June 27 from 3 to 6 p.m. at their new administrative offices at 3520 Executive Center Drive, Suite 100. To celebrate the growing number of students with print disabilities served, supporters and volunteers attended the opening reception which included a speech by Board Chairman, Michael Ver Schuur.

"This move is an exciting step forward in reaching our goal to serve more students who could benefit from our audio textbooks and educational materials," Ver Schuur said. "Our volunteers will have more space at our studio location and our administrative staff will be able to develop and grow as we work to reach even more students in need."

Executive Director, Lil Serafine also spoke and cut the ribbon to commemorate the opening of the new offices. Susan Hartman, Director of National Accounts and Headquarter's Sales management also visited from RFB&D®'s national office.

After the speeches and the ribbon cutting, guests helped carry out the festivities with celebratory bubbles. Nearly 70 guests were in attendance.

Click here to view our latest newsletter for Spring 2008

The following are parts of our current Media Kit. Please contact Jenny Falke at jfalke@rfbd.org if you are a member of the media and would like further assistance.

Backgrounder
Fact Sheet
Testimonials
National FAQ

Celebrating RFB&D in Houston

Supporters and members from Houston, Texas gathered together in early May to celebrate the strides RFB&D has made to serve more schools and individuals in the greater Houston area.

Over breakfast, RFB&D staff announced a few of the organization's goals and recent achievements. Our scholarship recipient, Jessica Adams's parents, Gail and Joseph Adams, accepted the award in her honor and spoke about how well Jessica has done with the program. Dr. Larry Pollock, RFB&D scholarship recipient of 1967, also addressed the attendees and relayed how the program made it possible for him to earn a PhD in psychology.

The event was very successful in raising awareness about the programs in Houston and will help our outreach coordinators in the Gulf Coast region serve more individuals by providing them with RFB&D's educational materials. A final toast to the 60th Anniversary of RFB&D was given by Mike McCorkle and all attendees participated by blowing bubbles from little chapagne-flute shaped bottles. The celebratory bubbles added a nice affect to the morning event!

A quest to move forward, a defeat of stubborn habits and a change in attitude inspire RFB&D® scholarship awards

AUSTIN, TX - Three remarkable students have been chosen as the 2008 Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic® Southwest Region scholarship recipients. All three have some form of dyslexia and chose to accommodate their learning disability by using RFB&D's audio textbooks only to find the difference it made in their education was life-changing.

One overcame his frustration of never understanding what he read because he used so much energy to get to the next word in the book and is now performing at his highest level with a 3.78 GPA. Another realized he could keep up with his peers more easily if he changed his study habits - since then, his confidence level has improved his leadership abilities in his band's student organization, his community service and his religion. The last winner learned to use her obstacles as ways to sense compassion in others which she shows through her art work and appreciates the fact that her grandmother's volunteer work recording books at one of RFB&D's studions has come full circle in saving her and her sister's academic lives.

A committee of judges reviewed the applications in early January and the results of the $1,000 awards were announced to each of the following winners this past week:

• Kevin Luecke, a Senior at St. Michaels Catholic Academy in Austin, TX, son of Jane Peddicard and John Luecke, was honored at The Southwest Region Celebration Luncheon at the Omni Downtown on Feb. 6 at 11:30 a.m. He will speak at the event and describe how he began to move forward in his education. "Someone once told me that reading with dyslexia is like walking backwards; it's possible but never comfortable…Getting books on CD from RFB&D made a world of difference," said Kevin.
• Steven Mintz, a Senior at Greenhill School in Addison, TX is the son of Sheryl and Howard Mintz. Steven said he remembers the long nights he spent reading with barely any comprehension. He thought his system was intact until he became a musician and realized he was an auditory learner which made him try RFB&D's audiobooks. "Right from the start, I realized a significant increase in comprehension… there has been a steady increase in test taking abilities, essay writing skills, and class grades," Steven said.
• Jessica Adams, of Houston and now a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, is the daughter of Joseph and Gail Adams. In her scholarship essay she recalled what she said were painful memories of her struggles. "There is always denial about a disability… which is another self-conscious dimension of learning differences that I constantly struggle to overcome." Later, Jessica said that she has ironically been inspired by her disability and she attributes her success to the goals she made to overcome dyslexia.

The Southwest Region of RFB&D is celebrating a 10 year anniversary of its studio building in Austin and the expansion of its program to serve students in Texas, Arkansas & Oklahoma at the Celebration Luncheon on Feb. 6. The other winners will be recognized at events near their hometowns.

RFB&D scholarships show support to students who consistently strive to do their best while facing a print disability that would cause them to need the nonprofit's accommodation. RFB&D's playback devices and educational materials in audio format are supported by research. A John Hopkins University study shows the materials increase content acquisition by 38% for students with learning disabilities and difficulties.

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