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Getting
Yourself or Your Child/Student Certified for RFB&D Membership
 To
be eligible for membership with Recording for the Blind &
Dyslexic, a person must have a documented print disability, such
as a learning disability, visual impairment or other physical
disability. If you think you or your child might have a print
disability and may benefit from the services of RFB&D, you
need to have certification of the disability.
How Does One Obtain Certification?
A qualified professional in the field of disability services,
special education, medicine or psychology must attest, in writing,
to the physical basis of the visual, perceptual or other physical
disability that limits the applicant's use of standard print.
Who is a Certifier?
Appropriate certifying experts may differ from disability to disability.
The following lists examples of professionals who are qualified
to certify an RFB&D applicant. It is in no way a comprehensive
list. If you have any questions about who is a qualified certifying
professional, please call RFB&D's Member Services Department
at 800-221-4792. Or check out some of
the resources listed below.
In the case of blindness and visual impairments, an appropriate
certifier may be a:
• Physician
• Ophthalmologist
• Optometrist
• Vocational rehabilitation counselor
In the case of a learning or perceptual disability, an appropriate
certifier may be a:
• Neurologist
• Learning disability specialist
• Psychologist with a background in learning disabilities
The following are NOT professionals typically qualified to certify
someone for RFB&D membership, unless they have a background
in one of the above areas of expertise:
• Principals
• Vice principals
• Guidance counselors
• General education teachers
• Librarians
Note that RFB&D does not offer distribution of RFB&D's
AudioPlus® books on CD outside of the United States, except to
US citizens who are temporarily residing abroad.
Resources
For more information on the rights of students with disabilities,
visit
the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitation Services site. You may also call the US
Department of Education at 800-872-5327.
For further information about disabilities and certification,
you may wish to visit the following organization's websites:
Learning Disabilities Association (LDA)
Website: http://www.ldanatl.org
If you are a parent, this page on the LDA site has a wonderful
section about the evaluation process for learning disabilities.
http://www.ldanatl.org/aboutld/parents/assessment/index.asp
If you are an adult and you think you have a learning disability,
this page on the LDA site contains information about screening
for adults: http://www.ldanatl.org/aboutld/adults/assessment/screening.asp
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
(NICHCY)
Website: www.nichcy.org
This website provides information on special education planning
and laws; fact sheets on conditions; and state resource sheets.
The link below will bring you to the section of this organization’s
website that offers a listing of resources by state:
http://www.nichcy.org/states.htm
Internet Special Education Resources (ISER)
Website: http://www.iser.com/
ISER is a nationwide directory of professionals, organizations,
and schools that serve the learning disabilities and special education
communities. The site helps parents and caregivers find local
special education professionals to help with learning disabilities
and attention deficit disorder assessment, therapy, advocacy,
critical teen issues and other special needs.
This site also gives an overview of the learning assessment process:
http://www.iser.com/assessLD.html
International Dyslexia Association
Website: www.interdys.org
Here you can find fact sheets about dyslexia and other learning
disabilities; testing for dyslexia and getting the best IEP plan
for yourself or your child.
http://www.interdys.org/servlet/compose?section_id=5&page_id=79
SchwabLearning.org
Website: www.schwablearning.org
This site is dedicated to parents helping children with learning
disabilities, and this page gives an overview of identifying learning
difficulties.
http://www.schwablearning.org/resources.asp?g=1&s=6
National Federation for the
Blind
http://www.nfb.org
American Foundation for the
Blind
http://www.afb.org/
New York Institute for Special Education
This website contains a listing of organizations that serve people
who are blind or visually impaired.
http://www.nyise.org/orgs.htm#usa
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