Rocky Mountain Unit in Denver

"EDUCATION IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE"

Since 1951, the Rocky Mountain Unit of RFB&D has been producing audio textbooks for students and professionals with print impairments need for the academic and career success that lead to lifelong self-sufficiency and self-fulfillment. Our mission is to create opportunities for individual success by providing, and promoting the effective use of, accessible educational materials.

Clinna MacDonald, the great-grand daughter of Founder Anne MacDonald, carries on the family legacy of recording audio textbooks at the Rocky Mountain Studio. Clinna was visiting from Utah and spent three days recording stories from the Arabian Nights. Thank you to Clinna and to all our fabulous volunteers for carrying on the tradition of providing Learning Through Listening.

Location

1355 South Colorado Boulevard, Suite C-406
Denver, CO 80222
Phone: 303-757-0787

Hours of Operation:

Special Events

2008 Record A Thon was a success! Thank you to all who made this year great. We want to extend our appreciation to everyone who signed up for extra hours in production, gave auction items and those who bid on auction items. Our hats off to you!!!

2008 Bud Y. King Scholarship Award Winners

Click here to read the winning essays from the 2008 Bud Y. King Scholarship Awards. These students represent a sampling of the people RFB&D serves every day, like Joslyn, a girl who lost her sight in her fight with cancer. But she never gave up and used RFB&D to become an independent young woman who is making her dreams come true.

Meet Larry Gallegos and Cynthia Wells

Larry and Cynthia came to Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic during the 1999 Record-A-Thon. Both Larry and Cynthia had been a part of a national program, Book Pals, through the Screen Actors Guild. (SAG). They volunteered their time to read in schools to elementary age children. The Screen Actors Guild put out an all call to ask their members to be readers for RFB&D. Cynthia answered the call and was one of our guest readers. Larry followed her soon after and they have been volunteer readers ever since.

Married for over 27 years, they met in Minnesota while they were both working there in theatre. Both continued in theatre for over 20 years, living in New York until 1991. Cynthia also worked for Met Life at the time, when her company decided to open a new office in Colorado where Larry had family, they decided to move west. It turned out to be a great decision for them and for us.

Both love the opportunity to lend their professional skills and talents as actors to make a difference in the lives of students. “It is great we can be a part of helping others overcome their educational barriers.” Larry’s daughter is dyslexic, but when she was growing up, they had not heard of RFB&D.

When asked what they might tell a potential volunteer about the Rocky Mountain Unit, they both spoke passionately about the “music of ideas”. They love the variety of texts and the beauty of the spoken word. It is just plain fun to read out loud!

Duane Stjernholm, our Assistant Production Director plays a big part too. “Duane makes sure that if you have been reading bibliographies or a very dry text for too long, he sprinkles in the gems of literature to break it up. He always makes sure you have a good experience.”

Larry just finished reading Charles Dickens’ book, A Christmas Carol. “What a treat to be able to read the whole book. We don’t often get to read a whole book and what a great book to read out loud. It was wonderful to rediscover a performance writer like Dickens. It took me three weeks and I loved it.” I’m sure it will be a treat for our listeners as well.

As professional actors, Larry and Cynthia realize that their work at RFB&D is not about themselves, or even about their listeners. They see themselves as the medium by which the author, and the author’s words, come alive.

Thank you Larry and Cynthia for your time, talent and passion for Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic.

Volunteering

The Rocky Mountain Unit of RFB&D produces the textbooks that students and professionals with print impairments need for the academic and career success that lead to lifelong self-sufficiency and self-fulfillment. We also provide an educational outreach program to schools to help them use and understand the program and our services.

Our program is accomplished through the time and talents donated by our specially-trained volunteers. These dedicated volunteers come from all walks of life and areas of expertise to produce recorded textbooks from algebra to zoology. Learn more about volunteering at the Rocky Mountain Unit.

Make a Difference by Giving

What does a gift to the Rocky Mountain Unit of RFB&D accomplish? First, you are making a difference in the lives of students in Colorado. Click here to see how your gift will make a difference.

• Volunteer - your time is one of your most valuable resources. Email our Production Director, Bob Janowski to get started.
• Donate now online
• Donate your car through Cars for Charity
• How to make a Gift by Will
• Shop at Albertson's Grocery Store and a percentage is donated to RFB&D Come by the studio or request an Albertson's card today by calling or email us with your mailing address and one will be sent to you.
• Flowers for your Sweetheart - $5.00 from your purchase will benefit RFB&D
• Tell a Friend about RFB&D

Albertson's Card

We have an Albertson's card for you and anyone else you know who shops at Albertson's. You can attach the card to your keychain.

When the card is scanned at the checkout line, RFB&D will receive a percentage of money from your purchase.

Let us know and we will mail you and your friends the card. If you plan a visit to the studio, we have the cards available here at the Unit. Thank you for your help!

Come to the Studio for a FREE Tour!

See how RFB&D "Builds Books and Build Futures"! Please join us for a Recording Studio Tour, and hear the remarkable story of RFB&D helps create successful learners who might otherwise be left behind. Find out how RFB&D is making a difference in the lives of thousands in Colorado.

Newsletter

Learn more about the Rocky Mountain Unit.
Download a copy of our Spring 2008 Newsletter (PDF Format)

Download an audio version of our Spring 2008 Newsletter (MP3 format, 4 MB)

Donor List

Thank You to the Corporations, Foundations and Community organizations for their support of the Rocky Mountain Unit of RFB&D. We would like to thank all of our donors. You are making a difference in the lives and futures of thousands of people. You are appreciated!

Download a full list of our donors in PDF format

Contact Us

Read about the unit's history.

Each of the following individuals can be reached by telephone at 303-757-0787, or at the e-mail addresses provided.

• To reach the executive director, Betsy Boudreau, e-mail bboudreau@rfbd.org

• To volunteer, contact Carol Skoff at cskoff@rfbd.org or Bob Janowski at bjanowski@rfbd.org.

• To donate to the Rocky Mountain Unit of RFB&D, please contact Marie Liddiard
  at 303-757-0787 or mliddiard@rfbd.org.

• To arrange to have an RFB&D staff member or representative speak at your school, parent group meeting, or your community organization, please contact Betsy Boudreau at 303-757-0787 or e-mail bboudreau@rfbd.org.

• Call the unit to find out how to become a member or to find out how your school could become an RFB&D Learning Through Listening institutional member, or Register Online.

• To receive more information about membership or training for you or your school, please contact our Educational Outreach Director, Suzanne Jonsen at sjonsen@rfbd.org.

FY08 Board of Directors

Robert Writz, Chairman
Trudy Fowler, Vice Chair
Philip Jolas, Secretary
Tobi Watson, Treasurer

Craig Allely
Carole Cruson
Nicholas Delmonico
Lucinda Greene
K. Mason Howard
Betsy Luce
John Lutz
Susan McGilvray
MaryAnn Pfeifer
Anita Schimmel
Paul E. Scott
Betsy Boudreau, Ex-Officio