1 60 Years of Innovation, Leadership and Success Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic ®

2 RFB&D Commitment Our Vision:  For all people to have equal access to the printed word. Our Mission:  Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, a nonprofit volunteer organization, is the nation’s educational library serving people who cannot effectively read standard print because of a visual impairment, a learning disability or other physical disability. Our mission is to create opportunities for individual success by providing and promoting the effective use of accessible educational materials. RFB&D Vision and Mission

3 RFB&D Commitment Our Vision:  For all people to have equal access to the printed word. Our Mission:  Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, a nonprofit volunteer organization, is the nation’s educational library serving people who cannot effectively read standard print because of a visual impairment, a learning disability or other physical disability. Our mission is to create opportunities for individual success by providing and promoting the effective use of accessible educational materials. RFB&D Vision and Mission

4 60 Years of Innovation, Leadership and Success  60 Years of Innovation  60 Years of Leadership  Setting the DAISY Standard  Impactful Research  Best Library of Audio Textbooks  The right books at the right time  Best in Quality Production  Best Member Relations/Support  Best Teacher/Student Support  60 Years of Success RFB&D’s Overview

5 60 Years of Innovation  Anne T. Macdonald founds Recording for the Blind (RFB); Dedicated volunteers record textbooks onto vinyl  1950’s - RFB expands nationwide  1960’s – Converted library from vinyl to reel-to-reel and then to cassette tape  1980’s – RFB computerized operations and developed high-speed tape duplication  1990’s – RFB changes name to Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic to reflect increased membership of people with learning disabilities  2000’s – RFB&D goes digital “In the information age, access to information is a basic human right.” --George Kerscher, RFB&D Sr. Officer for Accessible Information “Education is a right, not a privilege” --Anne T. MacDonald, Founder RFB

6 Leader in Customer Satisfaction AudioPlus  CD format  Human-narrated  DAISY navigation on specialized hardware/software player  Convenient; portable for use anytime, anywhere AudioAccess  Downloadable/instant access to a PC or commercial player  Human-narrated  No specialized playback equipment  Convenient; portable for use anytime, anywhere NIMAC/NIMAS  Full Text/Full Audio synchronization with publisher images  Timely delivery of content  DAISY navigation on specialized software player  Enhanced content will include Human-narration of figure descriptions with images RFB&D Offers Choices

7 Leader in NIMAC/NIMAS Solution RFB&D and NIMAC/NIMAS  RFB&D is an Accessible Media Producer (AMP) providing student-ready instructional materials in the NIMAS format.  Speedy delivery to state & students  Delivery of content on CD for easy management  Provides portability for students on hardware devices for audio-only playback  RFB&D offers many of the core textbooks in navigable audio format that predate the “published” date required for publishers to submit files to the NIMAC.  The text portion can be read with tools that students may already have.

8 Leader in NIMAC/NIMAS Solution RFB&D and NIMAC/NIMAS Timely Delivery of Content  Synthetic speech audio and full text synchronized at the sentence level with publisher images  Producing K-3 textbooks through human narration to deliver highest quality product to beginning readers Enhanced NIMAC product  Replacing synthetic speech version with human narrated audio including figure descriptions  Human narration results in listener hearing content with proper voice inflection, pace and pronunciation

9 Leader in Research & Development Leading the development of the standards RFB&D was integral in the development and adoption of the standard that is now known as DAISY D – Digital A – Accessible I – Information SY - System

10 Leader in Demonstrated Results Impactful Research: RFB&D changes lives RFB&D commissions primary research and case studies to document learning outcomes of children with print and learning disabilities use our audiobooks  Rutgers University, Johns Hopkins, Tufts, Rutgers, Baltimore City Public Schools Students with learning disabilities showed a 38% increase in content acquisition and demonstrated significant achievement gains  Increase in word recognition  Increase in reading comprehension  Improved reading rate; increased reading accuracy Students achieved significant increases in standard scores for these essential reading skills:  Listening comprehension  Phonological analysis  Blending and reading comprehension

11 Leader in Cataloging and Referencing RFB&D has over 45,000 digitally recorded titles  RFB&D works with key textbook publishers for K-12 and college levels.  Textbook titles from the top three K-12 publishers: Houghton Mifflin, McGraw-Hill, Pearson form the core of our collection  Collection development librarians select core novels and award winning literature titles  On-line catalog offers easy to use searching and subject/keyword searching  RFB&D anticipates requests ahead of need to provide the “right books at the right time”  Over 6,500 new books produced annually; this year 9,000 added to the library 65% 35%

12 Leader in Quality Production Exceptional quality and efficiency  Centralized production & planning coordinates books, facilities and volunteers  30 specialized recording studios across the nation  190 recording booths  7,000 volunteer readers  Best practice processes  Standardized production tools developed and patented by RFB&D, used in all studios  Standardized reading conventions followed by all volunteers at all studios  All books read by human content experts –Superior quality reading for text »Appropriate emphasis and cadence »Increases comprehension –Subject-matter experts »Describe charts, maps, illustrations »Can’t be duplicated by synthesized voice

13 Leader in Member Support Providing over 200,000 members with exceptional service  24/7 online Access to extensive library, playback devices, and account management  Member Services support, Reference Librarian services and Product Support  Personal support through our 30 nationwide locations  Free web-based teacher training and other classroom support materials  National Achievement Awards totaling more than $50,000 per year for students with print disabilities  Convenient online membership registration and renewal available

14 Leader in Teacher Assistance Teacher-focused website resources The Learning Through Listening ® website created by teachers for teachers  Lesson plans  Classroom strategies and activities  Graphic organizers  Resources and strategies for parents and teachers to foster effective and successful use of audiobooks  Information about teaching philosophies such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL)  Presentation explaining the theory and basic “how-to’s” of Differentiated Instruction with overviews, examples and activities

15 Leader in Student Support  Our choice of digital books allows students with print disabilities to access the general education curriculum at the same time as their peers.  By enabling students to meet higher academic goals and achieve greater levels of academic success, students gain greater self-confidence and self-esteem.  Our audio textbooks increase independence and flexibility by empowering students to work on assignments independently in the classroom or at home.  Member Services, websites Program Benefits for Students

16 Leader in Student Support  Compliments the existing curriculum in all subject areas providing access to the general curriculum.  Teacher Training and Support Materials  Supports classroom management; Teachers can use audio textbooks as a tool for students to continue working independently on assignments.  RFB&D’s audiobooks help to minimize the one-on-one instructional time a teacher may spend reading textbooks to students.  Students are more engaged with the text and classroom activity. Program Benefits for Teachers

17 RFB&D Building Confidence, Independence and Success 60 Years of Success  When students with print disabilities can listen and learn independently. That’s success!  When they can tackle the same curriculum content as their peers. That’s success!  When they have access to learning opportunities that enable them to pursue their own education and professional dreams. That’s success! While we lend these learners audiobooks, the confidence, independence and success they develop are theirs to keep for a lifetime!

18 Our Measure of Success  “RFB&D is an empowerment. When you start to educate yourself, you realize what a blessing – What a treasure it is.” Paul Stankard, Mantua, NJ, Donor and Member  “RFB&D offers such a wonderful service. The program is invaluable to so many people on so many different levels.” Joan Brown, West Windsor, NJ, Mother  “Without RFB&D I would not be where I am today … who knows where I would be and what would have happened to me. … Now RFB&D is here to help my students be successful in life too.” Anne Gaddy, Columbia, NC, RFB&D member and teacher  “RFB&D lets the kids take control of their own education and their own future … with RFB&D they know that they are limited not by their disability, but by their own desires and dreams of success” David Hall, Atlanta, GA, teacher Testimonials

19 Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic ®