New Jersey Recorder Fall 2008 (text)

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Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic
New Jersey Unit
69 Mapleton Road
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Phone 609-750-1830
Fax 609-750-9653

Recorder Fall 2008
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic Newsletter

In This Issue:

Trevor Saunders Changes the Way the World Sees Science

When Trevor Saunders was a student at Hopewell Central High School (CHS). He was ready to start taking advanced placement tests in the sciences. There was just one problem: the tests were not available in accessible format. According to his grandmother, New Jersey Unit volunteer Mimi Levin, they didn't exist because, "they didn't think a blind student could do this."

With the support and urging of his family and the CHS faculty, the tests were made accessible and Trevor was able to get into classes that prepared him to enter Carnegie-Mellon University this fall as a Mechanical Engineering major. Trevor was so advanced that he recently tested out of all of the freshman requirements courses, essentially making him a sophomore.

Trevor was born with Aniridia, a rare congenital eye condition. Despite undergoing six operations before her was nine months old, his visual impairment developed into total blindness by the time he was In sixth grade. That didn't stop him from becoming an Eagle Scout and being named a member of the extremely elite Order of the Arrow (the best of the best Eagle Scouts, as chosen by his peers), hiking 150 miles through the Canadian wilderness, traveling extensively to represent the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and becoming the first blind student to qualify for the International Chemistry Olympiad. A short time after receiving his Boy Scout honors, Trevor was named the youngest winner ever of the Mason's George Washington Award for Human Development. It is accorded to individuals who, despite significant personal hardship, have realized personal achievement and provided exceptional volunteer service to their community.

Among his service projects, Trevor created Braille labels and cataloging for the Stony Brook-Millstone Association and works on a project to create instruments for chemists and chemistry students who are blind. He has also tutored in math, reading and chemistry at the Trenton Boys and Girls Club.

RFB&D's audio texts are one of the methods Trevor uses to access his reading. He also receives a lot of support from his family and school. His grandmother, Mimi, wonders how other blind students who don't have Trevor's support network succeed.

At 18, Trevor Saunders has achieved more than many people do in a lifetime and has already used his immense talents to pave the wave for others like him. Nothing can replace his motivation, but RFB&D volunteers and donors can be proud to be part of the support network that has helped him succeed!

photo captions
Trevor received the Order of the Arrow from the Boy Scouts.
Trevor's brother Duncan and father Dan help him settle in at Carnegie-Mellon.
Trevor received the George Washington Award from the Masons.

It's All in the Family!

Ironically, Trevor's grandfather, Milt Levin, began volunteering at the New Jersey Unit two years before Trevor was born. Milt is English Professor at The College of New Jersey and has been recording for RFB&D since 1988 after "a colleague had come in and made it sounds interesting. It was." Mimi, retired from ETS, where she was Senior Examiner and Group Head, joined Milt at the unit in 2003 and helps prepare books to be recorded.

photo caption: Trevor's grandparents, New Jersey Unit volunteers Milt and Mimi Levin

Inspire Campaign

Paul Stankard's campaign to spread the good news about RFB&D

World renowned New Jersey glass artist Paul Stankard tells a compelling story of his struggles growing up with dyslexia and how RFB&D helped him become successful. It can inspire students with print disabilities to learn through listening...and succeed.

Paul's goal is to inspire philanthropic partners, educators and advocated by advancing awareness of the costs of unremediated print disabilities and alert them to the effectiveness of RFB&D's Learning Through Listening® program in helping individuals with visual impairment or dyslexia achieve personal, academic and professional success.

Paul Stankard's story, a poignant chapter of his memoir, has been the highlight of commencement addresses and an inspiration to New Jersey Unit volunteers and staff. His Inspire Campaign is taking that message out to the community to address an urgent need: increasing awareness of the effectiveness of RFB&D's Learning Through Listening program in unlocking textbooks for individuals with print disabilities. Paul is deeply committed to making sure that students who need RFB&D's services have access. He is honored to be honorary chair of RFB&D-NJ's Inspire Campaign in Gloucester County.

He and his associates are partnering with the New Jersey Unit to break down the walls of separation between RFB&D and potential members by developing Inspire Campaign programs to present inspirational programs to educators, corporations, foundations, community groups, parents and students throughout Gloucester County, and eventually across the Garden State.

The Inspire Campaign will kick off in early spring. Details and events will be posted on www.rfbdnj.org.

To learn more about the Inspire Campaign and how you can get involved, contact Grace Alparone at 609-651-8564.

photo captions
Paul has shared his story in his memoir No Green Berries or Leaves: the Creative Journey of an Artist in Glass.
Paul Stankard inspired New Jersey Unit volunteers and staff during this spring's Record-A-Thon regarding his personal struggle with dyslexia and how much of the work of RFB&D's volunteers contributed to his remarkable success.

From the New Jersey Unit Executive Director

Dear Friends of the New Jersey Unit,

The summer months at the New Jersey Unit have been very productive. Our Studio and Educational Outreach departments diligently prepared for the start of the 2008-09 school years by reviewing prior year successes and addressing future program needs. Together, we kept asking ourselves one very challenging question: Can we do more locally to serve the students that need us?

While we're delighted that the answer is a resounding "YES," we also acknowledge that, to do so, we must transform the way we implement current services. We must change and become more strategic to increase the number of students that have access to RFB&D's audio instructional materials.

Transformation isn't easy. It takes time and requires an even greater commitment from all of us. As of now, we've been entrusted with servicing more than 500 schools and 1,759 individuals around the state. We're also taking on the challenge of recording 10,100 hours of new material for our national library. This will push our current capacity to tis limit. However, maintaining the status quo would be an injustice to the many unserved students who need us. It is our moral responsibility to invest in the changes needed to broaden our reach.

This summer, we took major steps toward launching this venture of change by:

Increasing staff in our Studio to handle more recording hours;
Helping RFB&D test and develop its new downloadable AudioAccess^SM product;
Investing in additional At-Home-Recording stations for our volunteers;
Began cultivating new stakeholders within each New Jersey county;
Strengthened our relationships with the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired;
Launched new fund raising initiatives to help support these changes.

We are sincere in our efforts and compelled by the need to bring these changes to students. We have great students in New Jersey, with great potential. Their inspirational stories are our motivation. They've told us how RFB&D enables them to learn not just school year to school year, but throughout life. We are encouraged by their words and have a vision that additional students will realize their potential with our help.

After 50 years of unprecedented success throughout New Jersey, I hope you will share our strong sense of urgency to make these changes happen. We can only succeed by entering this era of transformation together. I ask you to join me in that mission to build a foundation that will benefit these students now and 50 more years to come.

Stephanie Campbell

Record-A-Thon 2008

The New Jersey Unit's 13th annual Record-A-Thon, held April 10-16, led up to our 50th Anniversary Gala and celebrated the unit's fifty illustrious years serving students with print disabilities. Guests included Nobel Prize winner in Economics, Dr. Eric Maskin, and local authors and celebrities. We'd like to thank Outback Restaurant of Hamilton Square, Delta's of New Brunswick and Wegman's of Princeton for supplying volunteers and staff with delicious food, and Obal Garden Market and Nassau Inn of Princeton for donating prizes for the volunteers.

photo captions:
Dr. Eric Maskin, 2007 Nobel Prize winner in Economics, with Chhaya Sarda
Volunteers enjoy the 83 Caesar Salads donated by Outback Restaurant of Hamilton.
Studio Production Director Michelle Ioselevich with Dr. Melvin Benarde, author of Our Precarious Habitat...It's in Your Hands
Bob Kolker with Dr. Paul Steinhardt, author of Endless Universe: Beyond the Big Bang
Michelle shows Dr. Norman Itzkowitz the finer points of recording his book, Grigory Rasputin: Holy Man or Mad Monk?
World renowned glass artist, educator and author Paul Stankard explains to volunteers and staff how RFB&D has helped him succeed.

photo caption:
Students and staff from the Joseph Kohn Rehabilitation Center (JKRC) in New Brunswick recently toured the New Jersey Unit to learn about RFB&D's services. JKRC helps people who are blind or visually impaired acquire skills that enable them to attend college, seek employment or become independent homemakers. Here, New Jersey Unit Educational Outreach Director Christine Ranaghan explains how the Outreach Center and studio can help those seeking assistance to receive audio textbooks they need to succeed.

From RFB&D: AudioAccess^SMNew RFB&D AudioAccess^SM Helps Students Learn in School, at Home and On the Go!

The vast RFB&D library is now available in a downloadable format. AudioAccess is an exciting new choice that enables members to download RFB&D's extensive library of audio books directly to a Microsoft Windows^® based computer and synchronize them with compatible portable media players.

This exciting new technology is the next step in the progression of making our library more accessible to a wider audience. AudioAccess expands the choices RFB&D offers students with print disabilities, such as dyslexia. Now RFB&D members can select to receive their accessible textbooks, literature and other supplemental educational materials in any of three formats: AudioAccess, AudioPlus^® or NIMAC files. Each provides students with complete and unabridged audio versions of the textbooks they need to level the academic playing field.

Christine Ranaghan, Director of Educational Outreach at the New Jersey Unit, believes "our RFB&D individual and institutional members are now able to enjoy the same high quality audio textbooks they are used to, but with the added benefit of on-the-go convenience!"

Enjoy the Glow of CandleHeart and Support the Unit

Candles play and important part in the coming holiday season. They also make great gifts and add a warm glow to any decor. You can find all the beautiful high quality natural soy candles you love and support the New Jersey Unit at CandleHeart.

CandleHeart is first and foremost about "people helping people." Its staff is dedicated to helping charities and organizations raise money and be of service to their communities. CandleHeart will donate 35-40 percent of your candle purchase to the New Jersey Unit.

Here's how it works:
Go to the www.candleheart.org Web site
Select RFB&D NJ as your charity. You will be directed to our special page where you can shop.

That is all there is to it--CandleHeart will send the candles directly to you.

If you do not have access to a computer, call the New Jersey Unit development office at 609-651-8563 for a catalog and order form.

About CandleHeart:

Michael Wiedder is the founder and CEO of CandleHeart. Michael began his non-profit career in 1992. He founded the Inner Cities Games Exposition, where he worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Hollenbeck Youth Center in developing educational and athletic programs for inner city youth. Michael combines his passion for helping non-profits and charities with his expertise in Internet marketing to help charitable organizations raise money and serve those in need. CandleHeart's goal is to make a positive impact on people's lives by working with charities across the country.

Celebrating the Past and Paving the way to the Future at our 50th Anniversary Gala

The New Jersey Unit celebrated its 50th Anniversary at the Hyatt Regency Princeton on April 17, 2008. The event was attended by 180 supporters and raised funds for the unit's services.

Photos by Peter Borg:
Unit Board Chair Fred Horowitz and Executive Director Stephanie Campbell flank volunteers from Avaya who have recorded advanced computer books since 1989 at the company's site in Lincroft.
Campbell and Horowitz with honoree Cathy Brown, a long time volunteer and former member of the unit's board of directors.
Howoritz and Campbell with the unit's first executive director, former studio director and longtime volunteer, Anne Young.
Vito J. DeSantis, Executive Director of the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired spoke about the importance of RFB&D's services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
Campbell and Horowitz with Eleanor Horne and Bruce Gilbertson of ETS. ETS founder Henry Chauncey was on the unit's first board of directors and has partnered with the unit on numerous projects.
Campbell and Horowitz with Amy and Jay Regan of the Harbourton Foundation, longtime supporters of the unit's mission and services.
RFB&D member and Iselin Middle School English teacher Phyllis Volker told the audience about how our services have helped her succeed after losing her sight.
Horowitz and Campbell with Jim and Peg Hastings, longtime volunteers and ambassadors for the unit. Peg is also a former board member.
RFB&D national President and CEO John Kelly tells the audience about our exciting future.

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Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic New Jersey Unit
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The Book and Headset Pin Campaign to Benefit Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic New Jersey Unit

The Book and Headset Pin Campaign is RFB&D New Jersey Unit's community-based fundraising endeavor throughout the state of New Jersey. The idea came from the New Jersey's commitment to raise awareness of RFB&D's Learning Through Listening Program. We believe that more students with print disabilities and their families should know that RFB&D AudioPlus Textbooks and AudioAccess can provide life-changing benefits for reading.

In order to promote awareness of the Book and Headset Pin Campaign, the RFB&D New Jersey Unit partners with community groups and local businesses. Our partners sell the pins and distribute pamphlets at their membership meetings, the workplace n throughout their communities. The donation for the pins--generally % to $10--helps to support the RFB&D New Jersey Unit's recording studio and educational outreach programs.

To find out where the pins are sold, or if your group would like to get involved in selling pins, please contact the RFB&D New Jersey Office at 609-651-8564.

New Jersey Unit
69 Mapleton Road
Princeton, NJ 08540-1830
Studio: 609-750-1830
Development: 609-651-8564
Educational Outreach Center: 609-750-0595
Toll Free: 1-877-4RFBDNJ (1-877-473-2365)
www.rfbdnj.org

Board of Directors
Officers
Fred A. Horowitz, Chair
Winston Kirton, Vice Chair
James Peters, Secretary
David Grant, Treasurer

Board Members
Edward Barry
Debra Faigen
Bruce M. Gilbertson
Herb Greenberg, Ph.D.
Madolyn Nagley Greve
Keith Latimer
Joseph Maida
Janet Nagourney
Joseph Plotnick
Mark S. Sherman
Christopher Tarr

Staff
Stephanie Campbell, Executive Director
Grace P. Alparone, Director of Development
Gretchen Orr, Unit and Development Administrator

Studio
Michelle Ioselevich, Production Director
Tony Gruenewald, Communications Coordinator/ Assistant Production Director
Terri Attridge, Assistant Production Director
Kate Benincasa, Assistant Production Director
Lauren Markley, Production Assistant
Ginny Mayer, Production Assistant
Judy Wilson-Smith, Production Assistant

Educational Outreach Center
Christine Ranaghan, Director
Deborah Passafiume, Manager
Stecian Muschette, State Regional Provider
Paula Roberts-Hansel, State Regional Provider
Emily Sherman, Project Membership Coordinator

Sandra Shapiro, Webmaster

Fall 2008 Recorder in pdf format | Audio

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