UNIVERSITY NEWS - MARCH 2005

MEDIA CONTACT: Kristine M. McGrath
561-297-1168, kmcgrath@fau.edu

FAU Hosts Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the Florida Unit of the RFB&D Learning Through Listening® Studio

BOCA RATON, FL (March 30, 2005) - Florida Atlantic University celebrated the completion of the Gladys L. Davis Pavilion - Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) and welcomed its staff to their new "home" on the Boca Raton campus during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held today. The newly dedicated facility will serve as a fully equipped recording studio where volunteers will record textbooks on CDs for persons with vision, learning or physical impairments.

"A mark of any great university is the ability for it to give back to the community," said FAU President Frank T. Brogan. "FAU is proud to be part of a program that will provide a great service to the public."

The 4,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility has room for eight recording booths which will greatly expand services to people within the print disabled community. The building will also house an educational outreach coordinator whose primarily responsibility is to work with the Palm Beach County school district in assisting students with print disabilities.

"RFB&D's assistive technology program coupled with personal attention enables people with print disabilities to complete their education, advance their careers and gain self esteem," said Christine McCarthy, executive director of the Florida Unit of the RFB&D.

The Florida Unit of the RFB&D Learning Through Listening® is a chapter of a national organization. Since 1958, this unique organization has successfully supported the education of print-disabled students who would otherwise be denied the means to reach their full academic and personal potential. Last fiscal year, volunteers working in the Florida Unit donated 15,150 hours of their time and completed 4,113 hours of recording. Additionally, more than 1,000 schools and more than 75,000 students across the state of Florida were provided access to the audio library.

The organization was founded in 1948 by Ann T. Macdonald in New York City under the name of Recording for the Blind, Inc. Its original purpose was to assist blinded World War II veterans under the G.I. Bill of Rights.
For more information on the RFB&D, contact Dianne Raulson at 561-297-4444 or draulson@rfbd-florida.org.

- FAU -