Accessible Insights Blog Posts

If you are interested  in equal access and inclusion issues, you are welcome to participate in this roundtable discussion.  Please read the media advisory below and then watch for links on audio and video feeds of the event.  The deadline for submitting questions is tomorrow, so don’t wait long if you want to be part of the event. 

Contact:  Doug Sprei, Director of Media Relations
dsprei@rfbd.org; (202) 684-8915

Avenues to Access –  
A Capitol Hill Roundtable Conversation
With People Who "Learn Differently"
When: February 7, 2011; 10 a.m. to Noon
Where:  U.S. Capitol Visitor’s Center, Congressional Meeting Room North
WASHINGTON, DC — Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) will host a roundtable spotlighting remarkable students with learning differences – and the transformative impact that accessible content and assistive technology has made in their lives.
This event brings journalists face to face with individuals who have overcome blindness, dyslexia and other learning disabilities – to flourish in higher education and move toward success in the workplace. Complementing their personal accounts, the Roundtable will explore how public policy can support students with learning differences, empower parents, and help educators gain access to critical assistive technology. Some of our Roundtable participants include:

• Scott MacIntyre: "American Idol" finalist and entertainer; he is a visually impaired Marshall Scholar and a former RFB&D National Achievement Award winner.

· Ryan Ansel: A student whose struggles with acute dyslexia have become a powerful motivator; he is now a thriving biology major at Davidson College.

• Daniel Standage: U.S. Marine Corps veteran, blinded by a rare reaction to a vaccine received while on duty; he is now serving disabled veterans making a return to college.
• Denna Lambert: Born with congenital cataracts, she has sidestepped visual impairment to become a manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Center.
• Kyle Wittenauer: Despite severe spatial processing deficiency and dysgraphia, he was accepted early decision at Yale to study neuroscience and play football.
• Amy Laudeman, Public Policy Associate, National Center for Learning Disabilities will expound on policy issues with Brad Thomas, SVP Public Policy and Advocacy at RFB&D.
• Several parents of children with learning differences will add their voices to the Roundtable, sharing firsthand accounts and family perspectives on special education.
• Andrew Friedman, RFB&D President and CEO, will present the organization’s strategic roadmap for widening access through new assistive technologies and services.

Remote coverage by bloggers and journalists is encouraged; please forward your questions for panelists and interview requests to dsprei@rfbd.org; or call 202-684-8915.

Credentialed media are welcome to attend; RSVP by noon February 4 to dsprei@rfbd.org, or call 703-581-2498.

About Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic^®

Founded in 1948, RFB&D serves more than 300,000 K-12, college and graduate students, as well as veterans and lifelong learners – all of whom are blind, visually impaired, dyslexic or have other disabilities that prohibit them from reading standard print. RFB&D’s collection of more than 64,000 digital textbooks and literature titles – delivered through internet downloads and available on Macs and PCs, CD and various assistive technology devices – is the largest of its kind in the world. More than 5,500 volunteers across the U.S. help make RFB&D’s content available, which students rely on to achieve educational success and entry into the workforce.  RFB&D, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Education, state and local education programs, and the generous contributions of individuals, foundations and corporations.  For more information, call (866)732-3585 or visit www.rfbd.org.

LL