(909) 949-4316
(714) 547-4171
(909) 949-4316
(714) 547-4171
Long-time RFB&D member Annee Hartzell.
SANTA ANA, CA - Normally, RFB&D's Santa Ana studio hums with the quiet efficiency of trained volunteers recording text books for disabled students. When the kids from Edison Academy in Santa Ana arrived on September 21, it became anything but quiet. The kindergarten through 5th graders were there to learn about RFB&D and how we make the books they use, and nothing was going to stop them.
The students came to visit our Santa Ana studio due in large part to the efforts of their teacher, Annee Hartzell. Ms. Hartzell first started using RFB&D books in 1982, and now teaches visually impaired students while being blind herself. Part of her students' trip involved riding the public bus, since the school does not have one of its own. When asked, Ms. Hartzell explained that people with blindness ride the bus all the time, so it was a learning experience for the students. Afterward, we could not help but wonder if a donor would have paid for their transportation.
The students got a chance to listen to each other record.
Once they got to the studio, they had an opportunity to meet with Mike Davis, Executive Director of the Inland Empire/Orange County Unit. Mr. Davis talked with the students about how our volunteers enjoy the opportunity to help and how RFB&D first started in 1948. Then they got a chance to try recording themselves.
Our recording booths were a new experience for Annee Hartzell's students, so they each took a moment to acquaint themselves with their new soundproof surroundings. After feeling the egg-crate padding on the walls and the wind-screen on the microphone, they took their shot at recording. We learned about their ages, grades, pets, and favorite colors. All between giggles and laughter, of course.
Since the class visited us to learn all about RFB&D, the next stop on the agenda was our players. For those who do not know, our players have a key describer feature where the buttons announce their function when pressed. Our visually impaired members appreciate this feature, and Ms. Hartzell's class really went to town with it. The students wasted no time, and filled our kitchen with the beeps and voices of our players and books.
Each student got a goody bag.
No one wanted the fun to end, but the class had a schedule to keep. Fortunately, we had some treats to bribe them away from the players.
Afterward, we realized that so much more could be done for this class. Ms. Hartzell has gotten some funding from the school district, but her class still needs more players and a higher subscription. Interested donors should contact Katie Cowen, our Director of Development.
You're Invited: Join Us for a Free One-Hour Lunch on November 6th
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic® • RFB&D® • Inland Empire/Orange County • 1844 West Eleventh Street, Unit C, Upland, California 91786, (909) 949-4316 • 2021 East Fourth Street, Suite 114, Santa Ana, California 92705, (714) 547-4171