Sixty Years of Learning Through Listening!

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D), a national nonprofit, volunteer organization, has been the leading accessible audiobook library for students with disabilities such as visual impairment or dyslexia that make reading standard print difficult or impossible for the last 60 years. With titles available in every subject area and grade level, RFB&D’s digitally recorded audio textbooks on CD and downloadable audio textbooks help students challenged by the printed page.

The Georgia Unit of RFB&D began in 1953 and has been an active part of our organization ever since, helping students learn through listening.

A Short History of the Georgia Unit of RFB&D 

• Recording for the Blind (RFB) was started in New York City in 1948 with the single goal of providing blinded World War II veterans with educational material so they could attend college on the G.I. Bill.
• The Georgia Unit of RFB was established in 1953 as the eighth unit outside of RFB headquarters.
• Elizabeth Powell was our chairperson from 1953 until 1955 and she found us a home in the UGA Library.
• The Georgia Unit of RFB recorded one book in its first year and two books in its second year.
• Mary Anne Hodgson was our chairperson from 1955 until 1959 and we moved to the second floor of the new Georgia Center for Continuing Education in 1956.
• In 1961 RFB moved to the UGA Physics Building.
• The headquarters of RFB was moved to Princeton, NJ.
• In 1964 the Callaway Foundation awarded the Georgia Unit a $100,000 grant for a new building of our own.
• The building at 120 Florida Avenue in Athens has been our home since it was completed in 1967.
• All recording of books was on vinyl records until the mid 60s when we started using reel-to-reel tape recorders. We then converted our recording process to computer-based digital recording in 2001 and 2002.
• RFB became Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) in 1995.

Now we have over 200 volunteers who come to the studio each week and we complete almost 300 books each year!

Our Vision

Our vision is for all people to have equal access to the printed word.

Our Mission

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, a nonprofit volunteer organization, is the nation's educational library serving people who cannot effectively read standard print because of visual impairment, dyslexia, or other physical disability.
Our mission is to create opportunities for individual success by providing, and promoting the effective use of, accessible educational materials.

For current facts and fiqures about RFB&D please visit the RFB&D national website.