A Silicon Bullet for Dyslexia

Mike Matvy
School Psychologist / Assistive Technology Specialist
Knox County Schools, Knoxville, TN
e-mail: matvym@k12.tn.net

Date: 11/22/2002

(Persons needing taped textbooks might see ENROLLING FOR TAPE RECORDED BOOKS, Mike Matvy, 6-10-96; and STARTING TO USE ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR READING, Mike Matvy, 9-8-95)

Students who use taped books must have their books ordered before school is out so they will have them to start school in August. To insure that this can be accomplished the process must start in the first week in May ( If books are needed for January the process needs to start the first week of September or sooner.) . This process would not need to start so soon if master tapes for the books we need were already recorded and if we could be sure to get the correct tapes for these books. Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB & D) ( Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB & D) National Headquarters: 20 Roszel Road, Princeton, NJ 08540, 1(800) 221-4792, The Tennessee unit of RFB & D, 205 Badger Rd., Oak Ridge, TN 37830, 1 (423) 482-3496) has a large collection of textbooks that are ready to mail out in a week or so.

However, if the master tapes need to be recorded for a textbook, it will take months to complete the reading of that textbook. Hence, if that is the case we need to get books ordered the first week in May or sooner. Another reason for ordering early is that we do not know that we have a correct set of tapes until we get them "in hand" and compare them to samples from the books we are using. Sometimes we have ordered tapes finding that the title, author, copyright, and publisher all match, but when we received a box of tapes, the text does not match what is on the tapes because it is a different version, grade level, or something. The only way to be sure is to order in time to get the tapes in May and check what is recorded on them against what is in our books. The following schedule is suggested for ordering taped books for the start of school.

May 1

1. Determine what books will be needed for the next year
2. Make a list of books with complete title (and grade level, edition, or other identifying information), author, copyright, and publisher
3. Get student RFB & D# (This will either be a SS# or part of the students name and the birth date)
4. Call Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB & D) at 1(800) 221-4792 ( During peak times of the year ( May 25 to June 15, and August 15 to October 1 ) you would need to call early morning ( 9 or 10 A.M.) or in the evening (7 or 8 P.M. ) to get through quicker with less wait time.)
5. Give them the student RFB & D# and tell them who the student is and where the books should be sent.
6. You will be asked for the title, author, copyright, etc.
7. Mark your list noting what books were not available.
8. For books that are not now available on tape, ask for instruction on how to get the books recorded. Sometimes RFB & D is in the process of making master tapes for the textbook. In that case you will need to request that your student's name be placed on the list to receive copies of the book when they are completed. Getting books in installments is also an option; however, at this date the best choice is to ask for the book upon completion. To be sure. check to see that the completion date for the book is before you need it.
9. For books that are not in the process of being taped, you may need to talk to someone else at RFB & D about the procedure for getting a book recorded. They will give you instructions usually to send them two copies of the book (one copy for reader and one for the person who monitors the accuracy of the reading ). Sometimes you may be told that they cannot record this book at this time.
10. If you are told by the main RFB & D office that they cannot record a book for you and you need it badly, you can call your local RFB & D studio and talk to recording staff. Tell them the situation and ask for advice on what to do.

May 20

1. Check to see that all ordered books have come in.
2. Collect them and get copies of the text books for comparing content
3. Get a RFB & D compatible tape player (Handi-Cassette from American Printing House for the Blind or GE tape player from Library of Congress, or RFB & D Talkman player). Insert tape one and listen for the table of contents. Check them against what your book says. If it looks ok, you probably have the correct tapes. However, to be more sure, go to another tape or two and check them. Advance(using fast forward) until you can hear a beep that indicates a page # . Advance until you are able to hear the reading of the text; find a beep and listen for a page #. Once you have a page #, find that page in your book. See if it is the same book.
4. For any books that are not correct, call RFB & D and tell them the problem to see if they can get you the correct book. You may need to have the book recorded and shipped to you at your school over the summer.

Note: Taped books are on loan for one year. The loan period can be extended if necessary.

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Copyright © 1996 Mike Matvy All rights reserved. The documents at this Web site are copyrighted by the author and may be used for non-commercial purposes only. You are encouraged to reproduce and use these documents as long as appropriate credit is given to the author.