Seth Burstein relies on audiotapes of textbooks in his studies.

Freshman cited for battle against reading disability

This past summer, freshman Seth Burstein did something he never imagined he'd have the patience for: He read his first novel for pleasure. Only severe boredom could have driven him to tackle Nick Hornby's recent novel "About a Boy," admits Burstein, who read the book during quiet periods while working as a lifeguard at an apartment complex near his home in Westfield, New Jersey. For Burstein, who has a learning disability that makes it difficult for him to "decode" written text, reading has always been a major chore -- certainly not something he does just for fun. Although it took him longer to finish the book than it might take the average reader, reaching the novel's end was a real accomplishment for Burstein. "It wasn't easy," he explains. "After reading for four hours straight, I'd only get through about 25 pages. So it was a long, slow process, but it felt good to finish it." For applying that same determination to his scholarly and extracurricular pursuits, Burstein was recently honored by the Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D), a national nonprofit organization that is the world's largest provider of textbooks and educational and reference materials to people who cannot read standard print due to blindness or other disabilities. Burstein was one of only three students in the nation to win the RFB&D's Marion Huber Learning through Listening Award, a $6,000 scholarship prize given annually to high school seniors who have demonstrated "superior scholarship, leadership, enterprise and service to others" and who plan to pursue higher education. Burstein was presented the award by actor Danny Glover on March 28 at a ceremony held at the Essex House Hotel in New York City. The awards ceremony recalled for the Yale student and his family the many years Burstein struggled with reading before his dyslexia-like decoding disability was diagnosed in the summer before he started high school. He remembers that, from the beginning, reading was a slow and painful process. He was still decoding new words by deliberately distinguishing the sounds of the individual letters long after his school peers did. Yet he always scored above average on intelligence tests. Burstein and his parents knew he had a reading problem, but early tests to diagnose his disability were inconclusive. So the student frustratingly labored through reading assignments. Often, his mother helped by reading to him. "I was very uncomfortable whenever called upon to read aloud," says the Yale student. "But I tried not to let it get in the way of my learning." In ninth grade, Burstein began using audiotapes of textbooks, novels and other resources from RFB&D, which freed him from his struggles with printed materials. In his final marking period that year, Burstein received his first report card of straight A's, a trend that continued throughout his years at Westfield High School. At graduation, Burstein had a 4.0 grade average, which he maintained while also winning medals in national and international swimming competitions. In 1997 he was one of 12 swimmers under the age of 16 chosen to represent the United States in the Maccabiah Games in Israel. His other high school honors included being named an Academic All-American and receiving a state scholar-athlete award. Burstein was admitted to Yale through the University's Early Decision Program, and wrote about the challenges of his disability on his application essay. He utilizes the services of Yale's Resource Office on Disabilities and the RFB&D's main headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, from which he continues to order audiotapes by mail. "Sometimes if I can't get a particular book on tape I have to depend on a reader from the Resource Office on Disabilities," he explains. "That can be a little bit harder because we have to make our schedules meet." The office also arranges with Burstein's professors for extended time to take tests. Having to work around the challenges posed by his reading disability leaves the Yale freshman with little time for leisure, he admits. As a member of the Yale swim team, he has to contend with frequent practices and road trips during the season. "As far as studying goes, everything takes me a bit longer, so I really have to manage my time well," he says. "For example, if I have to read a specific chapter in a book, I have to take the time to locate that chapter on the audiotape. In college, I'm doing a lot more swimming and a lot more schoolwork, but there are still the same number of hours in the day." Burstein currently is enjoying the variety of subjects he's studying, including economics, Hebrew and "Perspectives on Technology." He has yet to decide on a major, but says he toys with the idea of a medical career in the long-term future. He would also like to help others with similar reading disabilities. After the RFB&D awards ceremony, the mother of a young girl approached Burstein and asked if he would be willing to talk to her daughter about how helpful books on tape can be to someone with a reading disability. The Yale student passed on his phone number and is anxious to speak his mind on the subject. "I do think that I'll make time to advocate for those with reading disabilities in the future," Burstein comments. "I couldn't have done it without the special accommodations I've gotten, from my mom and tutors who read to me to the taped materials and the extra time on tests. I'd like to be able to make a difference for others who share those special needs." -- By Susan Gonzalez T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S NIDA gives Yale $11 million grant Screening kicks off Slifka Center forum on Jews and sports Freshman cited for battle against reading disability Designer Dalal slowly changing men's passions about their favorite fashions Day will be devoted to giving children 'a fun time' Adventurer tells of his expeditions to the 'three Poles' U.S. and Canada have a vital connection, says ambassador Yale Opera to present Britten's 'The Rape of Lucretia' Yale athletes host day of sports and fun for city youngsters Lecture and panel to focus on South Asian affairs Area students to use conflict resolution skills at annual Peace by P.E.A.C.E. festival Conference will examine interdisciplinarity of Baroque culture Academy sponsors talk on state's economy Yale authors to sign copies of new works Student organist to perform at Center Church on the Green Yale Scoreboard In the News Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus| Calendar of Events|Bulletin Board Classified Ads|Search Archives|Production Schedule|Bulletin Staff Public Affairs Home|News Releases| E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page