First Lady Laura Bush will congratulate Rensselaer freshman Richard Booton today at the White House, for earning a 2001 National Achievement Award from the nonprofit organization, Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. Booton received one of the top three Marion Huber Learning through Listening Awards, which are presented annually to high school seniors with learning disabilities who demonstrate distinguished leadership, scholarship, enterprise, and service to the community. The award includes a $6,000 prize.
“This is a terrific honor for Richard and reflects his hard work and dedication,” said Debra Hamilton, assistant dean for disabled student services.
“I didn’t think [that] I’d be the one to win it, “ said Booton. “[Meeting the first lady is] an opportunity of a lifetime.”
Booton, a computer science major, has had an enjoyable first year at RPI. “I’ve had great professors and learned a lot.”
He graduated last year from Cold Spring Harbor High School in Cold Spring Harbor, NY with a 3.83 GPA. At that school, he was a member of the Science Club, the Math Team, the Spanish Club, and the varsity swimming and wrestling teams. Booton also served as a swim coach for the Special Olympics and established an after-school computer club to help students who are having difficulties with their programming assignments.
Booton’s early years were, as he put it, “rotten.” After birth, he could not breathe on his own because the umbilical cord had wrapped twice around his neck. Hospital doctors diagnosed him with epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Nine days later, Booton suffered the first of several ear infections; a rupture in his eardrums caused permanent damage to his ear and created a significant loss in hearing.
Booton’s health improved, but only after he had gone through a tough emotional struggle.
“Obviously I was different. All the other kids made fun of me, and I became withdrawn and depressed,” said Booton, who spent a number of years at a school for gifted children with disabilities.
Because of an auditory processing disability and dyslexia, Booton has difficulty reading and comprehending words. “I was never able to do my school reports or complete [the] required reading necessary for my grade, nor did I have any interest in reading. Reading was just too hard for me—it was not enjoyable,” noted Booton.
His opinion about reading changed considerably, however, when a friend of his mother’s suggested Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, and he entered into their program in the fourth grade. “With [the] textbooks on tape and lots of encouragement from my mom and teachers, I became an avid reader, which consequently uncovered a love for reading, making me forget that I have a disability,” said Booton.
In an effort to help him gain additional confidence, Booton’s mother also encouraged his involvement in modeling and in commercials, and Booton landed a starring role as Macaulay Culkin’s photo double in Home Alone 2—Lost in New York.
“Having [the] textbooks on tape that I need for school has made a world of difference for me,” said Booton.
“Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic has helped me immensely and has had a great impact not only on my school, but it has also impacted my self-esteem in a positive way. [Their support] has taught me that regardless of your disability you can achieve anything that you dream of doing.”
