San Diego, CA. – November 12, 2003

Kurzweil Educational Systems Announces Kurzweil 3000 Award and Scholarship Program

Joins the National Center for Learning Disabilities in Recognizing Educator for Excellence in Teaching and Commitment to Students with Learning Disabilities

Kurzweil Educational Systems, Inc., innovator of reading technology for individuals with visual or learning disabilities, today announced its Kurzweil 3000 Award and Scholarship Program for excellence in the classroom. The company’s first Kurzweil 3000 award will be presented in conjunction with the National Center for Learning Disabilities’ (NCLD) Bill Ellis Teacher Preparation Award. The award recognizes a general education teacher who touches the lives of children in the classroom and demonstrates a commitment to encouraging and supporting students who are most at risk for school failure, including those with learning disabilities. In addition to a cash award from NCLD, the recipient will receive Kurzweil 3000 software and training from Kurzweil Educational Systems.

Additional Kurzweil 3000 awards and scholarships going forward will recognize a public school that has made significant strides in supporting learning disabilities, and a high school senior with an identified learning disability who has excelled in the classroom and plans to pursue a four-year undergraduate degree. For more information on how to apply for these Kurzweil 3000 awards and scholarships, contact Kurzweil Educational Systems at 1-800-894-5374 or send email to info@kurzweiledu.com.

Kurzweil 3000, the premier reading, writing and learning software for struggling students, makes it possible for students with learning disabilities and related difficulties to independently read, study, write, and take classroom tests. Access to the latest version of the software and training on how to integrate Kurzweil 3000 into the classroom helps teachers to adapt the software to each student’s learning style and to make the classroom experience more productive.

Brian Coffey, a 5th grade teacher at Kelso Elementary School in Inglewood, CA will receive this year’s Bill Ellis Teacher Preparation Award and the first Kurzweil 3000 software award. Coffey was selected from among nominations submitted by members of NCLD’s Professional Advisory Board. The award will be presented at the 54th Annual International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Conference being held November 12-15 at the Town & Country Resort & Convention Center, 500 Hotel Circle North, in San Diego, CA.

“The Bill Ellis Award was established to honor the memory of NCLD’s former director of professional services, a great educator and humanitarian. The award recognizes Bill’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of children,” said Dr. Sheldon Horowitz, NCLD’s Director of Professional Services. “Kurzweil Educational’s supplementary software award supports Bill’s ideals and provides an outstanding resource to enhance the learning experience for students with learning disabilities.”

Kurzweil Educational’s flagship product, Kurzweil 3000, is widely recognized as the most comprehensive and integrated solution for addressing language and literacy difficulties. The software uses a multisensory approach – presenting printed or electronic text on the computer screen with added visual and audible accessibility. The product incorporates a host of dynamic features including powerful decoding, study skills, writing and test taking tools all designed to adapt to each individual’s learning style and to minimize frustration for both the learner and educator.

Visit Booth Numbers 211 & 213 at IDA for a demonstration of Kurzweil 3000 and to learn more about Kurzweil Educational Systems and its new Kurzweil 3000 Award and Scholarship Program.

About Kurzweil Educational Systems, Inc.

Kurzweil Educational Systems, founded in 1996, is the industry leader and innovator of scanning, reading and writing solutions for people with learning disabilities, and people who are blind or visually impaired. Ray Kurzweil, a co-founder of the original company, invented computer-based reading machine technology 25 years ago to provide access to printed text for the blind. With a pioneering history in developing assistive technology, the company has received worldwide recognition for enabling people with disabilities to lead more independent lives through improved reading and writing abilities. Kurzweil 3000, the company's flagship product for individuals with reading and writing disabilities, recently won a "District's Choice Top 100 Product" 2003 award published by the District Administration magazine, a "Media and Methods Awards Portfolio" 2003 award from Media and Methods magazine, and three eSchool News 2003 Readers’ Choice Awards for K-12 Instructional Software. For more company or product information, visit www.kurzweiledu.com.

Contact

Collaborative Insight, Inc.

Hepzi Fonseca
617-357-7713
fonseca@collaborative.com

Collaborative Insight, Inc.

Julie Doucette
617-357-7789
doucette@collaborative.com