Asher Rosenfeld launched Audibles with Asher in 2020–when he was in 7th grade.
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When the world shut down in 2020, most 12-year-olds were adjusting to online school, social distancing, and a sudden loss of routine. But one Upper West Side seventh grader, Asher Rosenfeld, decided to use his time differently—by launching a project that would become a lifeline for children with disabilities across the city.
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That project, called Audibles with Asher, began as a weekly one-on-one Zoom reading session with kids who have special needs. Five years later, it’s still going strong.
Now 17 and a high school senior, Rosenfeld continues to log on each week to read books aloud to the same children he first met in the early months of the pandemic. What started as a gesture of kindness has evolved into something far more meaningful—for both the reader and his listeners.
“The same kids I started reading with at the start of seventh grade I am reading with again at the start of my senior year,” Rosenfeld said. “We grew up together and have developed incredibly meaningful relationships with each other throughout these years.”
The sessions aren’t held in a group; instead, Rosenfeld meets with each child individually. He ships books to each participant in advance, donates all materials himself, and tailors the time to what each child needs—not just as readers, but as friends.
The virtual format, while originally a necessity, has remained a key to the program’s longevity. Parents say it has made it easier for children with physical or medical challenges to participate from the comfort of their homes. Many have called the experience a “lifeline” for their kids—offering not only entertainment and routine, but emotional connection.
“Asher is so kind and reads beautifully to my girls,” said Karen, a parent whose daughters have participated in the program. “They asked if they can do it all the time!”
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Rosenfeld has partnered with Friendship Circle, a nonprofit that supports individuals with special needs and promotes greater inclusion. While the books vary from week to week, the real takeaway, Rosenfeld says, has never been about the reading material.
“Over time, I’ve realized it’s not actually about the books, it’s about the connection that happens while we’re reading and hanging out,” he said. “That’s the part that’s stuck and the part that matters most to me.”
With college on the horizon, Rosenfeld says he hopes to continue the program in some capacity, and he’s exploring ways to help others replicate the model in their own communities.
“Reading brings the imagination to life,” he said. “It takes us beyond our everyday world and brings us into someone else’s—which is so special and so cool.”
For the families who’ve been on the other side of the screen for the past five years, Audibles with Asher has been more than just a storytime. It’s been a consistent presence, a safe space, and a reminder that even the smallest gestures can create lifelong bonds.
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