from the Newsline link on www.nfb.org
National Federation of the Blind NEWSLINEŽ
National Federation of the Blind | 1800 Johnson Street | Baltimore, MD 21230
FREE SERVICE TO THOSE WHO CANNOT READ REGULAR NEWSPRINT!
CENTRALIZED SERVICE! TOLL FREE: 1-888-882-1629
As of March 1, 2002, National Federation of the Blind NEWSLINEŽ reached
another milestone. The service now handles thousands of phone calls through
our
centralized service each day for individuals across the country who can now
access the daily newspapers as never before. The toll-free centralized
call-in
center provides service without delay to any subscriber. This also enables
those who cannot read conventional print to have access to newspapers on
NEWSLINEŽ
when traveling throughout the United States.The upgrades will allow for
additional options such as other language papers to be placed on the system.
The NFB NEWSLINEŽ user can easily choose which newspaper, section, and
article to read with the use of a standard touch-tone phone. Each day, with
his or
her morning coffee, the user can choose that day's, the previous day's, and
the previous Sunday's issue of each newspaper on the service. The menu
provided
allows the user to change the speed and voice quality, spell out, or search
for words.
NATIONAL FEDERATION of the BLIND NEWSLINEŽ
PROVIDES NATIONAL AND LOCAL NEWSPAPERS!
Service provides today's, yesterday's, and the previous Sunday's issue.
The National Federation of the Blind NEWSLINEŽ now provides dozens of
newspapers such as USA Today, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the
Los Angeles
Times, and the Wall Street Journal. Dozens of local papers are also
available each day to subscribers. In addition to carrying the news, local
sites can
use one or more special channels to distribute announcements of specific
interest to the blind.
NEWSLINEŽ Needs Partners
New local sites must be funded. Members of the National Federation of the
Blind are working to establish new centers as quickly as possible. To do
this,
it is necessary to obtain funding commitments from interested organizations,
agencies, and individuals. In light of the need and the cost-effective
benefits
of NEWSLINEŽ, the National Federation of the Blind must develop
partnerships.
Synthetic Speech Used for Menu and Choices
The user can easily select newspaper, section, and article of interest.
The National Federation of the Blind has designed this revolutionary,
totally electronic system to receive digital transmissions from newspapers
on the
morning of publication, reformat the data for conversion to synthetic
speech, and upload to the National Federation of the Blind NEWSLINEŽ. By
just dialing
a toll-free number, dozens of newspapers are now available over any
touch-tone telephone using synthetic speech. Blind and visually impaired
individuals
become eligible for this free service by filling out a simple application.
Soon thereafter the individual is sent his or her identification number from
the National Federation of the Blind headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, or
their state's local sponsor.
Who can benefit from NEWSLINEŽ ?
Anyone who cannot read conventional newsprint could qualify for this free
service. Many seniors have lost enough vision that reading the daily
newspaper
is no longer possible. They will enjoy being able once again to participate
actively in community affairs. Blind children are now able to research their
own civics assignments and do their homework independently.
National Federation of the Blind NEWSLINEŽ is the only service that makes so
much information available to blind people 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
When on vacation, or on a business trip, readers can access National
Federation of the Blind NEWSLINEŽ with the toll-free phone number for that
state,
from any touch-tone phone and entering their personal ID and security codes.
National Federation of the Blind NEWSLINEŽ is easy and convenient!
How to use NEWSLINEŽ
With only a touch-tone telephone, anyone can access the National Federation
of the Blind NEWSLINEŽ system. The reader needs no computer and no special
training.
After entering an ID number and security code, the system prompts new
callers to make their selections. Readers press 1 for Newspapers, 2 for the
Local
Information Channel, or 3 for NEWSLINEŽ News.
When choosing the Newspaper option, readers can choose from today's paper,
yesterday's paper, and the Sunday paper (if one is published). Once in the
paper,
readers choose the section of the newspaper they wish to read: sports, news,
business section, and more. Pressing a single key on the telephone keypad
will quickly move readers from one article to the next, skip ahead in the
article, return to a previous article, change the speaking speed, change the
reading voice, or spell out words. The keystrokes are few and easy to
remember. But if the readers forget, NEWSLINEŽ reminds callers each time
they call
in to check the help page to review it.
Pressing 2 will access the Local Information Channel. This channel will have
important information about other services and items of interest to blind
individuals
in that community. Information about blindness is not always easy for the
newly blinded person to find, let alone use to advantage. This may be one of
the more important components of the National Federation of the Blind
NEWSLINEŽ system for some readers.
National Federation of the Blind NEWSLINEŽ News lists the telephone numbers
for each state. Other items of national interest may also appear on this
channel.
NOW THE BLIND HAVE ACCESS TO NEWSPAPER INFORMATION
Lifetime learning, including detailed awareness of current events, is part
of what makes a good citizen, a successful employee or employer, and a
valuable
participant in community life. Without ready access to information, none of
us can reach his or her full potential. Until 1995, the nation's blind did
not have the promise of ready access to a fundamental source of such
information-the daily newspaper. But now the National Federation of the
Blind has
created National Federation of the Blind NEWSLINEŽ.
National Federation of the Blind NEWSLINEŽ is at last making it possible for
blind individuals to gain access to the information in newspapers at the
same
time as their sighted colleagues, friends, and family members. Blind
professionals, for example, can now converse on relevant topics, no longer
being underinformed
about information critical to their professions or left out at social
functions when the latest editorial is discussed. Beyond this, a wealth of
other
information primarily found in newspapers is now also available to the blind
on an equal footing, making possible their participation in the life of the
community on the basis of equality. The internet provides sighted
individuals access to thousands of newspapers and magazines with just a
quick search.
National Federation of the Blind NEWSLINEŽ is the only system that will
bring the blind so much to choose from, at the time when the subscriber
wishes to
read. More and more papers are beginning to understand that blind and
visually disabled individuals, just as the sighted, need to have access to
their
local papers. The numbers of participating papers are steadily growing. If
you wish to have your local paper on National Federation of the Blind
NEWSLINEŽ,
or are connected with a newspaper which would like to provide its text of
your paper to those who can not read the print, contact the National
Federation
of the Blind at
[log in to unmask]
Related Article in the January/February Braille Monitor
Now available throughout the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week:
Dozens of newspapers! Just call: 1-888-882-1629
Updated: February 12, 2002
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