The below article on the blind in Broadcasting, and a previous article on
the blind owner of a trucking company were inspiring. They both mentioned
useful facilities for the blind, one in Los Angeles, the other in Chicago.

Are there any similar facilities in New York? I have lived here for years
and haven't heard of such practical and focused facilities.

Further, are there any websites, or any listings of facilities around the
U.S.?

Thanks.

Peter Seymour

On Sun, 14 Mar 1999, Kelly Pierce wrote:

> Center trains disabled for radio industry jobs
>
>    March 12, 1999
>
>    BY ROBERT FEDER SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST
>
>    Chicago has become home of the first facility in the country to train
>    disabled people for jobs in the radio industry.
>
>    The Radio Center for People with Disabilities is the brainchild of
>    Brad Saul, a veteran radio producer and syndicator and founder of
>    Chicago-based Media Adventures.
>
>    Saul, 38, said the idea of establishing the nonprofit center was an
>    outgrowth of his own battle with multiple sclerosis.
>
>    "If I can do something to help other disabled people feel good about
>    themselves and make them productive, self-sufficient, tax-paying
>    citizens, that's what it's all about," he said.
>
>    With funding from large radio groups, major advertisers and the parent
>    company of the Arbitron ratings service, the center will train and
>    help find jobs for disabled people in virtually every off-air position
>    that exists at a radio station--from sales and billing to engineering
>    and technical operations.
>
>    Saul emphasized that the center will not train people for on-air jobs.
>    "That's the last thing I want to get into," he said.
>
>    Radio industry executives have embraced Saul's pilot project as a
>    practical way to avoid government-imposed requirements to increase
>    employment of the disabled.
>
>    "Disability happens to be the one minority group for which there is no
>    discrimination by sex, race, color or creed," Saul said. "We come in
>    all shapes and sizes, and we come in every sex and every race. So
>    we're politically correct."
>
>    The country's 48 million disabled people--representing the largest
>    single minority group around--also have the highest rate of
>    unemployment at 66 percent. "Anybody with a disability would certainly
>    be eligible to participate in the center," Saul said. "We're not going
>    to discriminate on any level."
>
>    The Radio Center for People with Disabilities is at 680 N. Lake Shore
>    Drive. For information, call (312) 640-5000.
>
>    Tuning in: Channel 7 renews top weatherman
>
>    * Meteorologist Jerry Taft has signed on for five more years as
>    principal weather anchor at WLS-Channel 7. The move locks in all four
>    members of the ABC-owned station's front line, following the recent
>    long-term renewals of news anchors John Drury and Diann Burns and
>    sports anchor Mark Giangreco. Taft joined Channel 7 in 1984 after
>    seven years at WMAQ-Channel 5.
>
>    * Bill Kurtis hosts a special edition of "Investigative Reports" on
>    the past year of political upheaval in Washington. "War on the
>    Presidency: The Road to Impeachment" focuses on the role of both
>    parties and the media in the wake of the Monica Lewinsky scandal. The
>    one-hour special on A&E, which debuts at 8 p.m. Tuesday, was produced
>    by Chicago-based Kurtis Productions.
>
>    * WFLD-Channel 32 marks the fifth anniversary of "Fox Thing in the
>    Morning" all next week with highlights of interviews and bits. Among
>    other "magical moments," hosts Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano will
>    recall memorable in-studio visits by broadcasting legends David
>    Brinkley and Larry Lujack. The segments will air during the show's 8
>    a.m. hour.
>
>    * Chicago Sun-Times movie critic Roger Ebert hosts "An Evening at the
>    Academy Awards: The Winners," a half-hour post-Oscar special produced
>    by KABC-TV in Los Angeles, at 12:05 a.m. March 22 on Channel 7.
>    Ebert's co-host will be model Karen Duffy.
>
>    * Vicki Zwart, a free-lance producer at WGN-Channel 9, has been
>    promoted to supervising producer of morning news.
>
>    * Jonathan Lehrer has resigned as vice president of public affairs at
>    the AAA-Chicago Motor Club to form his own public relations and
>    Internet consulting firm. During his 17 years at AAA, Lehrer often
>    turned up on local television and radio as an authority on
>    transportation and traffic safety issues.
>
>
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