Audrey,

I'm not an expert on Newsline, although I have heard several demos and am
also exploring it for our subregional library for the blind.  Newsline is
NOT an online service.  It enables people who are blind to access the
complete text of USA Today, The New York Times, and other national and
local newspapers with the use of only a touch-tone telephone. It is
sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) in conjunction with
organizations throughout the country. I think it could be quite useful to
some people with learning disabilities, but you'd have to get in touch with
NFB to find out if that is an option. It is a very impressive system but
pretty costly for the average library or local sponsor.  There's in-depth
information on the NFB web site at http://www.nfb.org/newsline.htm.  Hope
this helps.

Julie

----------
> From: Audrey Gorman <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: NEWSLINE FOR THE BLIND -Reply
> Date: Monday, August 10, 1998 9:57 AM
>
> Marti,
>
> I have three (or three and a half?) questions. I have no answers because
> I don't work in a library right now, as you know.   First, since I'm not
> familiar with Newsline for the Blind, is it just audio or is there a
video
> component?
>
> Second, is the service something that would be useful for people with
> learning disabilities?  I find that more administrators get interested if
you
> can show them that something serves a large percentage of the
> community.
>
> Third, how does Newsline differ from other newspaper services that are
> available online?   I know there are some, sometimes serious, browser
> and other technological problems, but I wondered to what extent
> "mainstream" news options had been explored via existing technology
> used in slightly different ways.  How far away is the reality of making
the
> whole world as readily accessible as possible to everyone, and what do
> we have to do to get there?
>
> Sorry I don't have specific answers to your questions.  I'm sure other
> people do.  By the way, I'm still wearing my "real disability" pin!
>
> Audrey