How do you read a newspaper if you’re unable to see? That is one question the Kaua‘i Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Hawai‘i, is trying to answer as it met for its first anniversary, yesterday morning.
How do you read a newspaper if you’re unable to see?
That is one question the Kaua‘i Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Hawai‘i, is trying to answer as it met for its first anniversary, yesterday morning.
“It was a year ago, Sept. 7 when we got our papers and became recognized as an organization,” said Ulu Breen, the NFB Kaua‘i Chapter president.
To celebrate the occasion, Charlene Ota, another NFB member, was brought in to tackle the question of reading newspapers if one is not sighted.
Ota was talking about the NFB Newsline program which offers free personalized newspaper and TV listings service over the phone.
NFB-Newsline is a free electronic service that gives any blind, visually impaired, or print-disabled person access to newspapers, magazines and TV listings 24 hours a day, seven days a week using a touch tone telephone.
Ota said currently, NFB Hawai‘i has The Honolulu Advertiser as part of the offering, and through special funding, there is room for another publication.
With the Kaua‘i Chapter being the only Neighbor Island chapter, Ota said having a local publication be the second Hawai‘i publication becoming part of the national service would offer Kaua‘i members a tremendous opportunity to benefit from the newspaper.
Under this service, Ota said the paper would be forwarded to a staff in Baltimore where the data would be made available to those visiting the NFB Newsline program.
A flier touting the NFB Newsline program states that any blind or visually impaired person can listen to today’s newspaper, today, for free. Additionally, up to two weeks of TV listings can be obtained in advance.
Ota said there are more than 250 newspapers and magazines available from the service, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, and others.
Magazine titles include all three AARP publications as well as The New Yorker, The Economist and Diabetes Self-Management.
Associated Press and UPI are new to the service offering national and state news updates each hour.
Additionally, NFB Newsline offers special local channels to obtain information about services and items of specific interest to the blind.
Breen said the Kaua‘i chapter launched its program last year by visiting the audible traffic signals which had been installed at the Haleko/Nawiliwili Road intersection leading to and from the Kukui Grove Shopping Center.
Another set of audible signals have since been installed at the intersection of Pikake and Nawiliwili roads, making it easier for blind, or visually impaired individuals to access the popular shopping areas.
Breen said she is currently working to have a special White Cane event on Oct. 6 at the Kukui Grove Shopping Center.
The NFB Kaua‘i Chapter meets each month, usually the first Thursday, with up to 34 members participating, Breen said.
For more information on the NFB Newsline program, visit their Web site at nfbnewsline.org.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
