RADIO BROADCASTING FOR THE BLIND OR PRINT IMPAIRED IN L.A.
In the Los Angeles area alone, there are about 140,000 individuals who have visual impairments.
If you were blind, visually impaired, physically unable to turn a page, or a senior citizen with an age–related print disability, how would you stay informed?
Without timely news, opinions, events listings, consumer information, and community service reports from printed sources, it is nearly impossible for people who are print impaired to be fully participating citizens. This is why The Los Angeles Radio Reading Service was created.
LARRS meets this need for information by providing daily radio/internet broadcasts of newspapers, magazines, ads and books, enabling our listeners to be aware of local events, election information, back–page stories, grocery and department store ads, sports pages, and even Dear Abby and the comics.
The Los Angeles Radio Reading Service broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the sub–carrier frequency of 88.5 FM. Reception of the signal requires a special radio which may be obtained from LARRS. To help meet the need of blind and visually impaired persons on a global scale, LARRS continues to provide a live audio programming stream on the world wide web which is available through this website.
SIGN THE PETITION TO SIDE WITH THE BLIND AND DYSLEXIC
Side with the blind over obstructionist companies to secure a Treaty for the Blind that makes books accessible globally
Less than 1% of printed works globally are accessible to the blind. This is because laws around the world bar printed material from being turned into formats useable by the blind and visually impaired, or for such material to be shared across borders.
That’s why 186 countries will soon convene in Morocco to finalize a Treaty that would empower the world’s nearly 300 million blind citizens with the same rights to read, learn, and earn that the sighted enjoy. However, huge and powerful corporations – many wholly unaffected by the proposed Treaty – are working to fatally weaken it or block its adoption.
Ask the President to compel US negotiators to fight for a strong Treaty that gives blind people equal access to books and doesn't burden those who want to provide them. Please sign today!
• SIGN THE PETITION NOW! CLICK HERE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE WEBSITE AND TAKE ACTION!
AUDIOEYES LLC - VIDEO DESCRIPTION AND CAPTIONING PROVIDERS
Audio Eyes is a partnership of audio engineers, producers, accessibility experts, and audio describers who are passionate about providing high quality services in a creative, inclusive work environment. The Audio Eyes production team has more than a decade of experience providing live audio description in theatres as well as recorded audio description (a.k.a. video description) for broadcast television networks and nationally distributed DVDs.
Audio Eyes engineers and producers have delivered video description for broadcast television networks including ABC Television, and FOX Television, as well as numerous government agencies, and private entities, including the California Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Internal Revenue Service, the National Parks Service. Additionally, they have extensive experience producing audio dramas, audio books, music, radio programs, radio ads, and a variety of business-to-business audio products. The Audio Eyes progressive work environment, inclusive hiring practices, and technical expertise keep the company at the leading edge of the accessible media production industry.
• FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT AUDIOEYES CLICK HERE
LISTEN TO ACCESS UNLIMITED ON KPFK 90.7 FM PACIFICA PUBLIC RADIO
Tune in on Wednesdays from 7 – 8pm to KPFK’s award–winning Access Unlimited radio program. The show deals exclusively with issues concerning disability, those working in the field, those with disabilities, family, friends, or those who are interested in learning more about persons with disabilities. In short, all of us.
The program is hosted by USC Psychologist Henry Slucki, Shawn Casey O’ Brien, Founder of The Unique People’s Voting Project, and Jolie Mason, Founder and Executive Director of LARRS.
The Goal? Keeping people in touch with non–profits dealing with disabilities, promoting political events of concern for those with disabilities, and reviewing technology that can be used to overcome the obstacles of disability. Live in–studio guests are regularly featured and lively discissions are commonplace.
KPFK, in Los Angeles, was the second of what would eventually become five Pacifica Stations to go on the air. It was 1959 and Terry Drinkwater was the first General Manager. Blessed with an enormous transmitter in a prime location, KPFK is the most powerful of the Pacifica stations and indeed is the most powerful public radio station in the Western United States.
• TO LISTEN TO ACCESS UNLIMITED ON KPFK PACIFICA RADIO CLICK HERE
ARTS AND SERVICES FOR DISABLED, INC. PRESENTS ARTBEAT RADIO
ArtBeat Radio provides an arena in which ASD students can share their works and talents with the large audience offered by Access Unlimited and Los Angeles Radio Reading Service (LARRS). The collaboration between these two radio programs is made possible by our partnership with Jolie Mason, Director of the Los Angeles Radio Reading Service and radio host and co–producer on Access Unlimited. Both radio programs exist to serve and advocate for the disabled community.
ASD students will gain experience in the elements of radio: working with people, understanding the systems of a radio station, guest selection, interviewing techniques, serving as a radio host, music creation, poetry writing and reading, answering audience questions, and operating all of the associated radio equipment. At the culmination of the project in June 2010, our students will receive a stipend of $200 for their participation as radio interns.
ArtBeat Radio provides ASD students several off–site visits to LARRS and KPFK radio stations to learn how a radio station works and the job skills required to work in the radio field. In addition, our students will create an original radio show created around their interests and skills that will be aired on the radio shows “Access Unlimited” and “Listening for Greatness.” ArtBeat Radio is the most innovative and challenging workforce opportunity available in Los Angeles for persons with developmental disabilities.
• FOR ADDITIONAL INFO CONTACT DR. REBECCA RIVERA: rebeccarivera@artsandservices.com
THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND AUDIO DESCRIPTION PROJECT
The mission of the American Council of the Blind's Audio Description Project (ADP) is to boost levels of description activity and disseminate information on that work throughout the nation. Our goals are to sponsor a broad range of activities designed to build awareness of audio description among the general public as well as its principal users, people who are blind or have low vision.
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) was founded in 1961 but many of its state affiliates and local chapters have a history that can be traced back to the 1880s. Since its inception, ACB and its affiliates have been at the forefront of the creation of policies that have shaped the opportunities that are now available to people with disabilities in our country. ACB has also effectively collaborated with Vision Rehabilitation Service providers to develop the principles and values that should be at the heart of providing adjustment and placement services to people who are blind.
• FOR ADDITIONAL INFO ABOUT THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND CLICK HERE
LARRS ROSE PARADE BROADCASTS COVERED BY 89.3 KPCC
KPCC 89.3 FM, Southern California Public Radio recently featured on–air and online stories about LARRS coverage of the 2013 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Rose Parade Presented by Honda. Sharon McNary, KPCC Politics Reporter interviewed the founder of The Los Angeles Radio Reading Service Jolie Mason to find out more about our unique live audio coverage of the Rose Parade for the blind and visually–impaired across the country.
The mission of Southern California Public Radio is to strengthen the civic and cultural bonds that unite Southern California's diverse communities by providing the highest quality news and information service through radio and other interactive media. KPCC will be a public forum that engages its audiences in an ongoing dialogue and exploration of issues, events and cultures in the region and in the world, seeking to provide greater understanding and new perspectives to the people of these communities and their leaders.
• TO READ THE ONLINE ARTICLE OR TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO SEGMENT CLICK HERE
• TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KPCC SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RADIO CLICK HERE