Group for blind celebrates one year

From: "BlindNews Mailing List" <BlindNews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <BlindNews@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:09:51 -0400
Kauai Garden Island News, Hawaii
Thursday, September 06, 2007

Group for blind celebrates one year 

By Dennis Fujimoto - the garden island 

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@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 


http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2007/09/07/news/news03.txt
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Group for blind celebrates one year

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