Northern Illinois University will receive $28,273 as part of a Radio Information Service grant from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office. The grants support 11 radio stations across the state, helping residents unable to read print material have access to information in newspapers and magazine, according to a news release.
Services provided by the radio stations include reading local newspapers, including comics, grocery ads and obituaries; listener call-in shows and public affairs shows.
“By providing audio versions of printed material, residents who have visual or physical disabilities can access printed information for educational, informational and recreational purposes,” Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White said in the release. “The service keeps people engaged in their local communities.”
The Secretary of State’s Office awarded a total of $365,449 in grants for the programs.
Programs are broadcast on a special radio called a sideband receiver. Receivers are distributed at no cost to qualified recipients. Anyone with a visual or physical disability that impairs their ability to read may qualify for a radio.
For more information about the Radio Information Service, contact Sharon Ruda at 217-782-9435 or SRuda@ilsos.gov.
Information also is available at http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/TBBS/ris.html.
Source: The Daily Chronicle
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