Radio Broadcasting for The Blind or Print Impaired in Los Angeles
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 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.
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 KCSN 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 also provides a live audio programming stream on the world wide web which is available through this website.
Listen to Access Unlimited on KPFK 90.7 FM Tuesdays from 2-3pm
Tune in on Tuesdays from 2 - 3pm 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 featured.
IAAIS is a volunteer–driven membership organization of services that turn text into speech for people who cannot see, hold or comprehend the printed word and who may be unable to access information due to a disability or health condition. Since its formation in 1977, IAAIS (formerly the Association of Radio Reading Services) has assisted, represented and set standards of good practice for audio information services worldwide.
Click here for more information about The International Association of Audio Information Services
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.
The 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.
Audio Description (AD) is the descriptive narration of key visual elements of live theatre, television, movies, and other media to enhance their enjoyment by consumers who are blind or have low vision. AD is the insertion of audio explanations and descriptions of the settings, characters, and action taking place in such media, when such information about these visual elements is not offered in the regular audio presentation.
Click here for more information about The ACB’s Audio Description Project