National, state, and local selections available for all ages 

 

For Immediate Release:          

January 19, 2024           

Contact: Wulf Roby

Communications Coordinator

State Library of Kansas

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations 

National Federation of the Blind 

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330 

Kansas Talking Books and National Federation of the Blind Partner to Provide Free Audio News Service for Blind and Print-Disabled Kansans

TOPEKA – The State Library of Kansas and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the transformative membership organization of blind Americans, announced today that the Kansas Talking Books program will sponsor and administer the NFB-NEWSLINE® service in Kansas.

NFB-NEWSLINE® is a free audio and Braille service that provides access to over 500 publications including national, state, and international newspapers. The service also includes magazines, TV listings, retail ads, job listings, and breaking news sources. The service is designed to make printed information accessible to blind and print-disabled individuals.

The Kansas Talking Books program, which is part of the State Library of Kansas, provides free library services to Kansans who cannot read standard print due to a visual or physical disability. The program offers a wide range of books and magazines in audio and Braille formats, as well as playback equipment and accessories.

By adding NFB-NEWSLINE® to its portfolio of services, the Kansas Talking Books program will enable its patrons to access current and reliable information from local and national sources, using a variety of methods, including touch-tone telephone, website, iOS mobile app, and Amazon Alexa smart speakers. NFB-NEWSLINE® subscribers can also download publications to a digital talking-book player or a compatible device.

Ray C. Walling, the State Librarian of Kansas, said: “We are delighted to partner with the National Federation of the Blind to offer NFB-NEWSLINE® to our Kansas Talking Books patrons. This service will enhance their access to information and entertainment, and empower them to live the lives they want.”

Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “Over the past thirty years, NFB-NEWSLINE® has become an indispensable resource for tens of thousands of blind and print-disabled Americans who want to stay informed and connected with their communities and the world. We are proud to partner with the State Library of Kansas and the Kansas Talking Books program to expand the availability of this service, created by and for blind people, throughout the Sunflower State.”

To learn more about NFB-NEWSLINE®, visit http://www.nfb.org/nfbnewsline. To sign up for the service, contact the Kansas Talking Books program at (800) 362-0699 or [email protected], or visit http://www.kslib.info/talking. About the National Federation of the Blind The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. 

Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at nfb.org. About the State Library of Kansas The State Library of Kansas is a department within the state government of Kansas, with locations in Topeka and Emporia. Ray Walling was appointed State Librarian in June 2023. The mission of the State Library is to improve the lives of Kansas residents by providing resources that will deliver 21st Century library services and resources to all Kansans and help all Kansans be successful in a global market, increase reading readiness and on-grade reading acuity, improve chances for academic success, help start and grow businesses, assist individuals with employment opportunities, and provide lifelong educational services. The State Library provides services for libraries, schools from K-12 and beyond, and communities across the Sunflower State. One of those services, the Kansas Talking Books program, is specifically geared to support Kansans with temporary or permanent disabilities that impair their ability to read. Learn more at https://kslib.info.

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This message is from the Administration on Disabilities (AoD) Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC).

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Supporting Self-Employment for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities: Family Perspectives

Join the Administration on Disabilities (AoD) Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 from 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET for our February 2024 National Community of Practice (CoP) webinar. This event will highlight the importance of family support for people with disabilities who own their own businesses. We will begin with a brief recap of the work DETAC has done to advance self-employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Then, Sue Babin from the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council (RIDDC) will facilitate a panel session featuring three family members of entrepreneurs with disabilities. The panelists will offer their perspectives on how to best support loved ones with disabilities who have goals of owning their own business.

Presenters:

Sue Babin
Special Projects Coordinator at the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council (RIDDC)

Sue Baron
Mother of Bryan Baron
(Bryan Baron is the owner of Double-B Photography)

Iraida Williams
Mother of Alton Stuckey
(Alton Stuckey is the owner of Alton Stuckey Art, Portraits and More)

Karen Rasnick
Mother of Rachel Rasnick
(Rachel Rasnick is the owner of Rachel Rasnick Art)

Registration is required. Please register for this webinar here.

We look forward to your participation!

DETAC Team

Register for the Webinar

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