Helen Keller said “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” At Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service (NFRRS) in Buffalo, New York three full-time and one part-time staff members, along with an army of reading volunteers, are broadcasting by reading a variety of printed materials so the approximately 130,000 people who are blind or have a print disability in the Western New York-Rochester-Southern Ontario region have access to the “newspapers, magazines, and books most of us take for granted.” Mike Benzin, who was the Executive Director for almost seven years, talked with me about this incredible non-profit.
“Empowering people who are blind or have a print disability with the right to information – every day.” NFRRS
In 1986 Robert (Bob) Sikorski founded NFRSS. He was determined to have an avenue for people experiencing blindness or a print disability the access and opportunity to read printed information. When NFRRS began, the internet was in the beginning stages of what it is now. After learning that radio stations have an alternative signal available on special radios, it opened the door to create a station where printed materials were broadcast on these special radios, which were given to people in need for free. Congress passed the Chafee Amendment in 1996, a copyright law that “allows authorized entities to create and distribute accessible-format copies of published literary and musical works for people who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print-disabled.” (AI) This amendment provided NFRRS and approximately 100 other radio reading service organizations in the USA the ability to broadcast all sorts of print publications, from NY Times bestsellers to local publications.
“It’s almost impossible to imagine not being able to read, but there are some 130,000 people who are blind or have a print disability in the Western New York-Rochester-Southern Ontario region. Some of these neighbors have never had the ability to read, while others lost the ability or access to information due to age, accidents, medical conditions, or socioeconomic barriers.” NFRRS
NFRRS broadcasts are transmitted over a subcarrier radio frequency from Buffalo Toronto Public Media and WNED 94.5 FM at no charge to NFRRS. Individuals registered with NFRRS are loaned special radio receivers for free to listen to these broadcasts. For those with internet service, broadcasts are available through the NFRRS website, its free mobile app, and through smart speakers, such as Google Home or Amazon Echo. Listeners can listen to “what they want, when they want, and how they want,” as many of the programs are available on demand as podcasts online. There were approximately 500 listeners six years ago. When NFRRS went digital, that number jumped to 5000 and that number continues to grow. Regular individuals make up the 150 volunteers who read and record all the content NFRRS offers. Some have been volunteering for over twenty years. Due to the variety of readers, it is like listening to a family member or friend read. While the majority of volunteer readers live in the area, there are some out of state volunteer readers. In New York State, NFRRS is the only reading service from Buffalo to Albany and they are working on expanding NFRRS to more areas. Recruiting more volunteer readers is essential to expanding NFRRS. Having NFRRS provide readings to people who are blind, have low vision, or have another print disability in more areas is ongoing. NFRRS is committed to what they do. Wanting to do more is who they are.
“If you are unable to read a book or any other printed matter and would like to listen to our programs over a radio, we will loan you one at NO COST.” NFRRS
People who are blind or have a print disability find out about NFRRS from Doctors, family members, or word a mouth. Simply downloading and filling out a Listener Application that can be emailed or mailed back begins the process. It is available on the NFRRS website or people can call 716-821-5555 and a staff member will help a potential listener get the application. For listeners who have internet access, they can use the app or other internet accessible options. Listeners who do not have internet access will be sent the special radio receivers. For residences, healthcare facilities and public libraries in the Buffalo area NFRRS will deliver the radios. Making this process simple and easy for listeners is another priority for NFRRS. For anyone interested in becoming a volunteer reader the process is also simple. A volunteer application is downloaded, completed and emailed or mailed to NFRRS. This application can be found on the NFRRS website. Once the application is received, a staff member will reach out to that individual. They will receive an orientation that can be in person or online. What a volunteer reader reads can vary depending upon the interest of the reader and the publications listeners are requesting to have read. Volunteer readers can expect to use less than 90 minutes to read and record a 60-minute program. Those in the Buffalo area can go to the NFRRS studio to read. Volunteers farther away can record on their home computer and send NFRRS the files by using recording apps to record and download the publication they are reading. Volunteers help support NFRRS in other roles from Program and Community Engagement Committees to other activities and initiatives.
“Listeners do not pay a subscription fee, radios are loaned at no cost, and no one is required to pay for access to radio reading programming. The bulk of our budget comes from the generosity of individual donors, foundations, and corporate supporters.” NFRRS
A recent added affiliation with WNY Independent Living has given NFRRS “access and insight to even more of the information and resources we need to fulfill our mission of accessibility and inclusiveness.” Since 1987 NFRRS has broadcast more than 300,000 hours of reading material. There are also some publications read in world languages. The Buffalo News, Buffalo Latino Village, La Voz Rochester and the Bible in Spanish. The New York Times is read in Mandarin, “plus the Am-Pol Eagle, German Citizen, and the Polish-American Journal in English.” What NFRRS does is give people who are blind or have a print disability a way to hear what is going on in news, their local paper, magazines or even a New York Times bestselling book, helping them to be more connected and part of the world they live in. Because the same volunteers read the same publications, this helps to provide a friendly voice and a level of companionship. Listening improves literacy and comprehension as well. Being connected and informed benefits a listener’s wellbeing.
It is with honor and joy we shine the Kindness Champion Spotlight on the remarkable non-profit Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service in Buffalo NY. Where staff and volunteers are dedicated in their quest to help thousands of people who are blind or have a print disability free access to listen to “newspapers, magazines, and books most of us take for granted.” We thank you for being you and bringing your awesomeness to the world.
For more information about NFRRS here is their information:
Website: https://nfradioreading.org/
Facebook: @NFRRS https://www.facebook.com/nfrrs/
Instagram: @nfradioreading https://www.instagram.com/nfradioreading/
X (formerly twitter): @NFRadioReading https://x.com/NFRadioReading
