NFB-NEWSLINE enables adults and children who are blind or print-impaired to read newspapers, magazines, notices of public interest, government announcements and other materials of interest at any time and from anywhere. Text-to-speech technology developed by the National Federation of the Blind, has changed the way people with visual impairments can access reading material. The only technology required is a standard touch-tone telephone.
"I am pleased that the Consumer Protection Board has taken the initiative to make the critical information that they produce available to the blind and visually impaired," Lieutenant Governor Paterson said. "Our goal is for this groundbreaking program to lead to even greater access to government for blind and print-impaired individuals."
Mindy Bockstein, Chairperson and Executive Director of the CPB said: "This revolutionary technology is opening doors and providing reading materials to adults and children who could never before access them. The CPB is dedicated to protecting all New Yorkers. This population will now be able to have the information they need about important issues like identity and credit card theft, recalls, consumer credit issues and more. With this technology, visually impaired New Yorkers can do something as simple as access the newspaper or work independently on school projects. We are grateful to the NFP for providing this critical service."
Through the use of the telephone, a subscriber to NFB-NEWSLINE can access more than 250 daily newspapers, including the Albany Times Union, the Buffalo News, the Long Island Newsday and the New York Times, a growing number of magazines and now for the first time, timely and important notices from government agencies
Carl Jacobsen, President of the National Federation of the Blind of New York State, said: "I am pleased that the Spitzer/Paterson Administration has reached out to the blind community to partner in this venture. For the first time, we can get the same notices as our neighbors and not have to wait for second-hand information. I applaud the Administration, especially the CPB, for yet another effort to make government more accessible and participatory by all of its citizens."
The NFB-NEWSLINE service is totally free to anyone who is unable to access standard print. The estimate is that there are more than 310,000 persons in New York State who would be eligible for this free service. This includes people who have not been diagnosed as legally blind, but who have difficulty reading printed information. The NFB-NEWSLINE system is simple and user friendly and there are tutorials and training available.
Persons interested in obtaining this service for their own use or for a family member should contact the National Federation of the Blind of New York State at 718-567-7821 or by e-mail at Newsline@nfbny.org.
