[Home-on-the-range] Bolotin award, trying again

[Susan Tabor]

Hi, Susie:

 

I think this is a great idea; God knows she deserves this award! I'll be
definitely writing a letter for her. She had contacted me last week about
this and I'm pleased to do it and flattered to be asked. Thanks for
spreading the good  word!

Cheers,

Susan

From: home-on-the-range-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:home-on-the-range-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Stanzel, Susan -
Kansas City, MO
Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2011 7:49 PM
To: NFB of Kansas Internet Mailing List
Subject: [Home-on-the-range] Bolotin award, trying again

 

Hi Listers,

 

I have helped Kathy Eble twice before with her application for a Bolotin
award. I think the problem has been that we didn't have enough folks
recommending her Home Readers company. I am including below her application.
Please consider nominating her for an award. I hope most of you remember her
being at our last convention and making a presentation. Your nomination must
be in by March 31st.

 

Susie Stanzel

 

   I am Kathy Eble and I would like to nominate Home Readers, a 501c3
organization, as a candidate for the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award.  Home Readers
has been furthering the independence of the blind and visually impaired
since 1996.  I started Home Readers because of a need for more independence
in my own life and a life long desire to do something that would benefit
other blind people.  In the area where I live there is no public
transportation, leaving me to enlist my husband or friends to take me
shopping.  The idea for a shopping service seemed reasonable.  It would also
benefit other blind individuals.  When I married, I moved to Edgerton,
Kansas.  I was miles from friends and family as well as places to shop.  I
felt isolated and wanted to be able to shop for myself as well as have a
job, which would connect me with others again.  By establishing Home Readers
I regained the ability to shop again, plus a full-time job.  I started Home
Readers with no money, just a Radio Shack recorder and a twelve pack of
cassette tapes.  With my family reading, and my husband labeling by hand we
produced about ten thousand cassettes the first year.  It is because of the
customers, their friendship, and support that Home Readers continues.

   Home Readers has been a vehicle which has brought awareness to the retail
business world that blind individuals have the same needs as their sighted
counter parts and with the right opportunities we can participate and
accomplish the same things as those who are sighted. 

   Home Readers serves the blind community by providing a way to shop
independently through cassette and more recently Braille catalogs.  The
catalogs are of popular companies most being mail order, such as: Schwan's,
Avon, Chefs, Lands' End, etc.  These are catalogs that sighted people
receive regularly.  1996 was the first time blind people had the same
opportunity.  Our readers read the print catalogs and also describe in
detail the photographed products.  Home Readers started with eleven catalogs
and no sponsors.

   Convincing catalog companies, by providing catalogs in an accessible
format they would reach the blind community, a segment of the market they
were missing, was my first obstacle.  In 2010 companies sponsored all thirty
catalogs, which are distributed free of charge to any person who is blind or
visually impaired.  These catalogs allow individuals to shop for almost
anything needed or wanted.  In 2010 we sent out approximately 30,000
cassettes and have about 4,700 people receiving catalogs. We are told
frequently by blind individuals that Home Readers has made a difference in
their lives.

   In 1998 we started recording cookbooks due to the requests from
customers.  We quickly found cookbooks are another area service is needed.
We have more than three hundred popular cooking titles available. They are
not sponsored, but we keep the cost low, mostly below cover price. 

   My husband and I secured a business loan for $55,000 to fund the opening
of our Braille division, which opened in September of 2008.  Home Readers
has already produced more than 30,000 Braille catalogs.  In 2009 we
purchased 5 small Braille embossers.  We hope to expand our Braille
production capassity.  We know the importance of Braille and the need for
Braille products. Our Braille division has also allowed us to provide a
part-time job for another blind person besides my self.  She transcribes and
proof reads for us.  We are now producing digital recordings and  in
December 2010 we launched a new website www.blindaudiocatalogs.com for
downloadable catalogs.  Our desire is to provide Braille and digital
downloadable recordings, which will serve a broader group of blind
individuals, including young people.  In 2010 Home Readers continued to grow
inspite of the economy.  We wanted Home Readers to share it's blessings by
funding a scholarship for a student through our NFB of Kansas affiliate and
we plan to do the same again in 2011.  We feel it is important to prepare
our young people for the job market.

   We are proud to be celebrating our fifteenth year serving the blind
community.  We would like more blind and visually impaired people to know
about and use our services to help them gain further independence.  As we
continue to grow, one of our goals is to provide jobs for blind and sight
impaired people through editing digital recordings, proof reading and other
positions, as they become available.  

   If Home Readers were considered for the Dr. Jacob Bolotin award; we would
truly be honored. Any money would be used to continue the expantion of Home
Readers allowing us to continue serving the blind community and making the
public aware of the needs and the triumphs of blind individuals.

 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

Sincerely,

 

Kathy Eble  

  

 

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