[IABS-Talk] FW: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] COVID-19 Information Available in Braille and Audio

Fri Mar 20 22:03:11 UTC 2020

Hello,

I want to make sure all of you have access to this information immediately.

Denise R. Avant, Esq.

President,

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

773-991-8050

Live the life you want.

For more information about NFBI,

Go to www.nfbofillinois.org

From: State-Affiliate-Leadership-List <state-affiliate-leadership-list-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Danielsen, Chris via State-Affiliate-Leadership-List
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2020 4:00 PM
To: NCB Staff <NCBStaff at nfb.org>; nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org; State Affiliate Leadership List <state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Danielsen, Chris <CDanielsen at nfb.org>
Subject: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] COVID-19 Information Available in Braille and Audio

COVID-19 Information Available in Braille and Audio

National Federation of the Blind Expands Access to NFB-NEWSLINE®

In order to make current news about the COVID-19 pandemic available to all blind people, the National Federation of the Blind is making the “Breaking News” section of our NFB-NEWSLINE service available throughout the United States, including Puerto Rico, for sixty days beginning March 16. This includes states that do not have a sponsor for the NFB-NEWSLINE service and are therefore usually only able to receive limited content.

"NFB-NEWSLINE and the new breaking news channel have made tracking the new coronavirus cases a lot easier than relying on television broadcasts,” said Glenn Crosby of Alvin, Texas. “The other day, there were two new cases confirmed where we live that showed up on NFB-NEWSLINE hours ahead of the TV news broadcast.”

“In this global health emergency, the ability to read timely information in an accessible format is even more critical than usual,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “The more people access and act upon the information that healthcare leaders and public officials are providing, the better we can all cope with the rapidly evolving situation. We are committed to making sure that blind people throughout our country have the information they need to make appropriate preparations and decisions as our nation’s response unfolds.”

The “Breaking News” category contains thirty-four outlets with frequently updated content. An automated search has been set up for “coronavirus” to compile the latest articles about the pandemic and the measures being taken to combat it from all of these outlets. This content will now be available to all eligible blind people in the United States. As with all NFB-NEWSLINE content, it will be available via touchtone telephone, on the web, via the NFB-NEWSLINE mobile app, with devices like talking book players, and over smart speakers. Because the content can be accessed with Braille devices such as notetakers and refreshable Braille displays, it is also available to deafblind individuals who cannot get timely information from radio or television.

For information on how to access NFB-NEWSLINE breaking news content on the coronavirus, visit  <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-newsline> https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-newsline.

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About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB 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. 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  <https://www.nfb.org/> nfb.org.

CONTACT

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

410-659-9314, extension 2330

410-262-1281 (cell)

 <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org> cdanielsen at nfb.org

this news brief is also available at: https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/covid-19-information-available-braille-and-audio

Christopher S. Danielsen, J.D.

Director of Public Relations

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

(410) 659-9314, Ext. 2330 | cdanielsen at nfb.org <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org> 

Twitter: @rlawyer 

 <https://nfb.org/> 

                          <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>      <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>      <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind> 

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want. 

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