[NFB_of_Georgia] Fwd: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] COVID-19 Information Available in Braille and Audio

[Dorothy Griffin]

Helpful information:  Please share.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Danielsen, Chris via State-Affiliate-Leadership-List <
state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
Date: Fri, Mar 20, 2020 at 5:01 PM
Subject: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] COVID-19 Information Available
in Braille and Audio
To: NCB Staff <NCBStaff at nfb.org>, nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.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>


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.

*###*

*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 nfb.org <https://www.nfb.org/>.

*CONTACT*

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

410-659-9314, extension 2330

410-262-1281 (cell)

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

Twitter: @rlawyer



[image: National Federation of the Blind] <https://nfb.org/>



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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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-- 
Dorothy Griffin - President
National Federation of the Blind of Georgia
dgriffin at nfbga.org
770-374-4832

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.