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<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
</b> <br>
<b>CONTACT:<br>
</b>Chris Danielsen<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br>
<a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a> <br>
<br>
<div align="center"><b>Critical Funding Shortage Threatens
NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> in Maine<br>
</b></div>
<br>
<div align="center"><b><i>Blind and Print-Disabled Maine Residents May
Lose Free,<br>
Independent Access to Vital News and Information<br>
</i></b></div>
<br>
<b>Baltimore, MD (October 15, 2015):</b> Due to lack of funding,
NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup>, a free service from the National Federation of
the Blind that provides independent access for blind and print-disabled
people to hundreds of local and national publications, emergency weather
alerts, job listings, and TV listings, may be terminated in Maine,
effective November 13, 2015. Termination of this service will drastically
limit the ability of print-disabled Maine residents to easily and
independently obtain in-depth information about breaking news, weather
emergencies, international affairs, job listings, and community events.
<br>
<br>
NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> allows those who cannot read conventional
newsprint to listen to newspapers and magazines over the telephone, on
the web, by on-demand emails, by portable players, or via a free mobile
app for iPhone, iPad, or iPod. NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> offers two Maine
newspapers, <i>Bangor Daily News</i> and <i>Portland Press Herald</i>, as
well as Associated Press Maine. In addition to state newspapers from
Maine and across the nation, subscribers have access to many national
publications, including the <i>New York Times</i>, <i>USA Today</i>, the
<i>Wall Street Journal</i>, the <i>Economist</i>, and the <i>Christian
Science Monitor</i>. NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> also provides a free local
channel through which print-disabled Maine residents can gain access to
information from state agencies and legislative bodies that would
otherwise be difficult to obtain.<br>
<br>
Through the service, print-disabled people can access over four hundred
newspapers and magazines independently, determining how, when, and where
they wish to read their favorite publications. The service also provides
access to over 100,000 job listings.<br>
<br>
NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> also provides weekly weather forecasts and
emergency weather alerts. Blind people can hear the emergency tones on a
television but cannot read the print scrolling on the screen. After
hearing these tones, NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> subscribers can call
the service and hear the emergency weather alert as soon as they log in.
From there they have access to a full weather report if they choose.
These weather reports are especially crucial during winter months. <br>
<br>
For the past several years, Maine’s NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> service has
been sponsored by private funding sources. The service requires
approximately $30,000 annually to maintain in Maine. If funding is not
found on or before November 13, 2015, blind and print-disabled Maine
residents will no longer have access to NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup>.<br>
<br>
Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
said, “The incredible resource of NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> should
be available to every blind and print-disabled person. Having access to
current news and information is essential for people to live the lives
they want.”<br>
<br>
Leon Proctor, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Maine,
said, “This service is vital to blind and print-disabled Maine residents.
Nowhere else can they find such comprehensive, up- to-the-minute access
to news and information. I personally am going to miss reading the
national newspapers and breaking news.”<br>
<br>
Scott White, director of NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup>, said: “We are sorry to
see the service terminated in this state. For many blind people,
NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> is their only accessible and timely source
of news and information. We hope we can obtain the necessary funding to
continue to provide the newspapers, weather alerts, job listings, retail
ads and TV listings to our subscribers in Maine.” <br>
<br>
To learn how you can help keep NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> available in
Maine, please call Scott White, Director of Sponsored Technology at the
National Federation of the Blind, at (410) 659-9314, extension 2231 or
send an email to <a href="mailto:swhite@nfb.org">swhite@nfb.org</a>.<br>
<br>
To learn more about NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup>, please visit
<a href="http://www.nfbnewsline.org">http://www.nfbnewsline.org</a>.<br>
<br>
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<br>
About the National Federation of the Blind<br>
<div align="center"> <br>
</b></div>
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.<br>
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