<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">FYi </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:initial">Stacie </div><div style="color:initial"><br style="color:initial"></div><div style="color:initial">Stacie Leap</div><div style="color:initial"><div style="color:rgb(32,33,36)"><span style="color:initial">President, Greater Philadelphia Chapter &</span></div><div><span style="color:initial">President, Pennsylvania Organization of Blind Parents (POBP), </span></div></div><div style="color:initial"><span style="color:initial">National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania </span></div><div style="color:initial"><span style="color:initial"><br style="color:initial"></span></div><div style="color:initial"><span style="color:initial"> </span><a href="mailto:stacie.leap@gmail.com" target="_blank">stacie.leap@gmail.com</a><span style="color:initial"> | 215-776-6741</span></div><div style="color:initial"><br style="color:initial"></div><div style="color:initial"><br style="color:initial"></div><div style="color:initial"><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:18px;text-align:justify;color:initial">The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">David Goldfield via <a href="http://groups.io">groups.io</a></strong> <span dir="auto"><david.goldfield=<a href="mailto:outlook.com@groups.io">outlook.com@groups.io</a>></span><br>Date: Wed, Nov 19, 2025 at 10:43\u202fPM<br>Subject: [Tech-VI] National Federation of the Blind Partners with ElevenLabs to Transform Accessible Reading<br>To: Tech-VI Announcement List <<a href="mailto:tech-vi@groups.io">tech-vi@groups.io</a>><br></div><br><br><div class="msg2860036255407983351">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">From the Tech-VI list owner: <u></u>
<u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">ElevenReader is now my reading app of choice due to its life-like AI voices. While it does not provide direct access to Bookshare, files from Bookshare can easily be imported into the app once you\u2019ve saved
the files to a source that the app can access. For example, I save books to OneDrive, which ElevenReader can access. Brf files currently cannot be directly read and so back translation to text is necessary to read these files with ElevenReader.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-partners-elevenlabs-transform-accessible-reading" target="_blank">Original Source</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Release Date<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Tuesday, November 18, 2025<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Type<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/press-release-types/press-release" target="_blank"><span style="color:#005aa3;text-decoration:none">Press Release</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Category<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/press-releases/national" target="_blank"><span style="color:#005aa3;text-decoration:none">National</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<h1 style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;box-sizing:border-box;color:inherit">
<span style="font-size:39.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal">National Federation of the Blind Partners with ElevenLabs to Transform Accessible Reading<u></u><u></u></span></h1>
<h2 style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;box-sizing:border-box;color:inherit">
<span style="font-size:27.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal">Empowering Choice in How Stories Are Heard<u></u><u></u></span></h2>
<p style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;box-sizing:border-box">
<strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Baltimore, MD (November 18, 2025):</span></strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is proud
to announce a partnership with ElevenLabs, bringing the innovative ElevenReader platform to blind readers across the United States. This collaboration represents a major step forward in accessible technology, offering emotionally rich narration that empowers
choice in how stories are heard.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Text-to-speech tools are not new for blind people; however, ElevenLabs enhances the experience with options for the readers. By using advanced AI technology to deliver natural, human-like
voices\u2014including celebrity voices\u2014for books, newsletters, and other content, users can select from a wide range of voices and upload their own materials, creating a personalized reading experience.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white;box-sizing:border-box"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">"Access to information has always been at the heart of our movement, and this partnership with ElevenLabs represents the
kind of innovation that happens when we prioritize the authentic needs and preferences of blind people,\u201d said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. \u201cElevenReader gives blind readers real options in how they experience content.
The ability to choose from natural-sounding voices, personalize the reading experience, and upload our own materials means we are active participants shaping how we consume information."<u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">As part of this partnership, premium access to ElevenReader is available at no cost to members of the National Federation of the Blind. This benefit underscores NFB\u2019s commitment to ensuring
that blind individuals have access to cutting-edge tools that enhance independence and inclusion.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;box-sizing:border-box">
<strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">###</span></strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;box-sizing:border-box">
<strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">About the National Federation of the Blind</span></strong><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
The National Federation of the Blind, headquartered in Baltimore, 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.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and
Puerto Rico. 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<a href="https://nfb.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#005aa3;text-decoration:none"> nfb.org</span></a>.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">CONTACT<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Stephanie Cascone<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Director of Communications<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">National Federation of the Blind<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">410-659-9314, extension 2244<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="mailto:communications@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:#005aa3;text-decoration:none">communications@nfb.org</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">David Goldfield,<span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.davidgoldfield.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563c1">www.DavidGoldfield.com</span></a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Director of Marketing,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Blazie Technologies<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.blazietech.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563c1">www.BlazieTech.com</span></a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Am Yisrael Chai<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Nation of Israel Lives!<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.freedomscientific.com/Training/Certification" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="86" height="86" style="width:.9in;height:.9in" id="m_2860036255407983351Picture_x0020_1" alt="JAWS Certified, 2022"></span></a><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://certification.nvaccess.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563c1">NVDA Certified Expert</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Subscribe to the Tech-VI announcement list to receive blindness technology news, events and information.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Email: <a href="mailto:tech-vi+subscribe@groups.io" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563c1">tech-vi+subscribe@groups.io</span></a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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