The Kansan featured on Audio-Reader
Call-in service allows the visually impaired to access to newspapers
The University Daily Kansan is now available on Audio-Reader at about 10 a.m.
Friday, November 2nd, 2007
Mary Chappell, a University of Kansas employee for 26 years, always looked forward to reading The University Daily Kansan, but this became a challenge when she lost most of her vision about a year ago.
Chappell, director of Recreation Services, solved her problem and can now listen to The Kansan over the phone. She requested that Audio-Reader, a telephone and radio print and information service for the visually impaired, add The Kansan to its daily recordings. In January, faculty at Audio-Reader were able to accomplish this, and they now have a full staff of volunteers who record The Kansan Monday through Friday mornings and Jayplay on Thursdays.
Chappell now listens to The Kansan every day.
“With a large campus like KU, you never know about all the services out there until something big impacts your life,” Chappell said.
Jennifer Nigro, Audio-Reader volunteer coordinator, said that the service added The Kansan to its recordings because of Chappell’s request but that they had received a lot of positive feedback from others.
Audio-Reader, which is available in Kansas and western Missouri, already had publications such as The Kansas City Star and The Wichita Eagle available through its telephone service. Listeners can call into the telephone line and enter their user ID number and security number to access the newspapers.
George McCoy, Audio-Reader telephone reader supervisor, said he thought The Kansan provided an interesting change from commercially owned publications.
“Offering the UDK on telephone reader allows listeners all over Kansas and parts of Missouri to keep up with campus events and campus life and also gives a viewpoint on KU that’s not always available in the mainstream media,” McCoy said.
Each weekday, a volunteer comes into the studio between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. to record The Kansan, which takes one to two hours. McCoy said he tried to have the material recorded on the telephone line by 10 a.m.
“We want the listeners to be able to experience the morning news in the morning when it’s still fresh if we can,” McCoy said.
Students who want to volunteer with Audio-Reader can visit reader.ku.edu for more information.
— Edited by Amelia Freidline
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