Voice of the Blue Ridge. Services.

Dial-In News Services
Apply for the Dial-In News Service
Most people read newspapers whenever and wherever they can find time to do so. They may scan headlines early in the morning before work, glance at cartoons during breaks and read lengthy features late in the evening. People with print-impairments, however, rarely have those choices.

The fortunate ones in this area who use the WVTF Radio Reading Service can hear their newspapers read to them, but they must follow a broadcast schedule to do so. If these listeners work, however, they may not be able to listen at the scheduled hour, and they may miss their papers altogether.

Dial-In News, a completely independent project of Voice of the Blue Ridge, now gives these people their daily paper in a automated format available to them on their personal schedules twenty-four hours every day. And along with their newspapers, Dial-In offers a kind of literary freedom rare to people with print-impairments.

Begun in 1995, the project teams a powerful computer with local newspapers, regional volunteers and people who cannot see to read their own papers. Through this very special blend of electronics, volunteerism and genuine needs, newspapers are now available to a growing audience with widely varied schedules and interests.

Begun with the assistance of a grant from the Virginia Assistive Technology office in Richmond, Voice of the Blue Ridge has pledged to serve all eligible people in the Commonwealth with free services over toll-free telephone lines. Utilizing the power of the computer Voice of the Blue Ridge also plans to add other newspapers in the future to meet that original commitment and to fulfill the realistic needs of a growing number of working clients.

We offer a library of over 400 books to our consumers. The books are in a variety of formats ranging from cassette, CD and Braille. Click here to see a list of books.

Assistive Technology Center

Our Assistive Technology Center is currently equipped with 5 workstations. It is available for use to all who are visually/print impaired. Using special assistive technologies people with these disabilities can gain or regain access to the benefits offered by computer.

Our system is equipped with a scanner, printer, braille embosser, and internet access. Using programs such as Jaws for Windows, Open Book, Zoom Text, and Duxbury, sight/print impaired persons can gain access to a new level of independence and information. Center users gain access to, or are able to do things, such as:

We also offer training in these technologies in a classroom setting by an experienced trainer. Classes are ongoing and new classes are always forming. Contact our office for more information.

Radio Reading Services
Apply for the Radio Reading Service

Radio Reading Service Program Guide

When people can no longer read newspapers and magazines because of vision or other physical problems, those people can often use radio reading services, a network of radio stations that broadcast printed materials through closed circuit radio stations throughout the United States. In the Roanoke area, including southwest and central Virginia, Voice of the Blue Ridge has helped produce WVTF Public Radio's reading service since 1981.

In this area, WVTF's service provides eligible clients with free radios tuned to the station's reading service frequency. The Broadcast schedule currently includes The Roanoke Times, the Danville Register and Bee, the Lynchburg News and Advance, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and many other newspapers, along with magazines such as the Smithsonian, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Vogue, Parents, Good Housekeeping and others which appeal to almost every reading taste.

The WVTF Radio Reading Service was the birthplace of Voice of the Blue Ridge, and VOBR has shared mission and office space with the radio station since the early days. VOBR continues to support WVTF through the purchase of radios, the maintenance of records and the cultivation of volunteers and part-time employees who help with the busy logistics of managing a radio station within a radio station.

In recent years, VOBR has even begun to help other services in other parts of the country through a program of specific grants for equipment. Since radio reading services reach the largest number of people, Voice of the Blue Ridge continues to support these programs wherever and however they can do so.

Audio Description Services

Mill Mountain Theatre is one of the real pleasures of living in Roanoke. The exceptional selection of musicals and plays, the innovative sets, the exciting costumes and the extraordinary talent of local and national performers all combine to make the theater experience in Roanoke a rewarding experience. Until recently, however, all the visual aspects of Mill Mountain have been unavailable to audience members with little or no vision.

With the winter of 1997, Voice of the Blue Ridge introduced audio description to Mill Mountain by helping the Theatre purchase and advertise the system to the community. The audio description system is a small radio station in essence, with the narrator backstage talking into the cordless headsets worn by low-vision or blind audience members.

The narrator describes sets, costumes and the all-important action that occurs between and among dialogue and music. The narrator acts as the eyes of the audience to bring the complete magic of the theater to those people who can no longer see.

Mill Mountain Theatre also shares this very portable system with Opera Roanoke so that opera can be equally accessible. Although the number of described performances may be limited to both the Theatre and Opera Roanoke, interested patrons of the arts should be able to get tickets for almost all productions.

Large-Print Calendars

The Voice of the Blue Ridge provides Large Print Calendars for the blind and visually impaired in Virginia.

The calendars are 17 inches wide, by 11 inches deep. The numbers in the calendar are 3/4-inch high.

There is no charge for calendars sent to Virginia residents. There is a minimal $5.00 fee for calendars shipped out of state.

Local, state and federal government agencies as well as IRS section 501(c)(3) organizations may send purchase orders in lieu of payment until they receive their orders. Payment is then Due at time of delivery.

On large orders, there will be a freight charge; otherwise, shipment is free.

The annual calendars are usually ready for shipment November 1.


		Services Brochure About Voice of the Blue Ridge Dial-In News Services Assistive Technology Center Radio Reading Services Audio Description Services Large-print calendars Lending Library Dial-In News Services Apply for the Dial-In News Service Most people read newspapers whenever and wherever they can find time to do so. They may scan headlines early in the morning before work, glance at cartoons during breaks and read lengthy features late in the evening. People with print-impairments, however, rarely have those choices. The fortunate ones in this area who use the WVTF Radio Reading Service can hear their newspapers read to them, but they must follow a broadcast schedule to do so. If these listeners work, however, they may not be able to listen at the scheduled hour, and they may miss their papers altogether. Dial-In News, a completely independent project of Voice of the Blue Ridge, now gives these people their daily paper in a automated format available to them on their personal schedules twenty-four hours every day. And along with their newspapers, Dial-In offers a kind of literary freedom rare to people with print-impairments. Begun in 1995, the project teams a powerful computer with local newspapers, regional volunteers and people who cannot see to read their own papers. Through this very special blend of electronics, volunteerism and genuine needs, newspapers are now available to a growing audience with widely varied schedules and interests. Begun with the assistance of a grant from the Virginia Assistive Technology office in Richmond, Voice of the Blue Ridge has pledged to serve all eligible people in the Commonwealth with free services over toll-free telephone lines. Utilizing the power of the computer Voice of the Blue Ridge also plans to add other newspapers in the future to meet that original commitment and to fulfill the realistic needs of a growing number of working clients. Lending Library We offer a library of over 400 books to our consumers. The books are in a variety of formats ranging from cassette, CD and Braille. Click here to see a list of books. Assistive Technology Center Our Assistive Technology Center is currently equipped with 5 workstations. It is available for use to all who are visually/print impaired. Using special assistive technologies people with these disabilities can gain or regain access to the benefits offered by computer. Our system is equipped with a scanner, printer, braille embosser, and internet access. Using programs such as Jaws for Windows, Open Book, Zoom Text, and Duxbury, sight/print impaired persons can gain access to a new level of independence and information. Center users gain access to, or are able to do things, such as: Surf the web. Read magazines, books, letters, mail, recipes, product instructions, warranties, contracts, and anything that is printed and can be scanned. Use online banking to manage their personal finances without assistance from others. Order products they need such as food and clothing using any web site offering that service. Send and receive email. Gain access to a world of information and services. For those that can read braille they can change printed material into braille for their use. We also offer training in these technologies in a classroom setting by an experienced trainer. Classes are ongoing and new classes are always forming. Contact our office for more information. Radio Reading Services Apply for the Radio Reading Service Radio Reading Service Program Guide When people can no longer read newspapers and magazines because of vision or other physical problems, those people can often use radio reading services, a network of radio stations that broadcast printed materials through closed circuit radio stations throughout the United States. In the Roanoke area, including southwest and central Virginia, Voice of the Blue Ridge has helped produce WVTF Public Radio's reading service since 1981. In this area, WVTF's service provides eligible clients with free radios tuned to the station's reading service frequency. The Broadcast schedule currently includes The Roanoke Times, the Danville Register and Bee, the Lynchburg News and Advance, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and many other newspapers, along with magazines such as the Smithsonian, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Vogue, Parents, Good Housekeeping and others which appeal to almost every reading taste. The WVTF Radio Reading Service was the birthplace of Voice of the Blue Ridge, and VOBR has shared mission and office space with the radio station since the early days. VOBR continues to support WVTF through the purchase of radios, the maintenance of records and the cultivation of volunteers and part-time employees who help with the busy logistics of managing a radio station within a radio station. In recent years, VOBR has even begun to help other services in other parts of the country through a program of specific grants for equipment. Since radio reading services reach the largest number of people, Voice of the Blue Ridge continues to support these programs wherever and however they can do so. Audio Description Services Mill Mountain Theatre is one of the real pleasures of living in Roanoke. The exceptional selection of musicals and plays, the innovative sets, the exciting costumes and the extraordinary talent of local and national performers all combine to make the theater experience in Roanoke a rewarding experience. Until recently, however, all the visual aspects of Mill Mountain have been unavailable to audience members with little or no vision. With the winter of 1997, Voice of the Blue Ridge introduced audio description to Mill Mountain by helping the Theatre purchase and advertise the system to the community. The audio description system is a small radio station in essence, with the narrator backstage talking into the cordless headsets worn by low-vision or blind audience members. The narrator describes sets, costumes and the all-important action that occurs between and among dialogue and music. The narrator acts as the eyes of the audience to bring the complete magic of the theater to those people who can no longer see. Mill Mountain Theatre also shares this very portable system with Opera Roanoke so that opera can be equally accessible. Although the number of described performances may be limited to both the Theatre and Opera Roanoke, interested patrons of the arts should be able to get tickets for almost all productions. Large-Print Calendars Order Calendar The Voice of the Blue Ridge provides Large Print Calendars for the blind and visually impaired in Virginia. The calendars are 17 inches wide, by 11 inches deep. The numbers in the calendar are 3/4-inch high. There is no charge for calendars sent to Virginia residents. There is a minimal $5.00 fee for calendars shipped out of state. Local, state and federal government agencies as well as IRS section 501(c)(3) organizations may send purchase orders in lieu of payment until they receive their orders. Payment is then Due at time of delivery. On large orders, there will be a freight charge; otherwise, shipment is free. The annual calendars are usually ready for shipment November 1.
		3435 Melrose Avenue, Roanoke, Virginia 24017 Toll-Free: (866) 985-8900 Phone: (540) 985-8900 Fax: (540) 985-8992