Abstract

The RSVP of Elkhart, Indiana, partnered with a local nonprofit service to provide a dial-up newspaper reading service for the visually impaired members of the community. RSVP volunteers read sections of the newspaper each day, which can be accessed via telephone by individuals who cannot read themselves and have no one to read the paper to them.

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Issue

There are many issues addressed in the local newspapers that are not covered in the TV news. Visually impaired individuals who cannot read a newspaper without assistance often miss out on community news and information printed in the local newspaper.

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Action

The Elkhart County RSVP, located in Elkhart, Indiana, partnered with Indiana Reading and Information Services, a nonprofit reading service based in Indianapolis.

The RSVP program has recruited 20 volunteers -- 18 of them are RSVP members -- to participate in the program. Volunteers read sections of The Elkhart Truth and Goshen News over the telephone into a pre-arranged mailbox for the section they are reading. Each section has a code and an access number for the readers to tap into before they can start reading. Volunteers read sections of the paper, 15 minutes each section, seven days a week.

This service is free to the visually impaired, who access the service over the telephone. They have a 1-800 number they call, which prompts them to follow certain steps including inputting a code they are given by the program.

The sections of the newspaper that are accessible are: the front page, sports, obituaries, and the local sections. Each reader reads one of these sections as many times per week they choose. The RSVP program maintains a schedule of who is reading which section each week. There's also a list of substitute readers for those who are unable to read for some reason.

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Context

Elkhart County has the third largest number of users of the dial-up newspaper reading service in Indiana. Indianapolis has the largest, and Muncie has the second largest. The program started with 14 volunteers and has grown to 20 volunteers.

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Outcome

The program has experienced great success in Elkhart County. More than 40 visually impaired people in the county have signed up to listen through the service. The RSVP program is in the process of extending the dial-up service to Middlebury and Nappanee.

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Posted On

September 18, 2001

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For More Information

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Related Practices

• Providing telephone reassurance for senior community members

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Related sites

Senior Corps

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