January 7, 2004
Program provides papers to blind
Newsline provides newspapers through touch-tone phones
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
When his vision deteriorated 13 years ago to the point he could no longer read, the world closed in on Larry Gorton.
An avid newspaper reader all his life, the Suttons Bay resident and retired businessman was cut off from quick access to current events and in-depth stories. The advent of the Internet and other adaptive technologies allowed him to plug somewhat back in. But it has been the National Federation of the Blind's Newsline program that completed the process.
Since October, Gorton has been 'reading' six newspapers daily: the Wall Street Journal, the Detroit Free Press, the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today and the Christian Science Monitor. Before the sun is up, he is up to date on world, national and state events.
All courtesy of his touch-tone phone, a toll-free number and a computerized voice.
"When you lose your ability to read, you lose your opportunity to stay in touch with the outside world to a large extent," said Gorton, who owned the Goodyear Auto Service Center in Traverse City for 40 years as well as seven other sites. "Radio or TV are just news clips, they don't really expand on issues."
Gorton added that a network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, including one in Traverse City, do offer magazines on tape. Like other books on tape offerings, these items are mailed to qualified people free of charges. Conceding that these are valuable, he noted that the daily paper provides unique and up-to-date content these magazines cannot.
"The Newsline gives those who are physically handicapped or who can't read the ability to know about what's going on," he said.
Newsline is based in Maryland and serves approximately 38,000 people in 34 states. The program began in 1999 and the state of Michigan joined with five cities that year. Nearly 1,500 users now span the state and into the Upper Peninsula.
Nearly 80 participating newspapers nationwide send their computer files early every morning to the Newsline headquarters via satellite. These files are then formatted for a voice-synthesizing program and a computer can then 'read' them to subscribers.
And the computer never tires, grows bored or asks for a break. It will also speed up or slow down on command and allows the user to create a list of favorites he can access quickly.
"Usually you can get someone to drive you easier than you can get them to read to you," said Georgia Kitchen of Flint, the volunteer director of Newsline.
"We get people from all walks of life using Newsline," Kitchen added. "Everyone can use it, housewives, professionals, children studying for school. Anyone who qualifies for talking books qualifies for Newsline."
There's no such thing as a free newspaper, however, and the Newsline program in the state runs on a shoestring budget that is frayed near to snapping. Gorton, a devoted user, soon applied his business mindset and mined his contacts for help. His goals are threefold: enroll more eligible users statewide, raise at least $40,000 to buy the program another year and tap large foundations for an endowment fund that will provide long-term stability.
To reach the first goal means expanding the user base, especially among the handicapped who may not be visually impaired.
"The emphasis has been 99 percent on the blind and we need to get these other people who are eligible: those with dyslexia, Parkinson's disease and paraplegics," Gorton said.
Gorton has partially solved the immediate funding issue and will continue working on both the long- and short-term issues this year. Once he learned of Newsline's dire straits - late last year it did not have the funds for another year - he successfully solicited a $4,000 donation from the Les and Ann Biederman Foundation, where he sits on the board. He also obtained $5,000 from the Oleson Foundation and is working with other philanthropic organizations locally.
"When people ask, 'Why don't the people who use it pay for it?' the problem is that in the blind population, for example, 75 percent are unemployed," said Gorton. "They are obviously not in a position to make substantial payments."
For more information on Newsline, contact Kitchen at 810-233-4776 or access the website at www.nfbmi.org Contributions to Newsline are accepted at the National Federation for the Blind Michigan, 1212 North Foster Avenue, Lansing, Mich. 48912.