The Detroit Radio Information Service (DRIS) has been awarded $100,000 over two-years from the Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired (GDABVI), (formerly Upshaw Institute for the Blind). The funds will bolster operations at DRIS, southeastern Michigan's radio reading service for the blind and print impaired.

"This investment by one of our founding partners is significant and will go far in helping us meet the growing need for audio information among people with print-disabilities," said Kim Walsh, the director of DRIS. The service has been in a capacity-building mode for the last five years as it positions itself to serve an increasing number of listeners, particularly senior citizens and baby-boomers who have age-related vision loss and can no longer read their newspaper.

DRIS provides the verbatim reading of more than 100 daily, weekly and monthly periodicals a week. The service offers equal access to publicly available information and programs that support independent living. Using volunteer readers, the service focuses on date-sensitive items, such as newspapers, magazines and store circulars that are not practical to publish in alternate formats like Braille. Many listeners rely on DRIS as a primary source for information because they enjoy the radio format.

Founded in 1978 as a special audience service of public radio station, WDET-FM, DRIS operates 24-hours a day on a closed circuit subchannel of the station which is licensed to Wayne State University. The reading program is funded independently and depends largely on private donations to operate.

The GDABVI also purchased 150 of the closed circuit radio receivers needed to hear DRIS programs. The specially-tuned radios are loaned free of charge to qualified applicants, although donations are encouraged.

DRIS had already raised $100,000 toward the multi-year effort, dubbed Access to Information: Vision Into the Future, says Walsh. "During the first phase, our work focused on updating our broadcast studios with new digital production and audio storage equipment. Now we are growing our audience and increasing access to programming." For more information or to become a DRIS volunteer or listener visit www.dris.org or call (313) 577-4207.

The Detroit Radio Information Service (DRIS) has been awarded $100,000 over two-years from the Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired (GDABVI), (formerly Upshaw Institute for the Blind). The funds will bolster operations at DRIS, southeastern Michigan's radio reading service for the blind and print impaired.

"This investment by one of our founding partners is significant and will go far in helping us meet the growing need for audio information among people with print-disabilities," said Kim Walsh, the director of DRIS. The service has been in a capacity-building mode for the last five years as it positions itself to serve an increasing number of listeners, particularly senior citizens and baby-boomers who have age-related vision loss and can no longer read their newspaper.

DRIS provides the verbatim reading of more than 100 daily, weekly and monthly periodicals a week. The service offers equal access to publicly available information and programs that support independent living. Using volunteer readers, the service focuses on date-sensitive items, such as newspapers, magazines and store circulars that are not practical to publish in alternate formats like Braille. Many listeners rely on DRIS as a primary source for information because they enjoy the radio format.

Founded in 1978 as a special audience service of public radio station, WDET-FM, DRIS operates 24-hours a day on a closed circuit subchannel of the station which is licensed to Wayne State University. The reading program is funded independently and depends largely on private donations to operate.

The GDABVI also purchased 150 of the closed circuit radio receivers needed to hear DRIS programs. The specially-tuned radios are loaned free of charge to qualified applicants, although donations are encouraged.

DRIS had already raised $100,000 toward the multi-year effort, dubbed Access to Information: Vision Into the Future, says Walsh. "During the first phase, our work focused on updating our broadcast studios with new digital production and audio storage equipment. Now we are growing our audience and increasing access to programming." For more information or to become a DRIS volunteer or listener visit www.dris.org or call (313) 577-4207.

Celebrating 45 years, the Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired (formerly Upshaw Institute for the Blind) is a nonprofit agency that provides services to increase self-reliance, productivity, and dignity for persons who are blind or visually impaired. The GDABVI was instrumental in working with WDET-FM and Wayne State to establish the radio reading program and has reinforced its longtime commitment through this gift.