NEWS & INFORMATION
When the Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service first went on the air 35 years ago, the Internet was very much a novelty and there was no such thing as Audible.com, so books-on-tape came in binders of six cassettes for the average novel. And computers converting text to speech? That was the stuff of science fiction.
But beginning on that long-ago day, people who were blind, had low vision, or had other print disabilities were treated to something few had dreamed of – a consistent, reliable, and daily reading of their local newspapers, national magazines, and books.
All of these were read by volunteers and broadcast over a private frequency to each Listeners own radio receiver. Before the Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service came to be, they had to depend on friends and family to read for them.
Since March 19, 1987, tens of thousands in Western New York and Southern Ontario have had their lives enriched by the service – one page at a time. They’ve kept up with critically important news, followed events in their community, and kept abreast of their favorite sports teams. They learned more about current and future elected leaders and were better informed when they voted.
Less than two years ago, when the Radio Reading Service began streaming its live feed online and making popular programs available through podcasts, thousands more had instant access through almost any Internet-connected device, including desktops, laptops, tablets, smart phones and smart speakers.
Studies have shown that radio reading listeners are more engaged in the community, as well as more open-minded and more creative. Radio reading programs not only inform and share news, but they also entertain. Their familiarity brings listeners a sense of companionship, as if the reader was next to them and reading just to them!
There are an estimated 20,000 people in WNY who are blind or have low vision and another 40,000 who have a physical or cognitive print disability that makes reading difficult or impossible.
We have been covering Western New York for nearly 35 years and over that time our Listeners have enjoyed a 24/7 program selection that is loaded with local and national newspapers, magazines and NY Times best-selling books. And now we’re bringing our model east to Rochester.
For years these services were provided by WXXI Reachout Radio, which closed at the end of May. While we know we cannot fill their shoes, we have the capacity to make sure that Listeners have access to local news and publications
Our radio broadcast does not have the range to reach Rochester and the Genesee Valley, so we plan to begin offering a dedicated online stream that any Listener with an Internet connection will be able to access on almost any device – computer, tablet, smartphone or smart speaker. We’ve already begun reading the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle from Monday through Friday and have posted it to our website.
There are about 20,000 people who are blind or visually impaired in Rochester and the Genesee Valley – and many more who have a print disability that makes holding a book or turning a page difficult or impossible, It’s clear that, while the ‘how’ of audio & reading services will continue to evolve, the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ remain as important as ever. And, while national and international stories are important and, in many cases, riveting, the most important news for our Listeners is local. What’s happening in their backyard that they need to know about and how will it impact their day-to-day lives? Only print provides the depth and detail that delivers, and that comes from books, magazines and local newspapers.
We’re looking for volunteers who are interested and available to read the Democrat & Chronicle, the Rochester Business Journal, the many weekly newspapers that serve Rochester’s suburbs, and other local daily, weekly or monthly publications. A draft of our program schedules appears below. And volunteers will be able to record and submit their readings from the comfort of their own home!
If you or anyone you know would like to be a volunteer reader, please contact us at (716) 821-5555 or by E-mail to read@nfradioreading.org.
Thank you!
NFRRS 2.0
Streaming & Podcast Initiative
In July 2020, your Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service launched NFRRS 2.0 – a new Podcasts & Streaming Initiative that brought the radio station’s live feed and program archives to the Internet. This move removed the limitation requiring listeners to use a special radio receiver and enabled any listener with an internet connection the ability to access live and recorded content when, where and however they want through their computer browser, smart phone, smart speaker or other device.
This powerful new initiative would not have been possible without the generosity & support of the following organizations.
ABOUT US
Your Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service was founded in 1987 to help people who are blind, have low vision, or have other print-related disabilities ‘read’ printed materials.
Volunteers read books, magazines, newspapers and other print materials that are heard 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These readings are broadcast over a private subcarrier radio frequency to listeners who have a special receiver and are streamed online over the Internet. About 280,000 hours of material has been broadcast since those first days in 1987. Our radio listenership grew to more than 500 people and, with the addition of our new online platform, thousands more can access our service.
The agency was launched through the hard work and clear vision of founder Robert Sikorski, a lawyer by vocation and former general manager at WBFO 88.7. Over his 30+ year tenure he tirelessly labored to secure funding, recruit volunteers, and reach new listeners – all while operating a service that was on-the-air 24/7.
Michael Benzin took over as Executive Director in December 2018.
NEW AFFILIATION BRINGS GREAT PROMISE
In December 2018 your Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service began a new affiliation with Western New York Independent Living, one of the state’s largest comprehensive agencies serving people with disabilities. The relationship not only provides needed administrative supports for our service such as accounting, payroll, HR, IT and maintenance, it offers both agencies the ability to leverage each others strengths as advocates for our community.
Western New York Independent Living is a community-based non-profit organization that serves more than 7,000 people with disabilities annually through peer counseling, support for independent living, transitional services, advocacy and information & referrals.
WHY PRINT IS IMPORTANT
Because of one or more of a variety of print disabilities, not everybody can read or read well. Yet reading is important. Print media, for example, offers a greater and more detailed perspective & analysis than most TV or radio news programs. Print can not only tell you what happened yesterday, it can also tell you why, and can provide additional details on what happened. Print has both the space for words and the time for perspective. And books are a wonderful literary tool. Books encourage, entertain, illuminate, inspire, motivate, and teach. They help readers understand that nothing is impossible, allow readers to take action, and help readers to know their true potential.
But, even with improved today’s technology, people who are blind, have low vision, or have other print-related disabilities are unable to access print. Studies have shown that people who read – or have material read to them – are more open-minded, creative, and show enhanced cognitive engagement in vocabulary, thinking skills, and concentration. Reading has been shown to reduce stress and help keep the brain functioning effectively as people age. Readers also have stronger capacities in things that can affect empathy, social perception, and emotional intelligence.
People who read are more positively engaged in their community than people who don’t.
LINKS & RESOURCES
The links below connect with our partners and other organizations who provide programs and services for people who are blind, have low vision, or have other print disabilities.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Paul Beakman, Sr.
Vice President
Richard Dread
Treasurer
Ann Scherff
Secretary
Sue Ann Sehl
Board Members
Patricia LaMont
Charles (Chuck) Nellis
Kenneth Sullivan
Their support and counsel has played a critical role in our success!
Joyce Trautman Bobrowski
Donna Dickey
Ann Marie Ford, ex officio
Cheryl Haake
Patricia LaMont
Margaret Mergenhagen
William A. Miles
Walt Otto
Margaret Recktenwald
Margaret Riso
David Roll
Ronald Scholze
Robert Sikorski, executive director
Ronald Sipos
Suzanne Swanson Wittek
Chairs Emeritus
David Hall
Lori Heidenburg Morrell
Staff
Executive Director
Michael E. Benzin, CFRE
mike@nfradioreading.org or (716) 821-5555, x2
Program Manager
Nicholas J. Aldrich
nick@nfradioreading.org or (716) 821-5555, x1
Community Engagement Coordinator
VACANT
Want this job? Visit Community Engagement Job Posting for more information!
Administrative Assistant
Renee Larcom
rlarcom@nfradioreading.org or (716) 821-5555, x4