VALLEY
VOICE
READING SERVICE FOR THE BLIND, PARTIALLY-BLIND,
AND MEDICALLY-PRINT IMPAIRED.
Top.
About Us. Who
We Serve. Where We Serve.
Why It's Important. How
You Can Help. Many Thanks.
Text-to-speech
software users can read this website's sidebar link list by clicking here.
Top.
About
Us. Who We
Serve. Where We Serve.
Why It's Important. How
You Can Help. Many Thanks.
Text-to-speech
software users can read this website's sidebar link list by clicking here.
About
Us.
Since
1981, providing the region's blind and partially-blind with access to time-sensitive
print information.
A
volunteer-powered
non-profit charity organization, we read newspapers,
magazines, letters-to-the-Editor, civic info, etc.
Broadcasting
the readings on Cable-TV
information channels and also on "Subcarrier Band" radio.
(Since regular radios don't pick up Subcarrier signals, Valley Voice buys
specialized Subcarrier receivers and lends
then to sight-impaired people who don't have access to Cable TV).
Facilities
lent by public radio WMRA on the James Madison University (JMU) campus.
Two paid part-time staff
funded by a state grant.
Activities,
broadcast equipment, and loaner subcarrier receivers are funded by charitable
donations.
Your donation is tax-deductible. There is immediate need.
Additional
$upport from the raffles
and other fundraising activity of our "booster"
organization, the Valley Voice Friends --a private tax-exempt, 501(c)(3),
non-profit charity. Federal "I.D. number" 54-1966173.
Preceding
item/story/comment by Valley Voice Friends.
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Top.
About Us.
Who
We Serve. Where
We Serve.
Why It's Important. How
You Can Help. Many Thanks.
Text-to-speech
software users can read this website's sidebar link list by clicking here.
Who
We Serve.
Some day --surprise-- maybe someone you know.
We
help the print-impaired. Since many sight-loss triggers appear during old
age, most of our listeners are elderly. Odds are, someone you know (your
partner, or sibling, parent, coworker, neighbor, or perhaps even you) will
need our help some day. One out-of-six people (16%) over age 45 are considered
visually impaired. One out-of-five people over age 70 (20%) have "severe
vision loss". Figures climb to a quarter of those over age 80, and
a third of those older than 90.
The
NLS (National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped,
an arm of the Library of Congress) has statistics showing that at least
3% of the general population (all age groups) qualifies for "audio
reading formats" (radio reading services, talking book devices, etc).
Valley Voice's signal area (covering several counties, many towns, and
a few small cities), had a Spring 1999 population of 240,000 --and growing.
Using the NLS' conservative "3% of the general population" figuring,
we can estimate at least 7,200 medically-qualified people were in the region
in 1999.
Sadly,
for financial reasons we are not serving everyone who qualifies. Buying
individual Subcarrier receivers (at nearly $100 each) and lending them
out free of charge to each print-imapired person required a massive flow
of donations. The flow was always steady, but small. It took from the years
1983 to 1998 for Valley Voice to reach a little over ten percent of the
medically-qualified population. From 1999 to 2002, our first expansions
onto Cable-TV (primarily funded by special fundraisers through our "booster"
organization, Valley Voice Friends), finally allowed us to reach over 50%.
We
hope for a future where any print-impaired Virginian in our signal area
may have access to the printed word through our service. Public-spirited
decisions by corporate and civic leaders --along with financial
support from foundations, businesses, and private contributions-- can
make it possible. Perhaps you too can help make it possible; just as someday,
you or someone you know might be in need of our service.
Top.
About Us. Who
We Serve.
Where
We Serve.
Why It's Important. How
You Can Help. Many Thanks.
Text-to-speech
software users can read this website's sidebar link list by clicking here.
Where
We Serve.
Our main signal area covers most of Virginia's Rockingham,
Augusta, and Shenandoah counties --and parts of Page county. The area's
independent cities (Staunton, Waynesboro, Harrisonburg, etc.) are included.
In 2002, our Subcarrier signal into parts of Albemarle and Nelson counties
(along with Charlottesville city) was greatly strengthened.
Those
without access to Valley Voice thru Cable-TV
(see below) can hear us on our specialized Subcarrier Band radio signal.
It
is not available on regular radios. We purchase factory-pretuned Subcarrier
radio receivers and then lend them free of charge to the medically-qualified
as long as they need (and want) our service.
If
you or someone you know needs to borrow a Valley Voice receiver unit, click
here.
Private
donations
keep the Valley Voice going. Broadcast equipment, Subcarrier Band receivers,
and other electronics are not cheap.
Several
area Cable-TV community bulletin board channels use Valley Voice as their
background audio, including:
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In
Harrisonburg, Rockingham county (including Sunnyside communities and Rockingham Memorial Hospital) thru Harrisonburg Adelphia
Cable on HARRISONBURG CITYSPAN 3.* |
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In
Woodstock and Shenandoah county thanks to ShenTel Cable
on VALLEY VOICE TV 71. |
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In
Staunton and nearby Augusta county areas thru Staunton Adelphia Cable
on STAUNTON CITYSPAN 14.
|
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In
Waynesboro and nearby Augusta county areas thru Waynesboro Adelphia
cable on WAYNESBORO CITY SCHOOLS TV 13.* |
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In
Luray and nearby Page county areas --future service anticipated. |
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In
Charlottesville and nearby Albemarle county areas thru Charlottesville Adelphia
cable on CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY SCHOOLS TV 14.* |
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At
Summit Square retirement community (Waynesboro) thru Sunnyside in-house
network on VALLEY VOICE TV 38. |
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At
Bridgewater retirement community thru NTC
on HARRISONBURG CITYSPAN 3.* |
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At
VMRC-Virginia Mennonite retirement community (Harrisonburg) thru VMRC in-house cable system on Channel 58 "ZAP-2". |
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*
Indicates Cable-TV channels where Valley Voice sometimes might be interrupted
for official government broadcasts (city council meetings, school instructional
programs, etc.)
Top.
About Us. Who
We Serve. Where We Serve.
Why
It's Important. How
You Can Help. Many Thanks.
Text-to-speech
software users can read this website's sidebar link list by clicking here.
Why
It's Important.
Too often, those who lose their sight (and thus lose
their access to print and to easy transportation) rapidly withdraw from
the community. They become shut-ins.
Giving
the blind and other print-impaired people access to time-sensitive print
information is not just a "quality of life" issue. It's not just
entertainment. From editorials to town meeting notices and even obituaries,
much data essential for full participation in community life is only available
in print. Our elderly who have lost their sight deserve the same access
to civic information as their fellow (sighted) citizens.
Modifying
an existing quote, Valley Voice's Rob Munro (himself blind) summed up the
printed word's world of ideas this way, "what I can read, I can think
about; what I can think about, I can DO about."
Valley
Voice is a reading service; it broadcasts time-sensitive print matter.
Our colleagues at other nearby audio information services have related
specialties: the Staunton Talking Book Center records books onto tape,
while Charlottesville's Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic specializes
in scholastic textbooks. Together, we strive to reopen the world of print
to those with medical print-impairments.
Top.
About Us. Who
We Serve. Where We Serve.
Why It's Important.
How
You Can Help. Many
Thanks.
Text-to-speech
software users can read this website's sidebar link list by clicking here.
How
You Can Help.
You can give time, give money, give
other valuables, and give thought. Also, you might advertise
with us. More info follows.
GIVE
TIME. You can volunteer to be a reader, --or an office helper, grantwriter,
or "special event" helper. Click
here for detail (on our Volunteering page).
GIVE
MONEY. You can donate by sending a check or a credit card contribution.
Click here for
detail (on our Donating page).
GIVE
OTHER ITEMS OF VALUE. You can donate property: vehicles, aircraft, antiques,
collectables, jewelry, minerals, stocks, bonds, industrial equipment, boats,
ships, buildings, land, rolling stock, computers --you name it. Click
here for detail (on our Donating page).
GIVE
THOUGHT. Think --about people you know who might be of use as a donor or
decision-maker. Then "make an introduction": tell them about
us. Perhaps your co-worker, golf partner, or carpool-mate is in charge
of a business' charitable giving, surplus property, advertising, or corporate
volunteer team. Maybe you know a celebrity who could could donate memorbilia,
record a promotional announcment, or could contribute some proceeds. Perhaps
you know civic leaders who could be of assistance. Maybe you have a friend
who's pondering giving a vehicle or some real estate to charity. Tell them
about us.
ADVERTISE
WITH US. Businesses
may air "underwriting" messages which sound like typical "public
broadcasting" style sponsor announcments. Also individuals
or organizations may
sponsor programming --sometimes in honor of others. Feel free to ask about
underwriting
rates and procedures --you can click here for the Contacting Us page.
Sample "underwriting"
messages below:
| Today's
programming is supported in part by XYZ Widget Makers, proud to help give
the blind access to print through this service.
|
Today's
programming is supported in part by: Jane and John Doe of Charlottesburgsboro
--in honor of Lindsay Doe's graduation from J.M.U.V.A. |
Today's
programming is supported in part by: Jane Doe --in honor of Augustingham
County Red Cross, holding a blood drive at the mall all day Sunday. Info:
ACRCgiveBlood.org |
| Today's
programming is supported in part by: John Doe of Charlottesburgsboro. |
Today's
programming is supported in part by: Jane Doe --in honor of Augustingham
County Red Cross, celebrating fifty-one years of service. 1-800-555-5555. |
Today's
programming is supported in part by XYZ Widget Makers of Charlottesburgsboro
--showrooms at 500 North main Street open weekdays 9 'til 6. |
| Today's
programming is supported in part by: supporters honoring Augustingham County
Red Cross, on the web at ACRCgiveBlood.org |
Today's
programming is supported in part by: XYZ Widget Makers --for over seventy
years, serving the Valley's precision-widget needs.
|
Today's
programming is supported in part by: Jane Doe in honor of John Doe --on
his 47th birthday. |
| Today's
programming is sponsored in part by: XYZ Widget Makers, crafting bronze
widgets since 1928, on the web at xyzWidgetMakers.com |
Today's
programming is supported in part by: the friends and family of the late
Grandpa Doe of Charlottesburgsboro, saying 'we'll miss you.' |
Today's
programming is supported in part by: Augustingham County Red Cross, thanking
its Volunteers, donors, and well-wishers. Info: ACRCgiveBlood.org |
Feel
free to ask about underwriting
rates and procedures --you can click here for the Contacting Us page.
Top.
About Us. Who
We Serve. Where We Serve.
Why It's Important. How
You Can Help.
Many
Thanks.
Text-to-speech
software users can read this website's sidebar link list by clicking here.
Many
Thanks.
While private donations fund our efforts to serve
the greatest-possible number of our area's medically-qualified people,
our very existence depends on the graceful humanitarianism of JMU and WMRA.
On behalf of the present and future print-impaired citizens of Virginia's
central Shenandoah Valley, the Valley Voice thanks James Madison University
for providing office space in the Anthony Seeger Building. The material
and technical support of Public Radio WMRA is critical. WMRA generously
provides broadcast space on the "hidden" Subcarrier channel next
to its own broadcast signal. Valley Voice could not exist in its present
form without WMRA and JMU.
Thanks
also to the government of Staunton, the City Council of Harrisonburg, and
the School Board of Waynesboro, for their help and support in our expansion
onto local government Cable-TV channels. Special thanks to ShenTel for
volunteering to place a special Valley Voice TV channel on their cable
system in Shenandoah county. More thanks go to the technical staff and
administrators of the retirement communities now airing Valley Voice on
their own in-house Cable-TV systems. Thanks in advance to the technicians
who will assist us in the near future. Most of our Cable-TV expansion required
funding from the Valley Voice Friends --and also specialized help from
the Valley Voice Friends "Fearless Roof-Climbing Squad".
Thanks
to the hundreds of Volunteers who have contributed countless hours of skilled
time over the past twenty years. Thanks also to the people, businesses,
service groups, and foundations who have contributed financial support.
By helping us, you are helping your print-impaired neighbors in the Shenandoah
Valley.
Top.
About Us. Who
We Serve. Where We Serve.
Why It's Important. How
You Can Help. Many Thanks.
Text-to-speech
software users can read this website's sidebar link list by clicking here.