 Reachout Receiver |
What's New?
Reachout Radio Newsletter
Download the current issue in PDF format.
Ruth Phinney Receives the 2007 Visionary Award
Ruth Phinney, WXXI-FM and Reachout Radio Program Director, received the ABVI-Goodwill 2007 Visionary Award at ABVI-Goodwill's annual “Gold Rush" at Monroe Golf Club.
This prestigious award is given to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of ABVI-Goodwill and demonstrates a commitment to its mission – to prepare and empower people who are blind or visually impaired to be self-sufficient and contribute to their families and communities.
What is Reachout Radio?
WXXI Reachout Radio is a radio reading service that provides 24-hour per day readings of local and national newspapers, magazines, and books for people who are print-handicapped. Eligible print-handicapped* individuals include those with visual impairment or blindness, those who suffer from a physical disability which prohibits the holding of printed material, or one with a learning disability such as dyslexia. WXXI Reachout Radio is closed-circuit and is accessible through a specially-tuned radio which is provided free of charge to eligible applicants. The service is also made available for people who are temporarily disabled due to surgery or accident. WXXI Reachout Radio is provided in partnership with ABVI-Goodwill Industries of Greater Rochester.
Reachout Broadcast Range
Reachout Radio is located in the WXXI Public Broadcasting facility at 280 State Street in downtown Rochester. The service is broadcast on a subcarrier frequency of 91.5 FM in Rochester, and 90.3 FM in Houghton. Its broadcast reaches listeners in Monroe, Orleans, Wayne, Genesee, Ontario, Wyoming, Livingston, Yates, Seneca and portions of Allegany and Steuben counties. WXXI Reachout Radio is one of more than 120 radio reading services available through the United States that are members of the International Association of Audio Information Services (IAAIS). For information on a service in another area, call toll-free 1-800-280-5325.
Other WXXI services for people who are visually impaired:
As a further service to Rochester's visually impaired community, WXXI television offers a large number of its programs with descriptive video (DVi). These programs are noted with a D))) in the listings below or in the WXXI Member Magazine (Station Signals Program Guide). Programs with descriptive video provide concise descriptions of sets, scenery, costumes, action and other important visual elements between the dialogue of the program.
This descriptive video is available through the Secondary Audio Program (SAP) channel of a stereo television set or stereo VCR through either a button on the remote control, or an on-screen menu option. When the SAP channel is activated, any DVi program containing descriptive video will be heard along with all of the regular program audio. For more information on how to access DVi programs through the SAP channel, call WXXI at 325-7500.
*Print-handicapped is a term used to include a variety of visual and physical disabilities that prohibit access to standard print information. Blindness and visual impairment is the primary disability; however, physical disabilities such as stroke, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple schlorosis and arthritis, which prohibit the holding of reading material, are also included. Further, people with cognitive limitations such as dyslexia or brain injury are included in the definition of print handicapped.
Reachout Radio is made possible in partnership with The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired-Goodwill (ABVI)
