Volunteer Work for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Numerous organizations exist for the blind and visually impaired, and
most of them require volunteers to read books, newspapers, magazines,
instructional manuals, and more.
American Foundation for the Blind
http://www.afb. org/default. asp
The American Foundation for the Blind (AF is a national nonprofit that
expands possibilities for the more than 25 million people in the U.S.
with vision loss.
Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
http://www.asb. org/donations- a-partnerships. html
ASB is a Philadelphia- based non-profit organization dedicated to
inspiring self-esteem, independence and self determination among people
who are blind or visually impaired.
Georgia Radio Reading Service
http://www.garrs. net/index. html
(800) 672-6173
Georgia Radio Reading Service is a closed circuit radio station whose
mission is to improve the quality of life for every Georgian who is
blind, visually-impaired or has difficulty with access to the printed
word by broadcasting current information via sub channel radio
transmission and streamlining on the internet.
Jewish Braille Institute (JBI)
http://www.jbilibra ry.org/
1-800-433-1531
The Jewish Braille Institute produces audiobooks and audio publications
on Jewish topics for the blind in their in-house studios, and they are
always looking for more volunteers to narrate, direct and edit
audiobooks.
Junior Blind of America
http://www.juniorbl ind.org/site/ volunteering
Junior Blind’s mission helps children and adults who are blind, visually impaired or multi-disabled achieve independence.
Reading and Radio Resource
The Braille Institute
http://www.braillei nstitute. org/volunteer
Braille Institute is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to
promote fulfilling lives by eliminating barriers caused by blindness and
severe sight loss.
WXXI Reachout Radio
http://wxxi. org/reachout/ applyvol. html
(585) 258-0200
WXXI Reachout Radio in Rochester, NY 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.
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Volunteer Work: Children & Schools

Many schools accept volunteers to read for children.
Reading is Fundamental
http://www.rif. org/us/get- involved. htm
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. prepares and motivates children to read, by
delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and
families who need them most.
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Volunteer Work: Libraries

Just about every library offers reading for the blind. A few major
libraries pay voice-over artists for this reading, but the pay is quite
low.
Jewish Braille Institute (JBI)
http://www.jbilibra ry.org/
1-800-433-1531
The Jewish Braille Institute produces audiobooks and audio publications
on Jewish topics for the blind in their in-house studios, and they are
always looking for more volunteers to narrate, direct and edit
audiobooks.
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)
http://www.loc. gov/nls/
Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS administers a
free library program of braille and audio materials for eligible
borrowers in the United States, circulated by postage-free mail.
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Volunteer Work: Non-Profit Organizations

Many non-profit organizations would be thrilled to have volunteers provide voice over work for various projects
Energize, Inc.
http://www.energize inc.com/prof/ volop.html
Energize, Inc. is an international training, consulting and publishing firm specializing in volunteerism
LibriVox
http://librivox. org/
LibriVox volunteers record chapters of books in the public domain and
publish the audio files on the internet. Their goal is to record all the
books in the public domain.
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Volunteer Work: Radio stations

Most cities have at least one radio station that offers programs for the
blind. Some may require you to work in their facility, but some might
be able to work remotely.
Alabama Print Information Center
http://www.alaprint .org/volunteer. htm
Operated by the WHIL Radio Reading Service in Mobile, AL, the Center
provides on-demand current print information to those unable to read
print due to blindness, visual impairment or other disability.
Audible Local Ledger
http://www.audiblel ocalledger. org/gettinginvol ved.html
The Audible Local Ledger “Turns Print into Sound,” by broadcasting
printed material to residents of Cape Cod and the Islands (Mass.), over
closed-circuit radio stations, cable television audio channels and on
secondary audio program channels of television stations for the blind,
visually impaired or print disabled.
Audio Journal
http://www.ziplink. net/~ajournal/ volunteering. htm
Broadcasts the printed word to people who cannot see, hold, or otherwise
access it. They do this through a special radio frequency.
Chicagoland Radio Information Service
http://chicagolight house.org/ programs- and-services/ cris/volunteer
Chicagoland Radio Information Service (CRIS) provides daily readings of
newspapers and periodicals including news stories, sales circulars, and
classified listings for listeners who have a wide range of disabilities.
Connecticut Radio Information System
http://crisradio. org/Volunteering .htm
The Connecticut Radio Information System (CRIS), is Connecticut’ s only radio reading service.
Georgia Radio Reading Service
http://www.garrs. net/index. html
(800) 672-6173
Georgia Radio Reading Service is a closed circuit radio station whose
mission is to improve the quality of life for every Georgian who is
blind, visually-impaired or has difficulty with access to the printed
word by broadcasting current information via sub channel radio
transmission and streamlining on the internet.
Indiana Reading and Information Services
http://www.wfyi. org/volunteer. asp#today
Founded in 1982, Indiana Reading and Information Services (IRIS) is an
around-the-clock communications link for the print-impaired.
International Association of Audio Information Services
http://www.iaais. org/locateservic e.html
This website is chock full on useful places regionally and nationally
where voice actors can participate in reading to the blind.
Kansas Audio Reader Network
http://reader. ku.edu/volunteer .shtml
The Kansas Audio-Reader Network is a reading and information service for
blind, visually impaired, and print disabled individuals in Kansas and
western Missouri.
KPBS Radio Reading Service
http://www.kpbsread ingservice. org/#volunteer
The KPBS Radio Reading Service broadcasts the readings of newspapers,
books and magazines to those with low vision, blindness and other print
impairments.
Los Angeles Radio Reading Service
http://www.larrs. org/volunteer. html
The Los Angeles Radio Reading Service (LARRS), a radio station that
broadcasts newspapers for those who are blind or print–impaired,
urgently needs volunteers to read and produce the weekday live
broadcasts.
Maine Audio Information and Reading Service
http://www.theiris. org/news/ 23/40/Maine- Airs-Volunteer- Opportunities
Helps people who are visually impaired or blind attain independence and community integration.
Minds Eye Information Services
http://www.mindseye radio.org/ howtovolunteer. asp
Minds Eye Information Service (Formerly Radio Information Service) was
established as a broadcast service for the blind and print impaired in
1973 by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Belleville, Illinois. It has a
varied faith listenership, so programming is designed to be
non-sectarian.
Northeast Indiana Radio Reading Service
http://www.acpl. lib.in.us/ volunteer/ application. pdf
Northeast Indiana Radio Reading Service (NEIRRS) is a free radio reading
service for people who are blind or have a visual or reading
impairment.
Reading and Radio Resource
Sun Sounds of Arizona
http://sunsounds. org/volunteer/
Sun Sounds of Arizona provides audio access to information to people in
the Southwest who cannot read print because they have a disability.
The Metropolitan Washington Ear, Inc.
http://www.washear. org/v-teer. htm
The Metropolitan Washington Ear: free services for blind, visually
impaired, and physically disabled people who cannot effectively read
print.
The Talking Information Center
http://www.ticnetwo rk.com/volunteer .htm
Sun Sounds of Arizona provides audio access to information to people in
the Southwest who cannot read print because they have a disability.
The Talking Information Center
http://www.ticnetwo rk.com/volunteer .htm
The Talking Information Center broadcasts the reading of printed
material over an extensive network of commercial and noncommercial radio
and cable TV outlets.
Tri-States Audio Information Services
http://www.tristate saudio.org/ volunteer. asp
Tri-States Audio Information Services fosters equal access to printed
materials for individuals in the western Illinois region who are blind,
visually impaired, learning disabled, or physically disabled.
Voice Print Canada
http://www.voicepri ntcanada. com/volunteer
VoicePrint claims to be the world’s largest broadcast reading service,
distributed through cable, satellite and the Internet to more than 10
million Canadian homes. More than 600 volunteers read and record
full-text spoken-word versions of current articles from leading
newspapers and magazines. Together, the staff and volunteers produce and
broadcast more than 125 hours of new programming every week. Volunteer
readers are welcome at all of their offices across Canada.
WJCT Radio Reading Service
http://www.wjct. org/pdfs/ WJCT-RRS- Volunteer- Application. pdf
For nearly 50 years, WJCT has been a trusted resource in the
Jacksonville, FL, community, that educates, entertains, and empowers
First Coast citizens through excellent programming and exceptional
outreach.
WLRN Radio Reading Service
http://www.wlrn. org/web/index. php
The WLRN Radio Reading Service (RRS) broadcasts the reading of
newspapers, books, and magazines to individuals who have difficulty
reading independently.
WRBH 88.3 FM
http://www.wrbh. org/
WRBH 88.3 FM, Radio for the Blind and Print Handicapped, is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization and is the only full-time reading service on the
FM dial in the United States.
WUIS
http://wuis. org/radioinforma tionservice/ radioinfoservice .html
WUIS provides an information service for people who are print disabled
(blind, visually impaired, learning disabled and physically disabled).
WXXI Reachout Radio
http://wxxi. org/reachout/ applyvol. html
(585) 258-0200
WXXI Reachout Radio in Rochester, NY 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.
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Volunteer Work: Senior Communities

Many senior communities accept volunteers to read to the residents.
American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
http://www.aahsa. org/section. aspx?id=288
The members of the American Association of Homes and Services for the
Aging (AAHSA) help millions of individuals and their families every day
through mission-driven, not-for-profit organizations dedicated to
providing the services that people need, when they need them, in the
place they call home.