CERRO GORDO COUNTY, July 16, 2013 – The Iowa Radio Reading Information Service for the Blind and Print Handicapped (IRIS) was awarded a grant by the Cerro Gordo County Community Foundation (CGCCF), an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, at a ceremony on Monday, July 8, 2013 in Mason City, Iowa. This grant will help bring the world of information to North Iowans who cannot read the printed word because of blindness, visual or physical impairment, or learning difference.
IRIS delivers a continuous broadcast of daily newspapers and other publications read as printed to thousands of listeners across the State of Iowa. Every day of the year, dedicated volunteers in eight locations sit in front of an IRIS microphone and read aloud from their local newspaper. IRIS listeners hear those readings on custom radios that are locked to IRIS’ signal. All equipment and services are provided at no cost to listeners. IRIS is now carried on one of Iowa Public Television’s digital streams, delivering service anywhere the FM signal cannot reach. IRIS also combines mobility with accessibility through live streaming, podcasts, and access on-demand via mobile telephones and devices.
More than 300 volunteers statewide provide the power of IRIS, donating their time and talents to read to listeners. In addition to local newspapers, IRIS reads grocery ads, local information, and news specific to vision loss, aging and disabilities. IRIS’ 24/7 programming also includes readings from national publications such as The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Oprah, Sports Illustrated, Consumer Reports, National Geographic, Readers Digest, and others. Maryfrances Evans, Executive Director of IRIS, said, “We are delighted to receive this first time grant from the Cerro Gordo County Community Foundation. Our program has been in existence for 25 years, and has been largely funded by the Des Moines area. We need to reach out to all communities served by this program, and Cerro Gordo County has responded. As important as the funding is, however, we still emphasize networking and getting the word out about this fantastic program.”
In Cerro Gordo County, volunteers read aloud from the Mason City Globe Gazette at KCMR Studios every day of the year. The Mason City IRIS volunteer team has 27 members. They are always in need of more volunteers to read out loud. IRIS has existed in the Cerro Gordo County area since 2002, and currently serves 156 listeners.
