[blindlaw] National Federation of the Blind Partners with AARP Publications

[Ford, Tim (DHS-OLS)]

Hi All,

While I am of course excited about the new publications, I want to mention my concern about NFB perhaps blending too much the membership part of the organization with Newsline.

 There is still that faction out there that does not want to be associated with NFB, and this pres release does not help with that problem.  I thought we had discussed this concept back at the first Newsline seminar, and decided that Newsline needed to be kept quite separate from the consumer organization side of things.

I mention this only because I think it is best from a long term standpoint to have as many people feel comfortable with using Newsline, and every time the NFB consumer organization side of things is mentioned, it reinforces the adverse reaction.  I just had this come up last week, where someone did not want to be signed up for Newsline until they were convinced that by signing up, he would not be considered part of NFB.  

NFB is rightfully proud of Newsline, but I think the product stands for itself, and there is no need in my opinion for mentioning NFB in the Newsline materials.  The name alone of NFB Newsline should be enough, and if I had my choice, I would just call it Newsline for the Blind.  

Again, I think our goal and long term best interest is to have Newsline be considered as simply another library service, and not a proprietary product of one organization.  There is still just too much emotion out there, and we should not constantly be reminding people that Newsline is somehow different.

Sincerely,
Timothy Ford


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From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David Andrews
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 1:18 AM
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Subject: [blindlaw] National Federation of the Blind Partners with AARP Publications


National Federation of the Blind Partners with AARP Publications

 Largest Circulation Magazine Now Accessible to Blind and Visually Impaired Members

Includes English and Spanish Language Content

Baltimore, Maryland (January 19, 2007): The National Federation of the Blind, the largest consumer group of blind people in the United States, and AARP, the membership organization representing nearly 38 million Americans, have partnered to make AARP publications accessible to all blind and low vision people in the United States. AARP the Magazine, AARP Bulletin, and AARP Segunda Juventud, AARP's bilingual magazine, are now available on NFB-NEWSLINE®, the nation's largest free, on-demand news service for the blind.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said, "Over half of all blind and low vision Americans are older Americans.  It is natural that the NFB would work with AARP to make their valuable publications accessible to the blind."

Catherine Ventura-Merkel, Director of AARP Publications, said, "Through our publications, we are able to provide vital news and information to older Americans.  We are pleased to be working with the National Federation of the Blind to ensure that our publications are available to all older Americans in an accessible format."

Using a synthetic speech engine, NFB-NEWSLINE® delivers 238 participating newspapers and six magazines to its subscribers each day.  Content is acquired via the Internet or through a direct feed from the publisher.  It is accessible twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, through a local or toll-free telephone number.

All individuals who are physically unable to read print are eligible to subscribe free of charge to NFB-NEWSLINE®.  To subscribe or to request more information, call the National Federation of the Blind at (866) 504-7300, or visit them online at http://www.nfbnewsline.org/ <http://www.nfbnewsline.org/> .

# # #

About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the 
United States.   The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, 
education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence.  It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 
50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial 
50+ and
affordable to them and society as a whole. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, http://www.aarp.org/ . AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

John G. Paré Jr.
Director of Public Relations
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, Maryland  21230
Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, ext. 2371
Cell phone:  (410) 913-3912
Fax:  (410) 685-5653
Email:  jpare at nfb.org

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