[Mn-abs] National Federation of the Blind Partners with AARP Publications

[David Andrews]

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 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