ReZoom

Imagine what it would be like if you could no longer read these printed words! Think how it would affect your daily life if you had to live without access to newspapers and magazines - even simple publications like pamphlets from the doctor's office.

Central Kentucky Radio Eye, Inc (CKRE) is a Radio Reading Service (RRS) dedicated to broadcasting the reading of newspapers and other everyday literature to those people who cannot read the printed word due to blindness, low vision or physical disability.

CKRE is on the air 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Their locally produced programs, which run from 8am to 1pm daily, include sports news, local magazines, short stories and health information. After CKRE completes its local programming, they switch to a satellite feed from New York, providing listeners with readings from national newspapers and current publications for the balance of the day (24 hours).

CKRE began broadcasting its Radio Reading Service in November 1990. They have been in continuous service ever since and they serve an audience of thousands radio listeners every day of the year. They have listeners throughout Central Kentucky covering an 80 mile radius.

Listeners receive the 24 hour closed-circuit broadcast on special radios that are lent to them free of charge. The majority of the listeners are over 60 years old. Most are blind or visually impaired, but many others listeners who are print handicapped because of disabilities which prevent them from holding or turning a page also use this unique service. Listeners call CKRE regularly to thank them for the work they do.

Each year, volunteers contribute thousands of hours making "live" and "recorded" readings; operating the control board which gets the broadcast on the air; researching material; scheduling readers; repairing & mailing radios; answering the phone & keeping records; and helping with the newsletter & program guide. The CKRE studio is open mornings only for volunteers to come in to make their readings. Many of the volunteers are retirees and homemakers, who are able to volunteer during the week. And still other volunteers work on projects from their homes. Very few of the readers come from a broadcasting background, but all share a common desire to bring the printed word to the listeners. Several readers have been with CKRE over ten years. Every year there is a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at which the Board of CKRE acknowledges the volunteers' many hours of help to our organization.

The success of CKRE depends directly on the loyalty, dedication and talent of both the on-air and behind the scenes volunteers. Readers take an oral reading and pronunciation test. They expect leaders to give a minimum of one hour actual reading time (or two separate half hour readings) per week. Control Board Operators will be trained, and it takes about a week to become fully confident.

Recording or broadcasting live for listeners provides an interesting and rewarding experience. CKRE is committed to providing reading that is accurate, pleasant and intelligently presented. Readings are paced in a manner that makes it easy for older listeners to hear and understand the reports.