Department of Human Services

For Immediate Release

For Information contact: Gaye Mattke, 773-4644

SD News Telephone Reader Adds The Argus Leader

The South Dakota Division of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired (SBVI) is pleased to announce the addition of the Argus Leader publication to the SD News Telephone Reader (SDNTR) system.

This system allows individuals to access the news via the telephone. Approximately 119 individuals currently subscribe to this service which is free to eligible individuals.

The SDNTR is a service available to people who are blind or visually impaired or without access to printed publications due to disabilities. The newspaper text is converted to a digital format and subscribers listen to the articles as they appear in the paper. The Sioux Falls Argus Leader is the latest addition to this service which has been in existence for almost two years with the Rapid City Journal and the USA Today. Other publications on this service include several popular disability periodicals and the New York Times.

This system is a collaborative effort of the South Dakota Division of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired, South Dakota Braille and Talking Book Library, DakotaLink, Black Hills Corporation of SD, National Federation of the Blind of SD and SD Association of the Blind.

This project would not be possible without the support and cooperation of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader and the Rapid City Journal. For more information or to access an application on the SDNTR visit: http://www.state.sd.us/dhs/sbvi/sdntr.htm or call: 1(800) 423-6665.

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