RSR- A Radio Reading Service for the Blind and Print-Disabled

Reading Service of the Redwoods provides on-air access to printed information for people who are blind, visually impaired, or unable to read because of illness or other disabilities.

Each weekday morning RSR listeners can hear dedicated Reading Service of the Redwoods volunteers read current local newspapers and other information. RSR also provides health information, interviews with vision loss professionals, and local and state election information.

Some of RSR's programming is made available courtesy of the IAAIS Program Share. Visit IAAIS (The International Association of Audio Information Services) website at:
IAAIS HomePage

New Broadcast

AS of February 2009, RSR is now on the air 24 hours a day. Hear the usual live readings at 10 a.m. and replays of each day's news at 4 pm., 10 p.m., 4 a.m.

RSR Daily Schedule

February 2009

Note: the broadcast schedule consists of a six hour segment which repeats throughout a 24 hour period.

TV Guide midnight and 6 AM, noon and 6 PM

Entertainment Weekly 1 AM and 7 AM.

Newsweek 2 and 8 AM, 2 and 8 PM.

PrimeTime Radio 3 and 9 AM, 3 and 9 PM.

RSR News and Information (each show is 1-1/2 hours long)
(10AM segment is live , other broadcasts are replays of live shows)
4 and 10 AM, 4 and 10 PM.

Half hour shows that rotate:
AARP Report, Cook's Corner, Oprah magazine, and Travel Radio.

5:30 and 11:30 AM 5:30 and 11:30 PM

North Coast Journal 1 and 7 PM

Saturday and Sunday

These days have the same show schedule as the weekdays except: All RSR News and Information shows are replays of the daily Monday through Friday live shows.

History

The Reading Service of the Redwoods was established in 1998 in response to a community need for access to local printed information for community members who are blind or print-disabled.

Members of Low Vision support groups agreed that they find themselves at a distinct disadvantage without access to detailed information provided in their local newspapers.

RSR volunteers began by reading newspaper articles on cassette tape distributed to individuals. Later, weekly tapes were broadcast on a community access television station and then on KEET-TV’s Second Audio Program (SAP) channel. In 2003, RSR established a live link to the KEET studios and began to read local newspapers, live, from their office in downtown Eureka.

The reading service has grown from 2 hours per week of recorded readings to several hours per week of live broadcast.

In January 2007, RSR launched its broadcast on KHSU’s sub-carrier channel and can be heard on special pre-tuned radios, offered free of charge to qualified listeners.