NEWSLINE for the Blind

NEWSLINE is a telephone-based system that allows persons who are blind to access a variety of newspapers and publications. Using the buttons on a touch-tone telephone, the listener selects a category of the paper, such as local news, area events, obituaries or grocery ads. The listener can read a story, skip to the next story, raise the volume, or exit the category and choose another category or publication. The reading is done by approximately 100 trained volunteers. The statewide service is available free of charge, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. NEWSLINE averaged more than 10,000 calls a month..

NEWSLINE has experienced a steady climb in the number of listeners. Now in its 20th year of operation, NEWSLINE has served over 5,000 users statewide. NEWSLINE publications include the Albuquerque Journal, the Santa Fe New Mexican, Time Magazine, the Que Pasa NFB newsletter, and the Alamogordo Daily News.

The Commission also sponsors NFB-Newsline, a program providing access to over 300 national newspapers and magazines, as well as job listings. NFB-Newsline is operated by the National Federation of the Blind and provides users access to newspapers such as the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, and USA Today. NFB-Newsline also provides access to Spanish publications and newspapers. NFB-NEWSLINE has over 1,050 registered users.