People with Visual Impairments Have New Ways To "Hear"
The Patriot-News, Thanks To Comcast And Deloitte

Harrisburg, PA -- Tri-County Association for the Blind (TCAB) launched two new services that will enable people who are blind or visually impaired to either turn on the television or download to their mp3 players to listen to the Harrisburg Patriot News. The new services are collaborations with Comcast Cable and Deloitte Consulting Inc., both located in Harrisburg.

TCAB has been providing radio-reading services to the blind and visually impaired in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties for 23 years. The TCAB Programming Network radio station broadcasts programming 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Volunteers read various local newspapers that include, The Patriot News, The Hershey Chronicle and the Paxton Herald. Programming also includes reading such local magazines like AARP, Central Pennsylvania magazine and the Senior News. In the past, broadcasting has been limited to clients that have a special fix-tuned radio receiver.

Comcast and TCAB partnered to coordinate efforts to be able to broadcast the Patriot News live on television each day from 9-11 am. Volunteers read the local and regional news along with additional articles that include letters to the editor, editorials, obituaries and Dr. Donahue. The news information is cablecast live on Comcast?s community service channels 78 & 98. This partnership with Comcast expands TCAB?s reach into the community because listeners only need have a television in order to hear their local and regional news.

"The expansion of Tri-County Association for the Blind's reach in the community is another way Comcast is using technology to make a positive difference," said Frank Lynch, senior director of government and community relations for Comcast. ?Comcast is uniquely qualified to assist in the distribution of these services, and we are using our advanced fiber network to support the communities in which we live and work.?

In an effort to keep up with current technology, and to market to the younger people who are blind and visually impaired, TCAB has worked diligently for the past year to be able to expand our methods of transmission of news and information. We currently offer the Patriot News newspaper in two new formats which include a live reading on Comcast television and podcasting from the TCAB website.

Podcasting of the Patriot News is also available for listeners that prefer to either hear the news on their computers or have the ability to download the podcast to their mp3 players. TCAB utilizes the same Comcast transmission and captures it in a way that it can be put on the computer for the listener?s convenience. Podcasting of the Patriot News is available on TCAB?s website and is updated daily.

Tri-County Association for the Blind is an 86 year old non-profit organization that promotes and supports the interests of people who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise disabled and to prevent blindness in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties. To learn more, contact TCAB at (717) 238-2531, visit our web site at www.tricountyblind.org, or e-mail info@tricountyblind.org.