Iowa Radio Reading Information Service for the Blind and Print Handicapped, Inc.: Des Moines, Iowa

Dorothy H. Kirsner

May 3, 1919 - May 20, 2013

Thousands of IRIS listeners and volunteers lost a precious friend this week.

Dorothy H. Kirsner was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Her lifelong passion for helping Iowans living with blindness began in 1940 when she volunteered as a Braillist. Back then, this amazing endeavor required learning Braille, becoming certified as a Braillist by the Library of Congress and manually transcribing each book to Braille by hand – page by page.

Her dedication continued in so many ways - serving on the Iowa Commission for the Blind – helping establish and sustain IRIS, and ensuring the purchase of the building that houses the Iowa Department for the Blind today.

IRIS would not be here without the treasure and champion that was Dorothy. For over seventy years, the quiet efforts of one extraordinary person have enhanced the lives of so many Iowans who are blind or visually impaired – in a very big way.

2013: A Year of Transition ...

2012 was an amazing year with growth in almost every area. New listeners, volunteers, services, sponsors and friends. From Washington, D.C. to Waterloo, we shared the story of our vital service and our volunteers.

2012 also saw the last of the federal funding that had been supporting IRIS for so long. We are proud that we've been able to provide all equipment and services to our listeners at no cost to them since day one. We are committed to continue doing just that.

Going forward, IRIS must rely on contributions for the majority of our funding. All IRIS listeners live with a disability, most are seniors and many live on limited incomes. In order to sustain our service, we are turning to the communities we serve. It will be a difficult - but not impossible - transition.

What YOU can Do ...

Talk about IRIS. Tell your friends, your doctor and your family. Invite IRIS to speak to your organization, church or business. Talk about what IRIS does for you. Greater awareness is essential in helping us identify new listeners, recruit new volunteers and introduce us to potential contributors in your community.

Whether you are a listener, volunteer or friend of IRIS, you are a part of our story. Thank you for all you do - and together, we will make 2013 a great year for Iowa's First and Only Radio Reading Service!

Audio Description is another way IRIS is working to deliver equal access to information for you.The SENSATION! Team is a group of IRIS volunteers who are professionally trained in the art of Audio Description (AD). Through a special headset, patrons at live events hear a narration describing the visual elements of the event.

Nov. 3, 10

2013

Dec. 15

2013

April 6

2014

April 27

2014

June 15

2014

Sept. 14, 21

2014

IRIS DELIVERS ACCESS TO INFORMATION

IRIS is a free radio reading service that reads print information aloud to thousands of listeners throughout Iowa. Each day, volunteers in 7 locations sit down in front of an IRIS microphone and read aloud from their local newspapers. The readings are heard on custom receivers that are provided to our listeners at no cost to them. The volunteer Voices of IRIS, over 400 strong, keep our listeners connected to their communities - and their world.

Our Mission: The Iowa Radio Reading Information Service for the Blind and Print Handicapped (IRIS) exists to bring the world of information to Iowans who cannot access the printed word because of blindness, visual or physical impairment or learning difference.