Iowa’s first and only radio reading service for the blind and print handicapped originated at the Iowa Commission for the Blind in 1972. The service operated at the old Des Moines Technical High School. Employees read The Des Moines Register and the now defunct Des Moines Tribune. The service covered only the Des Moines metro area. The service was discontinued when funding was cut and volunteers took over the service. A US Department of Commerce grant and private donations allowed IRIS to continue. The Service relocated to the House of Mercy at 1409 Clark Street in Des Moines and debuted August 21, 1989.

Private donations, foundation grants and some government funding have allowed the Service to continue and expand. The Des Moines studio moved to its current location at the Park Fair Mall at Second and Euclid Ave. In 1993, IRIS established a studio at KTPR Fort Dodge were volunteers read The Messenger, the daily newspaper in Fort Dodge. Volunteers now read The Messenger from Friendship Haven retirement community in Fort Dodge. IRIS added three new locations in the late 90’s and 2000. Volunteers read The Gazette from WSUI-KSUI in Iowa City (with a translator in Dubuque), The Courier from KUNI-KHKE on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, and The Journal from KWIT on the campus of Western Iowa Technical Community College in Sioux City. Volunteers also read the Globe-Gazette from KCMR in Mason City, and The Ames Tribune from the Tribune offices in Ames.

The IRIS signal is also heard on subcarrier frequencies of Iowa Public Radio transmitters serving Carroll and Lamoni and on the subcarrier of KIWR Council Bluffs. In addition, computer users can hear IRIS anywhere in the world via streaming audio on the IRIS web site.

The hub of the IRIS network is at the Park Fair Mall in Des Moines. From there, volunteers anchor the three-hour daily broadcast of The Des Moines Register (9am to 1pm on Sunday). IRIS volunteers also read Des Moines City View, Des Moines Business Record, The Iowa Source, The Iowan, and a monthly selection of Iowa History. IRIS volunteers also produce shows covering issues such as reports from the Iowa Insurance Division, updates on Social Security Medicare and Medicaid. IRIS also broadcasts the Midweek Shopping Cart with local coupon specials and discount deals. When not broadcasting Iowa publications, IRIS delivers news from In Touch Network from New York and Radio Talking Book in St. Paul, MN. On these networks, volunteers read from a variety of national publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, National Geographic and many other newspapers and magazines.