Iowa Radio Reading

IRIS Delivers Access To Information

IRIS is a free radio reading service that reads print information aloud to over 11,000 print-disabled listeners throughout Iowa. In normal times, volunteers in 7 locations sit down in front of an IRIS microphone and read aloud from their local newspapers each day. The readings are heard on custom receivers that are provided to our listeners at no cost to them. When COVID shut the world down, our volunteers started recording the newspapers from their homes.

Because of these beautiful volunteer Voices of IRIS, our listeners haven’t missed a day.

IRIS By the Numbers

hours a day

IRIS provides continuous programming 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

2000

Listeners

From around the state, listeners hear IRIS from their homes, hospitals, and living facilities.

Volunteers

Volunteers read from 7 different locations around the state of Iowa.

Ways to Listen

IRIS provides accessible options for listeners, including custom radio & digital receivers, web stream, podcasts, mobile phones, smart speakers, & mobile devices.

$ 1

Costs to iris

Equipment costs to IRIS range from $40-$335 per listener, depending on location.

Programming cost to IRIS is approximately 13 cents per listener per day.

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Cost to Listeners

We are able to keep our services free to all listeners thanks to donors like you.

Listen to IRIS

IRIS is a service provided at no cost to you. Anyone in Iowa living with a visual, cognitive, or physical disability that prevents them from reading print material can become an IRIS listener today for free.