Newsletter of the Detroit Radio Information Service for the Blind and Print-Impaired
D R I S F O C U S
D R I S F O C U SD R I S F O C U SD R I S F O C U SD R I S F O C U S
WDET
-FM/SCA
W
ayne State University
, Detroit, MI
Summer 2005
DRIS Listeners Benefit from Major Gift
The Detroit Radio Information Service (DRIS) has been awarded
$100,000 over two years from the Greater Detroit Agency for
the Blind and Visually Impaired (formerly Upshaw Institute for
the Blind). The funds will help support DRIS' continued opera-
tions and growth.
"This investment by one of our founding partners is significant
and will go far in helping us meet the increasing need for audio
information among people with print-disabilities," said Kim
Walsh, DRIS Director.
DRIS has been in a capacity-building mode for the last five years
as it positions itself to serve an increasing number of listeners,
particularly senior citizens and baby-boomers who have age-
related vision loss and can no longer read their newspaper.
DRIS had already raised $100,000 toward Access to Information:
Vision Into the Future, says Walsh. "During the first phase, our
work focused on technology. Now we are growing our audience
and increasing access to programming."
The Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired
(GDABVI) was instrumental in working with WDET-FM and
Wayne State to establish the radio reading program in 1978, and
has reinforced its longtime commitment through this gift.
The GDABVI also purchased 150 of the closed circuit radio receiv-
ers needed to hear DRIS programs.
Jeffrey D. Evans, President
and Gail L. McEntee, Execu-
tive Director of the Greater
Detroit Agency for the Blind
and Visually Impaired (for-
merly the Upshaw Institute
for the Blind) present a
$50,000 check to DRIS
Director Kim Walsh.
Continued on Page 7
