January/February 2025 | Volume 43, Issue 1

A collage of images surrounding a large text box reading Happy New Year 2025 - Thank You for Your Support more details in caption below image

[Image shows a collage of photos. Various people at different Audio-Reader events over the year: golf tournament, volunteer appreciation banquet and audio description events. The text reads Happy New Year 2025.]

Welcome to 2025! This past year was a big one for Audio-Reader thanks to the support and generosity of volunteers, donors, and partners! We made great strides in expanding services for our listeners - from providing more special request content on our airwaves and streaming services, to making live theater, museum exhibits and more experiences accessible.

With all the holidays and SNOW that began the year, we extend our thanks to each of our volunteers for the extra time in communicating with us and reading from home or filling in for readers as needed. We kept the information and connection flowing!

Looking ahead, we anticipate a change in our software for distributing these digital newsletters and also our email blasts (part of the transition to EMMA across the KU campus). Our communications via email might look a bit different, so in the next few months, if you notice you are not receiving our emails, please reach out the old fashion way, via phone to 785-864-4600.

As you add dates to your calendar for the new year, be sure to include Audio-Reader and especially our annual volunteer appreciation banquet, which will be held on Thursday, April 3 (a bit earlier than usual). Join us for this or the other fun events bringing community together in shared support of our listeners.

You may have seen a few new faces around the Audio-Reader. We have hired three student- interns to assist with development and programming. We welcome the depth of contribution from these young professionals as they enrich our services and further their educational experiences. Say hello!

Programming Student Interns

Anna has shoulder length brown hair wears glasses and is seated at the front desk with her head resting on her right hand

My name is Anna and I'm a senior at KU studying Strategic Communications, which is basically fancy marketing. I'm from Leavenworth and so KU was really the goal from the start to get my education. I aim to work in Environmental Advocacy or other non-profit work, and what really drew me to Audio-Reader was simply it being work with a purpose. In non-profit, purpose driven work, you're surrounded by passionate people, and that's what motivates me.

Kacie wears jeans and a black shirt as she stands on the bank of the Kansas River at sunset

My name is Kacie Fuller; I'm a junior film major from Virden, New Mexico. I love working with audio and hope to pursue some form of creative direction or audio editing in the future. I was drawn to Audio Reader because of that interest in editing, but also because I'm very passionate about making content more accessible for folks. I am also involved in student radio at KJHK 90.7 and love music!

Images show Anna sitting at the front desk of Audio-Reader and Kacie standing at the bank of the KAW River at sunset.

Development Student Intern

Caroline wears a red Kansas shirt and stands in Arches National Park with tall curvy red rocks in the background

Caroline Blanke is a Senior Marketing Major at the University of Kansas. She is also pursuing Professional Selling and Music Enterprise Certificates. She has moved from her hometown in Saint Charles, Missouri to Lawrence, Kansas to pursue her love for the arts, live events, and community impact. Caroline joined Audio-Reader specifically because of her Grandma Sifrig who is blind and receives audio books every month from a similar service. This service not only brings joy to her grandma, but also plays a critical role in normalizing her ability to live independently and stay connected to the world around her. Caroline is dedicated to ensuring that individuals like her grandma are cared for and valued. In the future, she hopes to be in the live event industry, the entertainment world, or through non-profits as they would combine her passion for creativity with her commitment to making a difference for her community. Outside her academic and professional endeavors, Caroline enjoys supporting local musicians and crafting. She also loves being in nature exploring the National Parks.

Image shows Caroline smiling in a red Kansas t-shirt at the Arches National Park in Utah.

Audio Sale February 7 & 8

Audio-Reader's next Audio Sale is taking place Friday & Saturday, February 7 & 8 at the Lawrence Public Library. Friday night is the Opening Night with a $5 admission offering first access to all the equipment, vinyl records, musical instruments, CDs and more! Saturday is free admission.

We are looking for volunteers to help with the sale! We need volunteers to help with set up on Friday from 9:30am-11:30am, as well as volunteers to help during the sale on Friday evening and Saturday.

Please email Meredith at mjohanning@ku.edu if you can help.

Follow Audio-Reader on Facebook or Instagram to stay up to date. Questions? Contact Meredith at mjohanning@ku.edu or 785-864-4634.

Audio Sale flyer - details in the caption below

Images of Records, Cassette Tapes, Instruments. Text reads: Audio-Reader Sale Friday February 7, 6:30 to 8:30 pm- Opening Night, $5 at the door. Saturday, February 8, 10am to 4pm- Free Admission. Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 707 Vermont St, Lawrence KS reader.ku.edu Come shop new to you vintage and modern audio equipment, vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, musical instruments and cassette tape.

Audio Description Brings the Arts to Listeners

Jose Lopez with his son exploring the stage before Finding Nemo with kids running around them

Kim Morrow and Patricia Hamarstrom Williams pose for a picture together after Finding Nemo

Jody Mulik smiles for the camera and her husband Don sits next to her with his arm around her.

At Left, Jose Lopez (in black) and his family explore the stage before the show; Dr. Kim Morrow and Patricia Hamarstrom Williams smile at the reception, Patricia holds up the brochure for the show; Jodi and Don Mulik enjoy the reception, sitting together with big smiles.

The Audio-Reader reception at the Coterie Theatre at Crown Center on December 7 was a great success! In addition to Audio-Reader staff and families, we welcomed five patrons with visual disabilities, a listener who is autistic, and our listeners’ families; all enjoyed live audio description during Finding Nemo. The play was such fun, the actors all top-notch, and the music and costumes elevated the production.

We are so thankful to the Coterie for allowing us time to explore the stage and giving the actors a chance to introduce and describe themselves before the show. Listeners felt samples of the costume fabrics too. Listeners celebrated this opportunity because it provided a chance to participate in experiences with their adult children and grandchildren. The always amazing Patricia Hamarstrom Williams provided immersive audio description that truly made it an engaging production for all in attendance.

Looking forward, the next show at the Coterie is called Just Ask! showing with description on Friday, Feb 21 (10am) or Saturday, Feb 22 (2pm). The next reception will be in Lawrence at the Lied Center on April 16 before the Paul Taylor Dance Company’s performance. More detials below.

Suszie Stanzel's grandson wears the audio description headset and a red christmas themed sweater

A listener's grandson wearing Audio-Reader headphones.

Trish Dowd Kelne, Kim Morrow, and Martha Kehr sit in the darkened theater waiting for the start of Finding Nemo

Trish Dowd Kelne, Dr. Kim Morrow and Martha Kehr smile in a selfie at the Coterie Theater.

Suszie Stanzel holds her white cane in her right hand while her left hand feels the fabrics and textures of the stage decorations

Listener Susie Stanzel (in red), and family explore the stage.

A-R staff and guest listening to the actors describe themselves as part of the pre-show.

Listener Travis and Meredith Johanning smile before the show with Travis's guide dog

Listener Travis Smith and Meredith Johanning smile before the show with Travis's guide dog.

A flyer for the Just Ask performances with audio description at Coterie details in caption or call audio reader for more information

Image shows the details for the Just Ask! Audio Description Event. Friday, Feb 20 at 10am or Saturday, Feb 21 at 12pm. Box office 816-474-6552 or visit thecoterie.org.

Volunteers Broadening Perspective

Reader Conversations

HYBRID-Virtual Coffee Bar

February 19, 2025

The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland

VIRTUAL COFFEE BAR LINK

Reoccurring Zoom Meeting Link: https://kansas.zoom.us/j/91499262397

Meeting ID: 914 9926 2397

Passcode: 4600

For February, complete the RSVP if you plan to attend, especially if you plan to attend

in-person.

Image shows two coffee cups, one with the Audio-Reader logo.

On February 19, 2025, we invite you to join us as we gather to share conversation and refreshments. In October during Vision Awareness month, we shared resources about the many different reasons that our listeners use our services. We continue to share ways for our volunteers to develop their awareness and understanding.

Recently, Mary Howe, a volunteer reader, recommended a book she read with her reading group. She thought it might be of interest to readers. She shared it with Jim Huber too. Here are their comments. If you’d like to pick up the book and join us for this gathering, that will be our February Virtual Coffee Bar.

Please complete the RSVP if you plan to attend,

especially if you plan to attend in person.

Mary’s comments:

The Country of the Blind was our book group choice, one I would never have otherwise read. I found it deeply interesting and illuminating. It is a memoir of the author's life with decreasing vision due to retinitis pigmentosa, as well as a survey of how other people at various stages of blindness navigate. I lent it to a friend who has RP. She still has vision, but no longer drives. I was worried that she would find it depressing or scary, but it turned out that it resonated deeply with her. She said "I can’t put into words how it makes me feel to hear someone else talking about the same things I experience with RP."

A few random observations:

The author's increasing ease with using a cane was very interesting. He talks about how awkward and embarrassed he was to use it, but what a difference it made to learn the technique correctly.
I was unaware that very few people are 100% blind.
There are numerous organizations of and for the blind, with a wide array of (sometimes directly conflicting) philosophies for how to help.

I recommend this book very highly and would love to hear what other people think about it. My book club gave it mixed reviews, to my surprise. One person thought it would be more story. less reportage. Another person couldn't make herself read it because her father was blind from macular degeneration, which she also has.

Jim’s comments:

I found The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland spoke to me in many ways. The title itself made me think of myself as a foreigner in a country I only visit and find myself faced with limited understanding. His personal experience of Retinitis Pigmentosa and the very real fact of other possible routes to immigrant status struck a personal level. His description of the strong and vibrant country of the blind reinforced my experiences and allaying of fear.

One very practical item was his discussion of the area of description by a sighted person to an audience with varying degrees of need and preference. I have admired those at AR who do it so well. I’m still trying to recover from the picture I struggled with at my audition. But this book encouraged me to keep trying. And also to keep enjoying this wonderful country and its citizens that AR has opened to me.

Audio-Reader Celebrates the Holidays

In December, volunteers, staff and friends gathered to celebrate the holiday with good food and tremendous company.

Thanks for making the holiday season warm and filled with light!

Jo Anne Zingo and Jerry Guffey take a picture with Trish Dowd Kelne holding holiday signs and silly hats.

Wake Mitchell and family smile for the camera holding KU and record player signs.

Audio Elves, Gordon Fitch, Ed Hawkins, and Douglas May bring some fun to the party as they playfully cover their faces with a record player, a record, speakers.

Feloniz Lovato-Winston, A-R Director, chats with Charles Decedue.

Jim Huber and Michael Gier share conversation and smiles.

Shirley Fudge chats with Trish and Greg Rector.

Melissa Warren and Susan Elkins share conversation

Lisa Beck and Trish take a smiling photo while holding a sign saying Jolly and Bright.

Douglas May and Stuart Greenblatt enjoy conversation.

Mary Ackerly, Donna Conway and Trish take a picture with I love Audio-Reader and Cheers to Volunteers signs.

Nick Carswell, Tracy Harrison and Daniel Gross talk by the fire place.

Trish and Billie Archer take a silly photo with holiday signs.

Flyer reads Save the Date April 3 for the AR volunteer banquet at Macellis in Lawrence

Audio-Reader Network | reader.ku.edu

We are transitioning to a new email-platform (EMMA-HQ); if you find you are not receiving emails, or would like to no longer receive these emails- please email us or call.